SERVICE WITH SMILE

The Indian Army was a lovely place to work. A congenial atmosphere where women are respected irrespective of their belonging to different cadres by profession or by marriage.

Lately, a silent change and vigorous manoeuvre by few officers of the Army Medical Corps is openly provoking disrespect to this cadre. This is eroding the sense of belonging to the organisation along with lost trust in the medical work field.

Old issues, which led to this relates to the uniform of the nursing officers and their demand of Officers status at par with the rank structure they hold. Alas the doctrine that the Nurses have to take orders from the doctors and rank structure at par would not allow a professional direction by juniors in rank was a matter of great deliberation. The issue was cleared with the Nurses directed to were Beige Safari and continue to wear their ranks as a deterrent from abuses and to remain as members of the Military Nursing Services.

This is a the history the past and maybe it will take few more decades till professional requirements and job role will not hold good ground to deny us our place as Army Officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

Maybe it is time to understand the medical requirement and work in tandem for the benefit of the patient. Maybe it is the time for the Army Doctors to respect the Nursing Officers as ladies and give respect to the profession. Maybe a right phrase for addressing them be advised ..... Maybe the age of Nursing Officers be respected by the Interns and other Doctors and addressing them be suitably devised.

It is better to understand that diagnosis, prescribing medicine and performing surgery is the beginning but patient care and cure comes from good nursing care. Work place dignity and pride allows one to give their 100%, and we are humans who look to serve with dignity and pride, at least give us that.....

Today the Nursing Officers are working in a strained atmosphere and with distrust with cadre consciousness being openly exercised to show the Nursing Cadre their rightful place in the Organisation. Even the Other Ranks at times convey that we are not Army Officers and we do not command salutation... this and more not even a courteous good morning....??? slowly and steadily the whole relation of medical ethics and nurse patient relation is going bad.

We are once again searching for our lost dignity and performing the nursing service without smile only to keep our Job. Many have left and many more will leave the service for lack of self respect and dignity. The "LADY WITH THE LAMP" is slowly but surely fading away in the gloom of disrespect and cadre discrimination.

The old days were good and despite our white tunic the dignity and respect were sincerely guarded in the Gentlemen Officers of the Armed Forces.

ushpa