Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEP 22 (NPN): Speakers at a state level nursing seminar in Kohima on Tuesday stressed that improving healthcare quality requires more than infrastructure and advanced equipment, highlighting the need for continuous assessment, infection control, patient safety and stronger nursing practices.
The two day Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) seminar, organised by Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), commenced on September 22 at NHAK Auditorium Hall under the theme “Quality in Healthcare: Empowering Safe, Effective and Patient Centred Care.” Around 100 nursing personnel from across Nagaland are attending to update their knowledge and skills in line with the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS).
Delivering the keynote address, NHAK Nursing Superintendent Pinuo Nakhro introduced participants to the NQAS framework, describing it as a national mechanism for improving, monitoring and certifying quality of care in public healthcare facilities. She said quality healthcare should not be viewed merely in terms of infrastructure or equipment but as the result of sustained efforts, proper direction and continuous improvement.
Nakhro highlighted the importance of quality improvement tools, internal assessments, infection prevention and control, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), biomedical waste management, occupational safety and patient safety. She stressed that nurses play a central role throughout a patient’s healthcare journey-from admission and treatment to monitoring, education and discharge-and that quality nursing practice directly contributes to overall healthcare outcomes.
Sessions also cover documentation, record keeping, quality indicators, KPI monitoring, patient rights, communication, medication safety and early recognition of clinical deterioration. Nakhro emphasized that proper documentation is vital for continuity of care, while medication safety requires vigilance and double checking, especially with high alert medicines.
Organising secretary Vezhodulu Swiho said the seminar was not only to provide CNE credit points but to strengthen the capacity of nursing personnel amid growing emphasis on NQAS across healthcare facilities, including rural centres. A pre test was conducted to assess participants’ existing knowledge before the technical sessions.
The inaugural programme was led by Pezalhouwheno, organising committee member, while NHAK Chaplain Kashito S Sumi offered the invocation prayer. The seminar will continue on September 23 with sessions on healthcare quality and patient safety in line with NQAS.