Research unit for nursing launched at Puducherry Institute of Medical Sciences

Puducherry: A Department of Nursing Research and a Ph.D. programme in Nursing have been started at the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The launch of both initiatives coincided with PIMS’ 6th national nursing conference and 1st scientific forum (on the theme ‘Emerging Approaches, a Bright Tomorrow: Bridging the past and future of Nursing Research').

Nursing Adviser, Government of India, Josephine R. Little Flower G. speaking on the occasion while promoting research in nursing, stressed on the need to bridge the gap between nursing education and nursing service. She said this was necessary as nurses contributed to the majority of the health workforce and multi-task across a range of critical patient care functions.

Initiating the Ph.D programme, Ms Flower said that nursing professionals covered almost all the areas ranging from hospital to community oriented practice.

“We can definitely raise awareness, advocate for interdisciplinary and intersect oral partnership and generate effective actions”.Ms. Flower was addressing PIMS 6th national nursing conference and 1st scientific forum (on the theme ‘Emerging Approaches, a Bright Tomorrow: Bridging the past and future of Nursing Research’).

Identifying nursing research as an emerging and growing area of study, Ms flower said that nurses could apply their nursing education in this field to discover areas of advancement that promote evidence based care.

“Scientific progress and discovery mean less disease, fewer illnesses, more vaccines and a better quality of life for the community as a whole,” she added.

Speaking about the relatively slow advancement in the field of research leading to evidence based practices, Ms Little Flower citing the reasons as lack of motivation, fear of failure, fear of change and lack of funds, Ms flower indicated, the launch of a doctoral programme and a department of nursing research could be understood significant initiatives.

“Through our research evidences, we can bring multitudinous changes in the lifelong care of the patients and it can be used to develop treatments that provide the optimum level of care. Nurse researchers need to be educated and trained in ways that develop their autonomy, critical thinking, creative thinking and open mindedness. I'm sure that evidence-based practices can take us a long way in our professional journey,” she stated.

She stressed on the need for empowering nurses to meet the challenges of an increasingly technology-driven field and the ever rising public demand for quality healthcare.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lalitha. K, Head of Department Nursing, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) formally opened the Department of Nursing – Research. The Research and Continuing Nursing Education Department aims to support nurses on all matters regarding research by initiating research proposals in collaboration with other Departments and continually develop new initiatives for better quality of nursing education and service.

A souvenir was as released by Renu G. Boy Varghese, Director Principal, PIMS on this occasion.

1. Jacob Chairman, PIMS, S. Ani Grace Kalaimathi, Registrar, Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council, Chennai, and Rebecca Samson, Dean College of Nursing PIMS, were also present.

The PIMS, the College of Nursing is sanctioned an intake of four seats in 2016, for Ph.D Nursing under Pondicherry University.