While physicians remain center stage in any health care delivery system, the role of nurses and licensed practical nurses has been no less significant. After all, expert care in the form of diagnosing and treating the patient’s condition must be accompanied by critical support tasks and tasks that need to be performed for optimal and comprehensive patient care and outcome. In a country like India, with a high burden of disease, as well as low doctor-patient and nurse-patient relationships, not only is there a need for more new nurses, but also for qualification and improvement of the skills of nurses already hired in hospitals , health facilities or even homes.
And as digital and other technologies increasingly reshape the healthcare landscape, along with the emergence and proliferation of edtech platforms, the sky is the limit for nursing education in the country.
Nursing has many subdisciplines and specialties.
Contrary to the popular perception that nursing is a fairly easy job that essentially involves assisting a doctor in treating his patient and helping him through the treatment and recovery process without any formal training, it has evolved into a well-rounded career option today. There are many courses available today that an aspiring student can take and become a professional nurse. Some of the programs include certificate and diploma courses in general nursing and midwifery, midwifery nursing assistant, BSC (Basic), BSC (Post-Basic), as well as post-basic degrees in various disciplines such as OT Nursing, Cardiothoracic Nursing, Nursing Neurology, Psychiatric Nursing, etc. In fact, with these courses and relevant experience, a generalist nurse can advance to the levels of Nursing Supervisor, Nursing Manager, Nursing Superintendent, and Nursing Director. With healthcare facilities increasingly taking on a more corporate setting, these positions are becoming more common.
Continuing Education in Nursing (CNE) is also important for nurses
Just as Continuous Medical Education (CME) is important for updating and periodically qualifying physicians, continuing education in nursing is equally important for nursing professionals. As new nursing best practices continue to evolve, based on new research, insights and, above all, new technology-based devices and equipment, periodic improvement becomes very crucial for nursing professionals. Telehealth and related technologies, along with products and devices such as smart beds, wearable monitors, wearables, automated IV pumps and EHRs, have made it imperative that nurses learn to use them effectively and adapt their care practices. In-service training not only updates their knowledge, learning and skills, but also increases their motivation and attitude, positively impacting their self-esteem and raising performance levels.
New age technology-based platforms and content for nursing education
Today, nursing education providers and platforms make advanced simulation-based learning and training programs available to nursing students and professionals. Utilizing some of the most advanced educational and digital technologies, these platforms eliminate the need for an instructor, thus providing instructor-less training. At the same time, they reduce cost and time for students. In fact, taking individualized and flexible learning to hyper levels, they allow students to not only learn at their own pace and convenience, but also prioritize the parts of a subject they would rather learn first and therefore decide the entire sequence or course. of your learning. With multi-sensory, accurate and instantaneous feedback systems built in, students can make instant corrections and improve their skills and perceptions. With the increasing integration of AI with traditional pedagogical frameworks, learning content can be tailored to student interests, aptitudes and motivation levels. Personalized audio and video content and learning material, digitized textbook guides, smart notes, personalized worksheets, digital flashcards, etc. are offerings that make learning for nursing students truly hyperpersonalized. All a student needs to do is access the learning management systems. Most importantly, these platforms enable the delivery of world-class content designed and curated by the world’s best nursing institutions and universities to the most remote and inaccessible locations, which is important for India.
Therefore, nursing professionals are a key part of the entire health care delivery system. An estimated two-thirds of healthcare personnel are nursing staff and staff. The qualification not only develops your nursing, but also prepares a trained group of state-of-the-art nursing professionals to go a long way in reducing the availability gap in the country.
The author is co-founder and CEO of MedLern. Opinions are personal.
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