These Nurses Got Real About Everything They Face And It's Shocking, TBH

By Sajeer Shaikh | 19 Jul, 2017

When you hear about anything pertaining to the medical field, your mind immediately wanders to a Gray’s Anatomy-esque scenario.

Source: Shonda Rhimes

We picture hot doctors in white coats, lots of heated drama and, well, saving lives. You know what most of us fail to picture, though? Or rather who most of us fail to picture? The true unsung, underrated heroes of our medical profession: the nurses in Pakistan.

You often hear stories about the difficulties faced by those pursuing nursing. The journey is not an easy one. 

So wee decided to talk to nurses from a renowned hospital in Karachi, asking them about their journey and the hardships they have faced to get where they’re going.

We were able to get in touch with a senior nurse and two nursing students. Fauzia Akram*, a senior nurse at the hospital, talks about her journey first:

“I was put into nursing by default. My family was not well off and in Sialkot, most of the Christian girls were enrolled in nursing programs. Toh main bhi nursing karne lag gayi.

Source: talib.pk

 

Like countless other women pursuing nursing, Fauzia struggled having her profession looked upon as “honorable”

“For some reason, nursing isn’t considered an honorable profession. Taanay parhte thay ke larki nurse ban rahi hai. The same people who would congratulate my father about my profession would then spread baseless rumors. My rickshaw ride back from late night shifts was met with questioning gazes. I thought I was pursuing a noble profession, but no. Only doctors were thought to be noble. Humein toh bas baatein sunne ko milti theen.

Source: worldwitness.org

 

Despite being a nurse for almost twenty-five years, things do not seem to be looking up for Fauzia

“Some people respect me because of my age. But dealing with doctors and patients is never easy. Doctors toh humein kuch samajhte hee nahi hain. And the patients always want to talk to the doctors. Drip hum lagayein, din raat khayal hum rukhein, aur gaalian bhi hum sunein.

Fauzia also recounted how unwanted advances and harassment also became a part of her daily life. From men ogling her and her peers, to them being propositioned inappropriately, Fauzia claims that harassment is something almost every nurse has to deal with.

Source: tribune.com.pk

 

Shazia Zubair* and Perveen Akhtar*, two nursing students, also agree with Fauzia’s claims. 

“Nurses in pakistan really don’t have it easy,” Shazia says. “I’ve heard so many people say that air hostesses ki tarah nurses ka bhi character loose hota hai. But what does my profession have to do with my character? I don’t understand ke airhostesses aur nurses itni badnaam kyun hain? You cater to people’s needs and they repay you by vilifying you. How is that fair?”

Source: lrh.gov.pk

 

Perveen shares how the treatment of nurses in Pakistan makes her want to quit this noble profession, sometimes

“I couldn’t get into the medical program, which is fine. But I love this field and I wanted to be a part of it in any way possible. Helping people, making their lives better – isn’t that also a responsibility nurses undertake? The way nurses in Pakistan are treated makes me want to quit. We come from conservative families and we fight to study. As a result, we have to live away from home for years. Uski upar, izzat bhi nahi milti. What is with the hypocrisy in our society? Do I really need to be a man to gain respect? Are doctors the only medical professionals worthy of admiration?”

Source: metro.co.uk

 

Fauzia, Shazia and Perveen are just three faces within the sea of nurses in Pakistan. However, their journey is similar to that of many other nurses in this country.

The stories you don’t hear are the lives these women have to lead. While it may not be the story of every nurse, most nurses in Pakistan face the same obstacles and hurdles. To say that it’s unfortunate that these women are subjected to such judgments and vile behavior is an understatement. Nurses in Pakistan slave away for hours on end and receive little to no appreciation for it. Perhaps it’s time that we looked past the judgments and truly see nurses for the heroes they are.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comment below.

*Names have been changed to protect identities. 

 


Cover image: Studio S

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