Dear Nursing Student

Thanks for your interest in doing an elective with EHA.

The role of the Nurse in India is different from the Nurse in the West. This is due to the traditional views of Nursing in India, which include that dealing with body fluids, and death is considered to be polluting oneself. Therefore, in India, people of the lower castes have traditionally carried out the role of the nurse.

This pattern of thought is common among Christians and non-Christians alike. Changes in Nursing education and the increased exposure of Indian nurses to Western attitudes to Nursing have helped to advance Nursing into a reputable profession. This pattern of thought has enabled Nursing to develop its own style. Nursing is mostly carried out in a functional method, which means the nurse has very little contact with the patient. She will only usually be giving medication or carrying out a quick assessment. This is complicated by the fact that limited resources in mission hospitals results in one nurse caring for 10-15 patients per shift. Nurses also have difficulties in the fact that they have limited access to the supplies and equipment needed for their nursing care.

Given that the situation here is different we have structured the Student Nurse placement program to help you have the best experience in our hospitals possible All participants will be placed with a Nurse Mentor. You will follow your mentor's duty schedule (including doing night duty, split shifts and working the standard 48-hr week).

If you are interested, please fill the Nursing electives form.

Kind regards,
EHA