Florence Nightingale Awards

Florence Nightingale Awards

Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820. From a very young age, Florence Nightingale was active in philanthropy, ministering to the ill and poor people in the village neighbouring her family’s estate. By the time she was 16 years old, it was clear to her that nursing was her calling. Despite opposition from the family, she obtained the permission of her father in the year 1951 to undergo training as a nurse and went to Kaiserwerth, where she studied nursing at the Institute of Protestant Deconesses. She was appointed resident lady superintendent of a hospital for invalid women in Harley Street, London. During World War, she volunteered her services and was eventually given permission to take a group of thirty-eight nurses to Turkey. She was given the task of organizing the barracks hospital. She was able to dramatically reduce the death-rate of her patients, by improving the quality of sanitation. She came to prominence while serving as a nurse during this period, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was known as "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night.
To spread her opinion on reform, she published two books, Notes on Hospital and Notes on Nursing in the year 1859. With the support of friends, she was able to raise funds to improve the quality of nursing. With this money, in 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London. It was the first secular nursing school in the world, now part of King's College London. She also became involved in the training of nurses for employment in the workhouses. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates Ms. Florence Nightingale’s birthday, falling on May 12^th each year with the production and distribution of educational and public information.
Her social reforms include improving healthcare for all sections of British society, improving healthcare and advocating for better hunger relief in India. Florence Nightingale is broadly acknowledged and revered as the pioneer of modern nursing. The Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses was named in her honour, and the annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday.
Florence Nightingale Awards
Nursing is a profession in which the element of service to humanity is very strong and is characterized by distinctive traditions, skills, knowledge, values and discipline. Nursing personnel are frontline providers in delivery of cost-effective and quality health care. Their contributions for the implementation of health and family welfare programmes of the Government and towards achievement of national health goals are significant. Nursing services and educational facilities in India have expanded considerably since Independence and Nursing roles and responsibilities have multiplied over the years. Indian nurses are acclaimed all over the world for their professionalism, dedication and hard work.
To recognize and honour the meritorious services rendered by outstanding nursing personnel employed in Central Government/State Government/Union territory Administration and voluntary organizations, National Awards are given to them by the Hon’ble President of India as a mark of highest recognition. A total of 35 awards i.e. 20 for Nurses, 12 for Auxiliary Nurse Mid-wives and 3 for Lady Health Visitors are awarded annually. One award is earmarked for each State/Union Territory, subject to availability of nursing personnel with meritorious services. In the year 2013, 35 Nursing Personnel were honoured with this prestigious award at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The award carries a medal, a certificate, a citation and a cash award of Rs. 50,000/-
Categorization of award

In accordance with the increase in the total number of awards to 35 in the year 2007, 35 awards have been given each year from the said year onwards. One Award is earmarked for each State/UT, Central Government and Defence services subject to the availability of nursing personnel with meritorious services. The award is given to outstanding nursing personnel employed in Central/State/UTs, Non-Government and Voluntary Organizations. Nurses working hospitals and community health, Lady Health Visitors, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, Nurse Educators and Military organizations. The number of awards given to various categories of nursing personnel are as under:-

1. 
   Nurses working in community or hospital, Nurse educators and Nurse administrator-20;
   
2. 
   Auxiliary Nurse Midwives-12; and
   
3. 
   Lady Health Visitors-03
   

Criteria for selection of Awardees

The nominations from State Government, Central Government, Private institutions/Missionaries and Prominent Voluntary organizations of the concerned State are required to be forwarded after selection by the State level Committee headed by the Secretary (H&FW). The nominees need to have a minimum of 10 years of experience in any of the specified avenues of nursing, which may be relaxed in the case of exceptionally outstanding performance. The candidates selected for the award should furnish documents to the satisfaction of the selection committee that he/she has performed beyond the normal expectation of the job when compared to others with equivalent attributes. The detailed category-wise criteria are as under:-

Community Health/Hospital
(i)The nurse in her/his regular job in the hospital or community contributes to conditions to improve patient/family community care by exceeding the limitations of the job functions as demonstrated by:
Development or organization of a unit of responsibility which provides extraordinary care to patients by increasing own skills and knowledge, developing staff, procuring supplies and equipment, streamlining techniques and maintaining esprit de corps of time which aids in the recovery of a group

sufficient to bring recognition to the employing organization to the medical community.

Development of a community ort section of a community in the betterment of their collective health status through increasing own skills and knowledge, developing staff, procuring supplies and resources, and maintaining esprit de corps sufficient to bring recognition to the employing organization in the medical community or organization of a unit of responsibility which provides extraordinary care to patients by increasing own skills and knowledge, developing staff, procuring supplies and equipment, streamlining techniques and maintaining esprit de corps of time which aids in the recovery of a group sufficient to bring recognition to the employing organization to the medical community.
(ii) The nurse who has a regular job but in times of emergency of crisis such as accident, fire, flood or famine, which may occur at any time, performs in a heroic manner without regard to her/his own time, safety and/ or possessions as demonstrated by:

1. 
   Rescuing a person(s) under hazardous conditions
   
2. 
   Performing life saving techniques with a successful outcome
   
3. 
   Prevention of a catastrophe by initiative taken or leadership assumed without official sanction ( firefighting, evacuation, mob control)
   
4. 
   Remaining at post over an extended period of time which aids in the recovery of a group of community following a disaster such as organizing communication, nutrition first aid, evacuation or other activities which become necessary in emergencies.
   

(iii) The nurse who has regular job in the Hospital/Community is:

1. 
   Associated/contributed extra ordinary work with activities or programmes such as Leprosy Control, Tuberculosis, HIV AIDS, Cancer Care, Palliative care, Mental health, other communicable and non-communicable illness, Psychiatric Mental Health, Old age Management, Special children, (Mental Retardation physically challenged, under privileged) and contribution to National Health programme
   
2. 
   Working in difficult areas like tribal and other interior or remote areas.
   

Nursing Education
The nurse in his/her regular job in an educational setting contributes to the quality or quantity of education exceeds the job expectations as demonstrated by:

1. 
   Development or imitation of an innovative curriculum programme of study or teaching materials that bring recognition to the organization which pays his/her salary
   
2. 
   Preparation of textbook, teaching manual or educational film that is accepted and used beyond her/his educational setting and brings recognition to the organization which pays her/his salary.
   
3. 
   Contributing in the research activities/articles/workshops/ conferences/ publications toward the standard of education.
   

Nursing Administration

Nurse in her/his job in an administrative setting in terms of hospitals/community/educational institutions/any other agencies/heading any nursing sector.

Extraordinary performance (any one):

1. 
   Towards standard of patient care in the hospital
   
2. 
   Improvement made in the status and welfare of the community
   
3. 
   Excelling the educational standard in the teaching institution
   
4. 
   Innovative changes made in the administrative set up.