Goa Health Minster says practical exam mandatory for nurses to join government hospital

Nurses who aspire to join government hospitals in Goa will have to give ‘practical’ exam, told state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday.

“State-run Institute of Nursing Education will design a module to test the practical knowledge of students and it will be implemented for the selection process. Nurses applying for jobs in government hospitals will have to pass this exam,” Rane told reporters in Panaji.

He told that the decision was taken to ensure transparency in the recruitment process. He also added that the test will be held during the next round of recruitment of nurses.

Rane was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function held in Goa on International Nurses Day, on Friday.

“There has been a lot of injustice done while selecting nurses. We will not allow it now,” he said.

According to the minister, an aspirant who had applied for government job as nurse complained that she was asked to pay Rs 5 lakh to get the job.

Stating that there are several vacancies for nurses pending in the state, Rane said the government will fill 150 vacancies soon.

He also told the government is working on a process to absorb nurses, who are working on contractual basis in different government hospitals for the last 7-8 years.

Specialisation courses for nurses in neo-natal care and cardiology would be introduced in the coming months, Rane added.

(With PTI inputs)