Community-based nursing education in Pakistan

The nursing profession is not looked on favorably by Muslim families. In one rural area there were only three nurses for 1 million people. Community health and public health care have been lacking in the nursing curriculum. Therefore, preparing recruits for the community health nursing (CHN) posts in the Community Health Sciences Department (CHSD) and for faculty of the School of Nursing has involved a sequence of continuing education: inservice and on-the-job training in the CHSD and courses in the new BScN program. Those who joined with a diploma in nursing and a year of midwifery, and who followed this sequence, could be selected as Aga Khan University (AKU) scholars, and be sponsored for support in the two-year BScN program with its community health orientation. After two more years of advanced experience, the CHN is given the opportunity to apply for master's studies abroad. All who were accepted have returned to work at the Aga Khan University and have increased their career opportunities.