SRINAGAR: A nurse who has dedicated two decades of service at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has achieved a significant accomplishment by receiving the prestigious Florence Nightingale award.
Firdousa Jan, hailing from the Chaar-e-Shareef area of Budgam and presently residing in Bagh-e-Mehtab, Srinagar, was honoured with the award in Delhi on Thursday.
In a phone conversation, Firdousa expressed her delight and gratitude for receiving the award. She stated, “It demonstrates that your efforts are being acknowledged.”
Currently pursuing a PhD, Firdousa has been appointed as a tutor for one year at the College of Nursing in SKIMS Soura. She was recognised with the award for her exceptional contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic, post-pandemic work in slum areas, support for the underprivileged section of society, and raising awareness about the harmful effects of drugs and mental health issues.
“I have organized awareness programs in educational institutions to sensitize youth about drug addiction and conducted mental stress management programs since psychiatric disorders are on the rise due to stress in Kashmir,” Firdousa explained. She further added, “At present, my focus is on my PhD, and my research papers have been published in various publications.”
In a message to fellow nurses, Firdousa Jan emphasized the importance of compassion in their work and a commitment to providing quality patient care. She stressed that nursing is not just about administering injections but involves evidence-based nursing care. Firdousa encouraged nurses to continuously enhance their skills and knowledge through education in order to deliver exemplary care, as the boundaries of compassion know no limits. She advised them to mobilize all available resources to serve society better.
The National Florence Nightingale Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 were presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.
The National Florence Nightingale Award was established in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to acknowledge the commendable services rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to society.
