The hardships

In Pakistan, the profession of nursing has become a taboo for no apparent reason. Consequently, due to the stigma attached to nursing, many parents are reluctant to send their daughters to join this profession. In the west, so many girls opt to become nurses because the profession is considered highly respectable there, whereas in Pakistan people think twice before sending their daughters to become a nurse.

Though almost everyone acknowledges that nursing is not an easy job, majority of the people seem to be totally indifferent and ungrateful towards nurses.

Despite all the efforts, there is still a long way to go. Our female nurses, still do not get due respect for the services they render, and also are not fairly compensated for their hard work. They are not only maltreated by the patients and their attendants but sometimes they are also intimidated by the hospital management.

Apart from the ill-treatment that our female nurses are subjected to on a day to day basis, many nurses are sexually harassed too. In most of the cases, the male attendants, who come with the patients, are the main culprits.

When it comes to the pay structures of the nurses in Pakistan, the scenario is again lamentable - they are highly underpaid and there are rarely any raises in the salaries, particularly in the state-run hospitals.

The government needs to do something about the pay structures of nurses considering the escalating inflation and the amount of hard work that they do. 

The fact remains that nurses are an important part of the healthcare system and nursing is a noble profession whether we believe it or not. Without them the healthcare system could not function at all. Despite this fact, nurses are still exploited and treated with undue harshness. It is high time that some serious actions are taken focusing on their training and well-being; and also give our Pakistani Florence Nightingales the respect that they truly deserve.