Bangalore: Justina Nancy Mendonca Conferred Florence Nightingale Award

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 14: Justina Nancy Mendonca, nursing superintendent of Columbia Asia Hospital, was conferred the prestigious Florence Nightingale Award on the occasion of International Nurses' Day.

She was given the award in recognition of her services and adjudged the best nursing superintendent. She was one among the twelve who received this award in various categories.

Justina believes that a nurse' upmost duty is to serve with compassion and inculcate a thirst for knowledge. It is a noble profession, she says, admitting that she herself is totally absorbed in her profession although she had not chosen it initially as a career.

She has completed almost a decade in her field, and the award comes as a recognition of her selfless service over the years.

Commenting on the state of the nursing profession in the country, she says that the advent of corporate-run hospitals has led to better facilities and better working conditions for nurses. The government hospitals need to improve, especially in terms of technology.

Though the nursing institutions in India are providing the best the education, the nurses still look for better jobs abroad, and this problem needs to be dealt with, she feels.

Lalitha H, Government College of Nursing (best lecturer); Veena Kumari P S, M S Ramaiah Medical Teaching Hospital (best staff nurse); Leela Yeshwant Potagoli, Sree Narasimharaja District Hospital, Kolar (best staff nurse); S M Vishalakshi, Chigateri General Hospital, Davangere (best staff nurse); Jennifer Ann Joseph, St Martha’s (best Anglo-Indian nurse) were also honoured with the award.