Nurses in Pakistan work in diverse settings, including hospitals, rural health centers, clinics, and community health programs. They are involved in everything from bedside patient care to health education campaigns. Given the country’s health disparities, especially in rural areas, nurses often serve as the first point of contact for patients, addressing basic health needs, providing preventive care, and sometimes managing chronic illnesses due to the lack of physicians in these areas.

However, there is a severe shortage of nurses in Pakistan, with a nurse-to-patient ratio far below international standards. This gap has serious implications for healthcare delivery, particularly in terms of maternal and child health, emergency care, and mental health services.

GLOBAL SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE OF NURSING

Globally, nursing is one of the largest healthcare professions, with more than 20 million nurses worldwide. The scope of nursing has expanded beyond basic patient care to encompass specialized areas such as oncology, cardiology, emergency care, critical care, and public health. Nurses also play a crucial role in global health initiatives, such as controlling infectious diseases, promoting maternal and child health, and improving healthcare systems in low-income countries.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL HEALTH

Nurses are key players in achieving global health goals, including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, nurses contribute to:

  • Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality: Nurses provide antenatal care, safe deliveries, and postnatal care in both high-income and low-income countries.
  • Combating Infectious Diseases: Nurses are often at the frontline of epidemics, providing care, administering vaccines, and educating communities.
  • Improving Health Systems: Nurses contribute to policy-making, healthcare management, and quality improvement initiatives, helping to strengthen health systems.

CHALLENGES FACING GLOBAL NURSING

Despite their critical role, nurses face numerous challenges worldwide. These include staff shortages, burnout, low wages, and exposure to violence and harassment in the workplace. Nurses in low-income countries often work in poorly resourced settings, lacking basic equipment, medications, and support. Globally, there is a recognized need to improve working conditions, provide better education and training, and offer more opportunities for career advancement.