I joined nursing for the GNM program in 1967, neither too willingly nor unwillingly. Family circumstances were such that this was the best option for me. My experience, in the beginning, was interesting but the strict rules and regulations were new for me. We used to be sent to the clinical experience from the very beginning. Our teachers were strict but helpful. I started liking nursing and by the time I completed the course I was very happy. I topped in the state council exam in the final year. And then we had a separate nine months of midwifery training and I became a full-fledged nurse (RNRM) in Dec 1970. I got posted in the maternity section of the hospital and continued working there for three and a half years that was the bond period for us. We did not pay for our training in CMC Ludhiana, Punjab rather received some stipend that would take care of our day to day expenses. Having trained at Christian mission nursing school and worked in the renowned CMC medical college hospital transformed an ordinary girl into a compassionate, committed and technically skilled and confident nurse who loved her profession and went on adding academic excellence and clinical expertise. I got sponsored for PC B.Sc. Nursing that I did from PGI Chandigarh and back in CMC Ludhiana, worked as an in-charge urban community health centre for one year and then in the college of nursing as a clinical instructor for two years. Later on, when I was working In Choithram Hospital Indore again received sponsorship and did M.Sc Nursing from CMC Ludhiana. I was the University topper in both B.Sc Nursing and M.Sc.Nursing and received Gold Medals from Punjab University, and finally did PhD in Nursing(I was already sixty years of age) from Bhoj Open University Bhopal in 2009.
I was a brilliant student and enjoyed advancing my academic career very successfully but my heart was always with patients in the clinical field be it hospital or community health settings. In CMC Ludhiana I mainly worked in the maternity section and maybe that got me interested in looking after childbearing women and made me devote my time and energy in the welfare of the women. I had good bedside experience in CMC when I came to Indore in 1979, Choithram Hospital had just started and I joined it as ward supervisor. Our Nursing Superintendent, Mrs S. Nair was an ex-army person, very enthusiastic, energetic, and expecting strictly disciplined behaviour from all nurses and another workforce under her but she had a heart of gold. I enjoyed working with her. I was the only nurse with a college degree at that time in this new hospital. Director of the hospital was interested to start a nursing training program and asked me to help him with preparing the proposal. The proposal was prepared for B.Sc nursing but after nearly three years, permission we got was for starting GNM training with only twenty seats. In the meantime, I initiated the training of nursing assistants to help ward in charges in their routine work and also assist bedside nurses in meeting basic care needs of patients. A proper syllabus was prepared for one year. The candidates were selected from among the class- four staff with minimum 8th class pass who were already working in the hospital and they were given a stipend of Rs 500/- per month. The first batch of four girls completed their training after they cleared their exam, they were given a certificate and were appointed as nursing assistants in the hospital. This training continued for many years even after GNM course was started in 1982.
I remained in the hospital as an assistant nursing superintendent and later took over as Nursing Superintendent when Mrs Nair left. The directors of the hospital would not let me leave the hospital, however, the nursing school (later college) always remained under my care, till I joined the college as Principal in the year 1996 when we initiated B.Sc Nursing program.
As I said, working with the patients was my first love, therefore, I always liked the different roles that I had in the hospital: a staff nurse, ward supervisor, Assistant Nursing Superintendent and Nursing Superintendent. My love and passion towards nursing were developed and strengthened during my studentship and my 3 years of bedside nursing at CMCH Ludhiana. In Choithram Hospital, I grabbed every opportunity to inculcate a similar spirit of care and compassion in all the nurses who worked with me. My innovative ideas such as starting the Nursing Assistant’s training, initiating a geriatric ward (which was later modified into some speciality area) starting Nurse-Led clinics in the area of Psychiatric Nursing and another for preparing pregnant women for Normal/ Natural Birth. Then demand came from the pregnant women for a Natural Birthing Center and we were able to create “SWA” the midwife-Led Alongside Natural Birthing Center in 2016.
This was not all that simple, we gained these milestones gradually as we had earned respect and dignity for the nursing profession by our actions. By creating a good team of nurses and teaching staff and increasing our visibility, we had won the confidence of not only our medical colleagues and administrators but also of the general public. People of Indore respect and admire Choithram nurses and nursing students. Academic and clinical experience that Choithram nursing students and nursing staff get at this institution makes them world-class nurses. Our nurses are working successfully all over the world and I call them my ‘AMBASSADORS’.
Where do you get ideas to do something different and something that helps you to grow professionally and also contributes to enhancing professional standards?
