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College of Nursing, PGI, was induced in 1964 as a department of PGI
with WHO assistance under Post Basic Education Project, India 0136.
The Institute owes its inception to the far sightedness of late Shri
Pratap Singh Kairon, the then Chief Minister and other distinguished
Medical Educationists of the Punjab State.
The Planners of the
Institute realized at the very beginning that unless there was a
parallel improvement in nursing and other allied sciences, medical
care could not improve. They felt the need for bettering nursing
through establishment of an institution for higher education in
nursing and thus the seed was sown.
Miss M.I. Tabbanor,
WHO Nurse Educator, was assigned to assist Punjab Government in
implementing the project ‘Post Basic Education’ at Chandigarh. The
State Govt. appointed a committee to draft the syllabus and
regulations to start the course. The objectives of the project were
to develop university level nursing studies leading to B.Sc. degree
for registered nurse midwives, for leadership positions in
education, administration and selected nursing specialities with the
ultimate aim of improving patient care standards.
Miss Tabbanor, a
competent Public Health Nurse, planner, administrator and educator,
toured all large hospitals in Punjab to campaign for the new
programme and motivate nurses to join the course and thus three
candidates joined the first batch for B.Sc. Nursing (Post Basic)
course in administration and education in nursing. Yet she was not
discouraged and worked hard for its progress and 9 students joined
the next batch. Another branch of study in Maternal and Child Health
was introduced in 1966., Considering the demand for admission, the
number of seats were raised from twenty to thirty in 1967and to
forty in 1972.
Books, teaching aids,
office equipments and vehicles were supplied by WHO initially. In
1966, the college moved into its new and permanent location in B
Block of the Institute’s academic and research complex. At the time
of inception, WHO Nurse Educators formed the entire faculty with the
assistance from other deptts of PGI, Panjab University and the
office of DHS, Punjab. In 1968 Dr.(Mrs.) M. Dean joined as
principal and gradually national faculty members were appointed and
WHO assistance was discontinued in 1972.
In 1971 the institute
decided to upgrade the diploma program to degree course. Mrs. Anna
T-Howard, WHO Nurse Consultant, alongwith the faculty prepared the
syllabus for B.Sc. Nursing (Basic) and M.Sc. Nursing.
Admissions to diploma
programme in PGI was discontinued in 1973 and a batch of 4 students
were admitted for B.Sc. degree in Nursing with a premedical entrance
requirement. This course was a pilot project with the introduction
of Internship in Nursing for the first time in India, to strengthen
the clinical skill of graduates was approved by the Indian Nursing
Council for its B.Sc. Nursing programmes. The tutors of the school
were also absorbed in college in a phased manner.
On a request from the
Govt. of J&K, a batch of 60 students were trained in General Nursing
and Midwifery from 1978-82 through a Grant – in – aid to man the
Sher – I – Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.
Masters programme in
Medical Surgical Nursing was started in 1977 followed by the
specialities of psychiatric Nursing and Community Health Nursing.
Regulations for Ph.D
in Nursing was passed in the year 1981 and the first candidate
enrolled in 1985 submitted the dissertation during the month of June
1990.
The students of all
programmes provide services to the indoor and outdoor patients in
Nehru Hospital while learning. The faculty and students serve the
patients for 5 hours a day in all the areas and thereby improve
patient care services. Education of the patient and relatives is
taken as an important responsibility towards contributing to the
goal of Health For All.
The division of
community health nursing provides comprehensive services to over
35,000 population of resettled slum colony of Daddu Majra and
village Dhanas which are easily accessible. While learning, students
provide antenatal, natal and postnatal services, school health
services, family welfare services and health education on prevention
of diarrhoeas and use of oral rehydration solution, prevention of
nutritional deficiencies, non-communicable diseases and
immunization.
The division of
Psychiatric Nursing trains nurses in caring for the mentally ill and
provides services to the indoor and outdoor patients. Inservice
programmes for local nurses are held periodically to update their
knowledge and skills. Regional level short courses are also held to
update the knowledge and skills of nurses in this specialized area.
The division of
Obstetric and Pediatric Nursing trains nurses to develop the skill
of conducting normal deliveries and care of the newborn babies. With
the thrust on Maternal and Child Health Nursing to reduce the high
maternal and infant mortality rate, patient education is taken as a
special responsibility. Domiciliary care services are provided for
ten days following delivery and mothers are taught healthy child
rearing practices.
The Medical and
Surgical Nursing division prepares a nurse to care for the sick not
only as a generalist, but also to provide specialized care in
conditions like heart surgery, brain surgery, head injury, kidney
transplant, haemodialysis, bone surgery, intensive care, coronary
care and so on. The preparation at masters level equips her with the
expertise to work as a clinical nurse specialist.
The division of
Administration, Research and Education aims at providing leadership
in the management aspect of training and service because every nurse
is a teacher to patients and their attendants. Hence instruction is
provided in the methods of teaching, preparation and use of
audiovisual aids, evaluation and counseling. They are also trained
to conduct research in nursing.
Apart from degree
programmes, the college conducted short term refresher courses of 4
months duration in pediatric Nursing twice a year from 1967-1983. It
has also organized a number of Conferences, Workshops, Seminars and
updates from time to time on a local, regional or national level and
brought out useful and practical recommendations. Organising
continuing education and participation in the teaching learning
processes of filed workers in neighbouring agencies is an integral
part of he college activities. The UGC sponsored workshop on
National Education Policy and Nursing paved the way to the promotion
of the idea of a correspondence course for B.Sc. Nursing (Post
Basic) which if and when implemented will be a boon to the nurses in
India and a revolution in nursing education.
The college started an
NSS unit in 1974 and is doing commendable services to the adopted
village. It has been adjudged as one of the best NSS units of the
Panjab University.
College of nursing was
upgraded as National Institute of Nursing Education. It was
inaugurated by Mrs Sushma Swaraz, the then Union Health Minister on
28th March, 2003. |
