Nurses in the health sector are demonstrating remarkable patience and innovation. From managing the increasing burden of chronic diseases to promoting community health, they are seen to be performing efficiently amid increasingly complex challenges.

Nepali nurses have been leading the way in providing health services. But systemic neglect of nurses' well-being is exacerbating the shortage of health workers. The combined effects of inadequate work environment and low wages, heavy workload and emotional exhaustion are seriously affecting the physical and mental health of Nepalese nurses. Because of this, many nurses are moving towards leaving the profession. In fact, this is a worrying situation.

This year's International Nurses Day is being celebrated globally today with the slogan 'Our nurses are our future...'. Nurses Day is celebrated every year on May 12 at the call of the International Nursing Council (ICN). 

According to Nepal Nursing Council (NNC), there are 122 thousand 313 registered nurses of various categories so far. This includes registered nurses, assistant nurse midwives, midwives and specialists. According to a study, 45 thousand nurses are active as active workers in Nepal. Of these, about 18,000 nurses are working in government hospitals, 17,000 nurses are working in private health institutions and 5,000 nurses are working in educational institutions. About 20,000 to 30,000 nurses are underemployed and unemployed. However, there is a huge need for nurses to provide healthcare in the country. About 22,000 nurses have been officially allowed to go abroad. Many other nurses are in the process of foreign visas. The rest are found to have gone abroad on student or tourist visas. 

The main challenge of nurses in Nepal is low salary and poor working environment. Although there is a minimum salary policy for staff nurses determined by the Nepal government, many nurses earn only 10 to 25 thousand rupees per month. It also lacks overtime pay and job security. Lack of professional advancement is another problem they face. Limited opportunities for professional advancement in the domestic health sector are motivating many nurses to go abroad. High workload and fatigue are also another problem they face. Fatigue due to mismatched patient-nurse ratios and tight shifts. As a result, job dissatisfaction has increased. Inadequate infrastructure is also causing them problems. 

The problems of nurses are increasing due to the lack of necessary resources and systems in Nepal's health institutions. Because of these problems, Nepalese nurses are being attracted to countries like the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. As a result, even though there is a large number of registered nurses, there is a shortage of nurses in Nepal's health institutions. For example, to reach 550 beds in Veer Hospital, at least 938 nurses are required, but currently only 400 nurses are employed. Similarly, although there is a need for 600 nurses in Kanti Children's Hospital, only 169 are currently employed. 

In order to sustain Nepali nurses in the domestic health sector, it is necessary to increase motivation and expand professional development opportunities. By providing training opportunities, study leave, training programs and clear career progression paths for nurses, they can be motivated to work in the country's health sector. Similarly, by investing in health institutions to strengthen health infrastructure, the workload of nurses can be reduced and job satisfaction can be increased. 

The role of nurses in Nepal's health system is very important. They not only care for patients, but also contribute to the effectiveness and sustainability of the healthcare system. When the well-being and care of nurses improves, it not only strengthens the health system, but also has a positive impact on the economy as a whole. Better care of nurses and improvement of working environment also increases their performance and efficiency. 

Migration and absenteeism of nurses is a big problem in Nepal. This problem can be reduced through proper care of nurses, good working conditions and fair salaries. 

When nurses feel the value and respect of their work, stability in their work increases and the health system improves. Continuous improvement of nurses' practice in Nepal and investment in their education and professional development can enable nurses to assume senior leadership roles. This ensures high quality service in the healthcare sector and helps in the sustainability of the healthcare system in the long run. 

Nurses' fair pay, well-being and professional development opportunities help improve their economic status. This gives them opportunities for stability and prosperity, which contributes to the overall economy of the nation. This increases the economic contribution of nurses in Nepal and the prosperity of the country. Improving the care and working conditions of nurses ensures the long-term sustainability and capacity of the health care system.