As far as I am concerned, I always used to read a lot ( reading is my favourite hobby), interacted with professional colleagues and attended and participated in state, national and international conferences. I am a life member of a number of professional organizations such as TNAI, NRSI, SOCHNI, NNF, SOMI, MP Voluntary Health Association, Hospital Infection Society of India, Nursing Honor Society of India, Burn Care Foundation, Y W C A, Rotary Club, Indore, Indian Association of Neonatal Nurses, Society of Neurological Nurses -India, Thalassemia and Child Welfare Society, and IAPH. Indore Birthing Network and some more. Being associated with professional and social NGOs expands your network and when you interact with others in the profession or outside with people of other professions your outlook on life changes for the better. Meeting people from different walks of life during your travel and in professional gatherings, you receive a lot of love, care, knowledge and it enhances your virtues of compassion, commitment and dedication. These virtues just overflow from you to others whom you meet because you have them in abundance.
I had a very fulfilling professional life and now when I am retired from my regular 9-5 job, I have initiated two projects, both close to my heart and soul. I started my own midwife-led clinic “MOM-Miracles Of Motherhood” where I prepare pregnant women for Normal/Natural Birthing. And I have launched my own publication house “Mullick Publications” in the memory of my father, Late Sh. N.P.Mullick. I publish the ‘Indian Journal of Nursing Studies’ biannual research-based journal and plan to publish books.
So, this is a brief account of my professional life.
Now, my message to young nurses: ‘Enjoy what you do & Be open to receive and to give’. When ideas come to your mind, share them with like-minded people, they will help you to work on them and put them into action. Don’t accept anything less than excellent, first from yourself then from others. Put your not just a hundred per cent but more in whatever you do and always know that you can always make your ‘Best Better’. Whenever you get an opportunity, meet influential people and ‘showcase’ Nursing, your profession in such a way that they are forced to listen to you and help you in solving matters that are concerned with improving the status of the nursing profession. I am saying this because I have done this. I would take an appointment with the State Health Minister, Governor of the state when we got hurdles in starting M.Sc. Nursing program. I was humble yet assertive, and they could not refuse and my work was done happily by them.
The basic principles of success are three: “clarity of mind, purity of heart and sincerity in action”, and I have seen they really work.
And finally, I believe in what famous writer Paulo Coelho says in his book Alchemist, “ When you have a strong desire for something and you are passionately working on it with your heart and your soul, the whole universe conspires to help you make it happen”
I have experienced this, not once not twice, but many times.
All the best!!!
Respected ma’am, u’r such a great influencer. This is my personal experience that when I am with u i feel that positive enrgy radiates around you. Whenever I feel low or demotivated I certainly wants to talk to u just to get charged. Your presence itself is like wisdom and knowledge radiating from you. You r the best mentor anyone could ever have. Thanku for being you ma’am🙏🙏
You have been a blessing to us madam. Your passion,expertise, knowledge and love for this profession is commendable.We have and are still lucky to learn a lot from you and even more thrilled to see you acheive all your dreams with the same energy and enthusiasm and not only that you are also passing this positivity to us..I have considered myself very lucky to be your student and privileged to have the oppurtunity to work with you..Truly a blessing for me!!Love you Madam and thank you.
Thank you Varsha. Keep doing good things. God Bless You
Respected Dr. Usha Ukande mam, was an excellent & blessed experience of you, I can imagine the wonders you have experienced, all these were inspiration and motivation to young nurses and coming generation like us. I have attended your wonderful talk regarding Normal Birthing Process, Especially that Normal Birth clinic (at Choithram) running by you along with 4th year B.Sc Nursing students for their experience ,really it was an amazing presentation in SAVEETHA UNIVERSITY, Chennai in 2017@ International Conference, even when i met you first time at there mam. Thank you for suggestions to young nurses specially, definitely will follow mam, thanks for you love and blessings, With Regards your new Sishya Mr. K. Sesha Kumar. I pray GOD to give you a healthy and happy retirement life.
Thank you Seshu
Your journey always inspired every nurses, your
efforts like a shining star for nurses.Your generosity overwhelms me.
Thank u Kaushlendra
Great ma’am always inspirational young nurses . You are a great leader
Great
Always inspirational to all
Role model for young nurses.
Thank you mam
For encouraging words
thank you Dharmesh
Thank you
It’s so encouraging to read your academic life journey…
Final statement is so inspiring.. positivity helps and desire drives and whole community supports!! This is very true.. thanks for sharing such inspiring biography mam!!!
Your experience, expertise, passion to learn and teach and such a down to earth attitude in your words itself a golden message to young nurses like us mam.. How patience and perservance earns a person respect and dignity u r d living example.. Thanks for inspiring message .
Thank you Moulasab
Great to hear about you madam… . Really overwhelmed by your expertise and experience. .We pray god to give health and prosperity for you
Thank you Basavaraja