Nurses' promotions surge in Kazakhstan's healthcare sector
May 12, worldwide, including Kazakhstan, marks International Nurses Day - a day cherished by nursing communities from 141 countries. Today, over 146,000 nurses stand tall in Kazakhstan's healthcare sector, as alleged by Vechernyaya Astana.
Extended practice nurses extend their wings to handle various aspects of patient care:
- They tackle initial patient assessments and ongoing monitoring;
- Record-keeping and electronic logs are their forte;
- With the doctor's orders, they issue prescriptions for free via information systems;
- They manage patient flow and calendar proceedings;
- Registration of assets and population allocation to PHC organizations fall under their jurisdiction.
Moreover, the nurse's responsibilities extend to:
- Managing dispensary patients and offering consultations at home;
- Providing education on chronic diseases, encouraging home visits;
- Implementing preventive measures such as vaccinations and screenings;
- Boosting community health at all levels of healthcare delivery.
The Ministry of Health has brought forth an elevated learning pathway for these healthcare heroes, reaching from standard qualifications to academic degrees ("bachelor's - master's - doctorate"). This systematic approach meets today's competency requirements.
Kazakhstan's nursing education landscape features 94 medical colleges, including 22 state-owned and 72 private entities, with 39 of these holding high-grade medical college status. Annually, the country produces over 23,000 general profile specialists, and in the last six years, over 20,000 successful applicants holding bachelor's degrees have been absorbed by healthcare institutions.
To ensure harmony in nursing development, 20 regional coordinators have been appointed across the nation, represented by practical healthcare entities, educational institutes, and healthcare management bodies.
In celebration of this professional holiday, the International Forum "Innovations and Prospects for the Development of Nursing Service" is scheduled to be held in Turkestan on May 14-16, and the International Scientific and Practical Conference "Implementation of Best Practices in Independent Nursing in Kazakhstan" in Kyzylorda.
While digging deeper into the specifics of extended practice nurses' roles in Kazakhstan, one might draw parallels with advanced practice nurses worldwide who serve as primary care providers, specialized care providers, health educators, and key players in disaster response. These global figures have undergone postgraduate education, clinical experience, and ongoing training to stay up-to-date.
Certainly, Kazakhstan's extended practice nurses might take on similar roles such as providing specialized care, contributing to health policy, and participating in education and training programs. However, a more comprehensive understanding of their specific roles and educational pathways calls for localized information diving deep into Kazakhstan's healthcare policies, nursing educational institutions, and professional nursing organizations.
- The extended practice nurses in Kazakhstan, like their counterparts worldwide, can be found serving as primary care providers, health educators, and key players in disaster response, having undergone postgraduate education, clinical experience, and ongoing training.
- As the nursing profession continues to evolve, we can expect these advanced practitioners to broaden their roles in science, health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development sectors, contributing significantly to the nation's wellbeing.
