Bengaluru: Nursing students don't want to intern at Nimhans

Bengaluru: The newly-constructed, two-storeyed nurses’ hostel on the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) campus is empty. Close to 70 students passed out of Nimhans’ four-year BSc Nursing, but none of them wanted to intern at the Institute of National Importance even for a year.

After the course, students told authorities that they don’t want to intern at Nimhans. “This came as a rude shock to us as the hostel, which can accommodate 80 nurses, was constructed keeping their needs in mind. We were expecting them to intern at the Institute," said Dr B.N. Gangadhar, Director, Nimhans. 

Earlier, the institute had 70 nurses working as interns on one-year contract, but in August, the batch which should have started work, decided not to join. “We tried to sort out their issues, but they decided not to work. We also assured students that based on their marks, they would be placed at a place of their choice," he said.

The institute, which is already suffering from a shortage of nurses has made alternative arrangements. He said, “Despite the short notice, we advertised for nursing graduate freshers and have already received some 135 applications. By Thursday, we will select 70 students, who will get a monthly stipend of Rs 12,000.”

He said, “We don't know what the trigger was, but we had told them that some of their grievances, including accommodation, would be met." 

The hostel has security, access-controlled entrance and lift, but is empty. “Had we known that these nursing graduates were not turning up, we would have made arrangements well in advance. Now, we have to make do with those who have applied," he said.

Recently, nurses at the institute protested against a shortage of 197 nurses and increased workload on them.