Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101256590500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

More nursing PG colleges in the offing

Special Correspondent

Currently, only three institutions are offering the course in the State

Osmania University was the first to offer the course in 1985
Some 14 colleges have come forward to offer the course now

VISAKHAPATNAM: Some 14 post-graduate nursing colleges are likely to be launched during this academic year in the State with an expected intake of 30 students each.

At present, there are 198 nursing colleges and some 300 nursing schools in the State. Only three institutions are offering PG courses.

Osmania University was the first institution to offer PG course in nursing in 1985. Since then, it had been admitting six students every year. In 2007-08, Sri Venkateswara University and Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (Hyderabad) launched the PG course with an intake of 20 students each.

With the government allowing more institutions to offer the course, 14 colleges applied. The evaluation of facilities and infrastructure by the Nursing Council of India was in the process, chairman of Manisha Nursing Institutions V. Vijay Kumar Raju said at a press conference here on Saturday. His institution was expected to receive the green signal to launch the course this year.

SNDT University, NIMHANS (Bangalore), Christian Medical College and Manipal Medical College along with a consortium formed by the Nursing Council and the Rajiv Gandhi Health University of Karnataka are offering doctorate programmes in nursing.

TNAI centenary

Meanwhile, the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), an internationally recognised body working for the welfare of nurses of all categories, would be celebrating its centenary, said president of State branch of the organisation A. Gnanalaxmi.

The State unit, which would also celebrate its centenary, was providing scholarships to all categories of nurses, helping in their research work, helping them improve the quality of their service, running a care centre for elderly nurses in Delhi and was organising biennial conferences for student nurses and professional nurses.

It would also recommend nurses for the National Florence Nightingale award for best nurses being awarded every year by the Government.

Minister for Commercial Taxes Konathala Ramakrishna would inaugurate the centenary celebrations of TNAI on Sunday while Additional Director of Medical Sciences T. Raviraju would be the chief guest of the valedictory function on Monday.