Action sought against authorities for mentioning ‘strike participation’ in nurses’ work experience certificates

The Kerala Compulsory Nursing Servicers’ Association and the State branch of the Trained Nurses’ Association of India have demanded action against medical and nursing superintendents at the Government Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam, for issuing experience certificates to nursing graduates undergoing compulsory internship at the institution by mentioning their “unauthorised absence” from work due to a recent strike.

Association leaders allegedly accused officials of retaliating against nursing graduates by stating they had participated in the strike. The certificates issued reportedly included a statement marking the period from January 6 to 8 as unauthorised absence due to the strike. Nurses’ associations have urged Health Minister Veena George and the Principal of Government Nursing College, Ernakulam, to take action against the superintendents.

Incidentally, the nursing graduates under the banner of Kerala Compulsory Nursing Services Association reportedly had organised a strike demanding a solution to the discrepancies in the assignment of night duties. The association allegedly pointed out that they had informed the authorities in advance about the strike.

The decision to include strike participation in the work experience certificates will hinder students’ job and higher education prospects, especially those belonging to financially backward communities. Action should be taken against the medical and nursing superintendents for their inhuman treatment, according to the request submitted to the Health Minister. 

However, hospital authorities said a ‘still working certificate’ was reportedly issued based on the nursing students’ attendance. They assured that a more lenient approach would be taken when issuing the final work experience certificate.