International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 12th, the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, to honor nurses’ vital contributions to global health. Established in 1974, this day shines a light on the nursing profession, advocating for better resources, safer workplaces, and recognizing their role in improving healthcare outcomes. This day signifies celebration for the dedication of nurses and acts as a platform to call for investment in the nursing workforce, especially in supporting their education, safety, and working conditions.
Every year this day comes up with a new theme that is decided by International Council of Nurses. The theme for this year is: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives”. The International Council of Nurses provides resources, toolkits and publications highlighting the annual theme.
History: The International Council of Nurses (ICN) chose May 12th to commemorate Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who significantly improved sanitation and patient care in the 19th century during the Crimean War. Celebrations for this day include recognition events in hospitals, such as award ceremonies for bedside nurses, staff lunches, and social media campaigns thanking nurses. Its global impact lies in the fact that the World Health Organization and other bodies use this day to advocate for strengthening healthcare systems through stronger nursing investment.
Nurses are often the first point of care and the last source of comfort. They stand beside patients in their most vulnerable moments, offering not only medical support but emotional and psychological reassurance. Yet, behind this image of care lies a reality that is far less comforting.
This day is celebrated in almost every healthcare institute of J&K, especially in tertiary care hospitals and educational institutions, where gatherings are held, themes are discussed and highlighted, and cultural segments are added to the programs. It looks bright and cheerful on the outside, but the illusion is cracked from within.
Nurses are facing immense discrimination and structural disadvantage in J&K. It is not usually one single issue, but a combination of pay level, status, working conditions and systemic neglect.
Here’s a clear breakdown:
Pay scale discrimination: Nurses in J&K are technically underpaid, placed in lower pay levels (Level-4) compared to Level-7 in most other states/UTs for the same qualifications and nature of work. Imagine being dropped out of a medical entrance examination by a few marks, taking admission in a four-year-plus nursing degree, qualifying examinations for placement in government healthcare institutes or medical colleges, and then receiving a paycheck equal to that of a driver or plumber in the same hospital. Bedside jobs, direct patient care, working 24×7, Sundays, holidays and festivals, dealing with human life, witnessing crises and staying beside patients whenever needed deserve recognition rather than underpayment.
Lack of allowances and benefits: This profession is not being paid risk allowances, nursing allowances (approximately Rs 9000 per month) or uniform allowances (approximately Rs 2000 per month), leading to a financial loss of nearly Rs 11000 per month, while nurses in the rest of the country, including the UT of Ladakh, have been receiving such allowances since 2021. Why are nurses in J&K being ignored?
Poor career growth and designation: In most states and UTs of India, nurses are recruited as Nursing Officers, but in J&K they are recruited as junior staff nurses despite having the same qualifications and nature of work. Moreover, limited promotions and unclear service rules lead to career stagnation. This affects long-term motivation and professional recognition.
Contractual job system: A large number of nursing professionals are working on a contractual basis with lower salaries, delayed payments and no job security. It creates a temporary workforce doing permanent work, allowing the system to function without the actual creation of permanent posts.
Heavy workload due to staff shortages: Everywhere we hear about the doctor-patient ratio, but hardly anyone talks about the nurse-patient ratio. According to the WHO, the nurse-patient ratio in a general ward should be 1:6, in ICU 1:1 for ventilated patients and 1:2 for stable patients. Similar standards are prescribed by the Indian Nursing Council. In J&K, the ratio hardly exists. Often there is only one nurse for a 25–30 bedded ward or merely three nurses for a 10-bedded ICU. Nurses are not mere injectors in hospitals, but systemic failure makes it difficult even to perform routine medication properly.
Because it is the job of a nurse to spend most of the time caring for patients, severe shortages increase work hours, stress and burnout.
Professional neglect and policy delays: Pay revisions, cadre restructuring, recruitment delays, promotion delays and issues related to nurse-patient ratios remain unresolved. Decisions affecting nurses often face bureaucratic delays, worsening frustration and keeping the profession trapped in systemic neglect.
Brain drain: Because of poor working conditions, lack of recruitment, contractual service systems and low pay levels in J&K, many nurses move to other states or abroad for better pay and respect. This weakens the local healthcare system.
Workplace risks and stress: Long shifts and extreme working hours are common. Some reputed government institutes in J&K force nursing professionals to work more than 270 hours a month throughout day and night duties, while the accepted limit is around 190 hours. This leads to mental and physical exhaustion, increasing the possibility of human error. Occasional workplace violence further adds to the stress. These healthcare workers spend most of their time with patients while already being overburdened and exhausted, yet all they demand is safe communication and dignity.
Getting back to the theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” it calls for action beyond appreciation.
Empowerment, as highlighted in this year’s theme, is not a symbolic word. It means giving nurses the authority, safety and recognition they deserve. It means fairness, proper implementation of already framed policies, better pay structures, clear career pathways and workplaces that protect their dignity. Without these, the idea of empowerment remains incomplete.
Nurses are often seen merely as assistants rather than skilled professionals with critical expertise. A four-year-plus degree course or post-graduation is enough to develop professional skills, critical thinking and decision-making abilities. The future of healthcare depends on how we treat nurses today. When they are supported, patient care improves. When they feel secure, they perform with confidence. When they are respected, the entire system benefits.
International Nurses Day is more than a celebration; it is a reflection. It asks governments to reform policies — or in J&K, at least implement the ones already framed. It asks hospitals to ensure safer environments and society to show empathy and respect. Because empowerment demands action. This is a critical time to advocate for the profession and support the nurses who act as the backbone of global health systems.
Caring for nurses is caring for the future. When nurses are empowered, lives are not just treated; they are saved.
The writer is an Intensive Care Nurse, Government Medical College. She can be reached at farhanna435@gmail.com
