National Girl Child Day, observed on 24th January every year in India, serves as a reminder of the need to empower and uplift the girl child. One powerful way to achieve this is by promoting professions that not only provide financial stability but also contribute to the well-being of society. Nursing, particularly chronic care nursing, emerges as a stable and lucrative career for girls, offering a unique opportunity to blend compassion, skill, and societal contribution.
The Growing Demand for Chronic Care Nursing
Chronic care nursing is a specialized field that focuses on the long-term management and support of individuals with chronic illnesses or conditions. As the global population ages, the demand for skilled healthcare professionals, especially in chronic care, is rising. In this context, home nursing presents itself as a promising career for girls, providing not only job security but also a chance to make a meaningful and memorable impact on people’s lives.
Home Health Nursing: A Sunshine Career
Home Nursing is a unique and challenging opportunity which has not yet gained much traction or respect but as time will tell, it is a job that will change many lives for the better. Home nursing allows the delivery of personalized holistic care to patients within the comfort of their homes. For the caregivers i.e. the girls whose families cannot afford formal nursing schools, or are unable to qualify for degree seats due to variables such as marks, subjects, marital status etc., this is a game-changer. The learning curve is much gentler and young girls can easily complete training within a year and be placed immediately as Geriatric aides, companions and Home Nursing Assistants with proper supervision by senior nursing staff. Many young girls can thus provide for their families from the age of nineteen or twenty. As they get better and better at their work through continuous learning programs, both on job and in the classroom, they can care for more critical patients. Their income also rises proportionately thus allowing them to pursue formal careers with their personal funds. Many of them start earning more than hospital nurses within 3-4 years of their joining, which is a great source of support for the community. Home Nursing offers a sober, dignified and respectable choice of career for young girls and prevents societal evils such as human trafficking.
Becoming a Home Health Nurse
Preparing home health nurses requires proper education, adequate training, and a compassionate mindset. People skills are very important as along with the patient, home nurses also need to address the concerns of the family members and ensure that the patient’s wishes and requirements are met optimally. It also requires that they be respectful of the beliefs and cultural rituals of the family so that these can help rather than harm the patient’s therapy. Practical experience gained through internships and hands-on training equips these nurses with the skills needed to provide comprehensive care to patients in their homes.
India’s Potential to Lead in Elder Care
India, with its vast population and a growing ageing demographic, has the potential to lead in developing a cadre of compassionate eldercare companions. By investing in training programs and creating awareness about the significance of chronic care nursing, India can not only meet the rising healthcare demands but also empower women to play a pivotal role in elder care. Organisations like Care Continuum are trying to create awareness about the need for healthcare professionals in the realm of Long Term Care and bringing about a change in the way chronic care is perceived in society. There is a major shortage of dedicated and experienced Home Healthcare providers and in the next decade, Hospitals will be facing a deluge of geriatric patients if we cannot meet the demand-supply gap. Therefore, early interventions are required at the community level so that more and more youth especially young girls from poor socio-economic backgrounds who do not have access to formal education after school, can be included in this cadre to give them a stable and respectable career.
Contributing to Society through Work Performance
Nurses, specialising in chronic care, have the unique opportunity to contribute to society while excelling in their clinical endeavours. These nurses become a bridge between healthcare institutions and the community, offering personalized care that enhances the overall well-being of patients. By focusing on preventive care and health education, home health nurses can positively impact not only individual lives but also contribute to broader public health outcomes.
As India commemorates National Girl Child Day, it is crucial to explore and promote career paths that empower women while addressing societal needs. Chronic care nursing, particularly in the form of home health nursing, emerges as a sunshine career for girls, offering a unique blend of compassion, flexibility, and societal contribution. By investing in the development of a skilled cadre of home health nurses, India can lead in elder care and set an example for the world, demonstrating the transformative power of empowering women in the healthcare sector.
The author has been working in Home Healthcare for over a decade and this article expresses her views on the empowerment of vulnerable young girls in the Indian context.