Rajasthan's doctorate nurses cannot use 'Dr' with their names

Jaipur: In a peculiar case, three nurses practising in Rajasthan’s government hospitals, who have earned their doctorate, cannot prefix ‘Dr’ before their names.

The medical and health department of Rajasthan has denied these nurses the permission to use the ‘Dr’ with their names, citing confusion among patients regarding actual medical doctors and doctorate nurses.

But these three nurses, who have completed their PhDs in the nursing related fields, only wanted the government to recognise their higher studies and research and address them as Dr in their correspondence with the government, which the government has denied for the time being.

Suresh Nawal, director (non-gazetted), medical and health department issued a letter dated Feb 9, stating that the proposal by the three nurses to use ‘Dr’ with their names, has been denied.

Rajasthan Nurses Association state president Narendra Singh Shekhawat told Deccan Herald that these three nurses, who include both male and female, had written to the concerned department three months back, the reply of which came three days back.

He adds: “Not just them, but a number of other nurses have completed their doctorates related with the medical and nursing field but most never thought of writing to the government. These three only wanted ‘Dr’ prefixed in their correspondence with the government , i.e an acknowledgment from the government of their hard work in the academic field as well. The permission to use ‘Dr’ would have motivated many others to pursue research, which would ultimately benefit the patients. Unfortunately the government has denied them the permission, saying that it would create confusion amongst the patients as they would think nurses are medical doctors too. But we will pursue the matter and meet the health minister and if possible Chief Minister too.”

Nurses are the backbone for providing quality health care services in the state and they represent almost 50 per cent of the health professionals in the state. More than 50,000 nursing staff had gone on mass leave in August last year demanding increase in pay, increase in postings, time-bound promotions and change in colour of their uniform. They have been demanding that they get multiple promotions the same as other cadres in government services.