In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection 1 of Section 16 of Indian Nursing Council Act,

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-12032024-252866 EXTRAORDINARY PART III—Section 4 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 152] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024/PHALGUNA 16, 1945 INDIAN NURSING COUNCIL NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 16th February, 2024 INDIAN NURSING COUNCIL {NURSE PRACTITIONER IN MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (NPMH) - POSTGRADUATE RESIDENCY PROGRAM} REGULATIONS, 2023 F. No. 11-1/2022-INC (ii).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 16 of Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 (XLVIII of 1947), as amended from time to time, the Indian Nursing Council hereby makes the following regulations, namely — 1. SHORT TITLE AND COMMENCEMENT i. These Regulations may be called the Indian Nursing Council {Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing (NPMH) - Postgraduate Residency Program} Regulations, 2023. ii. These shall come into force on the date of notification of the same in the Official Gazette of India. The Regulations set out, in the sections that follow, definitions of key terms used in the programme, the objectives of the Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing (NPMH) Postgraduate Residency Programme, eligibility criteria for admission (built upon a B.Sc./Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing or equivalent nursing qualification with registration as a Nurse/Midwife and requisite clinical experience), the duration of the programme as a two-year, full-time postgraduate residential programme, intake/seat norms, faculty and infrastructure requirements for institutions conducting the programme, and the scheme of examination. The curriculum prescribed under the Regulations is organised into theory and clinical practicum courses, including "Foundations of Mental Health Nursing" (comprising units on the history and evolution of mental health nursing, mental health assessment, psychobiology, psychopharmacology, and legal and ethical issues, totalling 96 hours of instruction, with an accompanying bibliography of reference texts), followed by advanced courses on Mental Health Nursing covering the nurse practitioner's role in the diagnosis, treatment planning, prescribing and management of patients with psychiatric and mental health conditions across the lifespan, individual and group therapeutic interventions, psychopharmacological management (including antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, and management of conditions such as status epilepticus with injection Diazepam), and community/family-based mental health care. The curriculum includes prescribed clinical postings and a stipend/salary provision for candidates admitted to the programme, along with a diagrammatic representation (Figure-1) of the core-course framework. The Regulations further prescribe, by way of appendices: Appendix 1 — the list of equipment required to be maintained by the institution/college conducting the programme; Appendix 3 — a Clinical Log Book comprising skill checklists for procedures and competencies to be recorded, dated, and signed for each candidate as they are performed during clinical postings; and Appendix 5 — additional prescribed formats and reference material for the programme. Investigations that may be ordered for/by the Nurse Practitioner and independent procedures/orders/treatment they may institute are illustrated, including, for patients on Clozapine — Complete Blood Count; for patients on Lithium — Serum Lithium level; for patients undergoing ECT — ECG, blood glucose, LFT, KFT, lipid profile, thyroid function test; and for patients on mood stabilisers and antipsychotic medicines — ECG, blood glucose, LFT, KFT, lipid profile, thyroid function test; with independent nursing orders/interventions including assistance with activities of daily living (personal/self-care), relaxation therapy (deep breathing exercises), progressive muscle relaxation therapy, activity therapy, assessment of side effects, non-pharmacological management of medication side effects, family therapy, group therapy, and behavioural interventions (crisis management). [Signed] DR. T. DILEEP KUMAR, President [ADVT.-III/4/Exty./797/2023-24]