In a landmark initiative aimed at redefining healthcare leadership in India, Devi Shetty, Chairman and Founder of Narayana Health, has announced plans to establish the country’s first nurse-led hospital, where nurses will take charge of operational management alongside their clinical responsibilities.

The upcoming smart, paperless hospital in Banashankari, Bengaluru, will introduce a new model of hospital governance by placing nurses at the centre of administrative decision-making, with the long-term goal of developing them into future hospital CEOs. The announcement was made through a video shared on Narayana Health’s official social media platforms.

Unlike conventional hospitals, where nurses primarily focus on patient care, the new facility will enable them to oversee operational workflows, governance and management functions. The initiative seeks to recognise nurses not only as caregivers but also as leaders capable of driving healthcare institutions.

To prepare participants for these expanded responsibilities, Narayana Health will offer selected nurses a dual-benefit model. In addition to their regular clinical salary, they will receive management-linked incentives and be enrolled in an executive management programme at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. The specialised training is designed to equip nurses with leadership, finance, operations and strategic management skills required to lead modern healthcare organisations.

The programme is open to nurses with one to two years of professional experience, signalling a shift from seniority-based leadership to merit, ambition and leadership potential. According to Dr Shetty, the initiative aims to create opportunities for young nursing professionals to progress from bedside caregiving to boardroom leadership.

The announcement comes at a time when healthcare systems worldwide are increasingly recognising the critical role of nurses in improving patient outcomes, hospital efficiency and healthcare innovation. By combining clinical expertise with executive education, the initiative could redefine career pathways in India’s nursing profession and strengthen leadership diversity within the healthcare sector.

If successful, the nurse-led hospital model could inspire similar reforms across hospitals in India, creating new opportunities for nursing professionals while demonstrating that healthcare leadership can extend well beyond the doctor’s office to those who are often at the heart of patient care.