Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 12: Nurses who play a key role in hospitals in communicating with patients, understanding them and taking care of them along with administering medicines are still unsung heroes.
The 2021 study published in the International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences revealed that around 67 percent of nurses in Kashmir suffer from depression. Besides, nurses say they experience problems at hospitals due to heavy workload, irregular work schedule, poor work environment and difficult patients.
In the face of their work schedule, they feel underpaid. On International nurses day, Kashmir News Observer talked to nurses working in different hospitals of the Valley about challenges they face while tending to patients.
Posted 120 kms away from her home in the remote area of Khansahib Budgam, Bilkees Akhter has rented a room near the place of her duty. She cannot join her family for weeks together which often triggers bouts of depression.
A nurse from south Kashmir said that it is difficult for nurses to manage both duty and family affairs. I am a mother of three daughters but when my daughters were lactating I had to keep them with their father at home and attend duty. It was very painful attending night duties and keeping my baby at home.
