The Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Nursing Union began a black badge protest on Monday, December 8. They said their repeated appeals to the hospital administration failed to fix long-standing problems. The protest aims to highlight issues like rising workload, restoring medical services for contract nurses’ parents, filling vacant posts, earned leave encashment, cadre review, and fair pay for nursing lecturers and their spouses as per AIIMS standards. Union president S. Ashalatha said the protest will continue peacefully and legally until the issues are resolved. She added the union submitted several requests to the management but received no helpful response. Unresolved problems include service benefits, promotions, staffing needs, and basic welfare for nursing staff. The union demands implementation of earned leave encashment approved by the NIMS Executive Board and an increased gratuity amount of ₹16,00,000 as per government order G.O. Ms.No.56 from June 2021. They also want three months of maternity leave for female employees, as required by G.O. Ms.No.209 issued in November 2016. Staffing is a major concern. The union calls for permanent appointments against vacant posts and immediate regularisation of contract nurses to fix shortages. They also want dedicated offices for the Chief Nursing Officer and Deputy Nursing Superintendent. “Doctors are not the only ones requiring office space and nursing administrators too need rooms to complete essential paperwork,” said Ms. Ashalatha.