5th International Nursing Conference at Akal College of Nursing

Kalgidhar trust is committed to the cause of quality education and bending with spiritual rejuvenation and thus creating human beings with compassion and competency and commitment to serve humanity at large. The management of Kalgidhar Trust under the divine leadership of Hon’ble Baba Iqbal Singh Ji is well aware of being nerve center of creating excellence in education. This college is close to the heart of our Hon’ble Chancellor of Eternal University Baru Sahib (H.P) has held four International Conferences on subject themes, Nursing Informatics, Global Nursing, Community Nursing & Gynecology and Obstetrics Nursing were conducted.

Akal College of Nursing was established in the year 2008 by the Kalgidhar Trust, BaruSahib and was approved by the Himachal Pradesh Nursing Registration Council and Indian Nursing Council. Recently this college marked another milestone in nursing by being the first college in Himachal Pradesh to start M.Sc. Nursing. This college strives to provide value based education, and to develop skills for achieving the highest level of professional competence and to inculcate the qualities of disciplined living, honesty and integrity. Akal College of Nursing BaruSahib has organized its 5th International Nursing Conference and Pre-conference workshop at Eternal University, BaruSahib on 2nd, 3rd, 4th October, 2015.

Its pleasure to announce that Akal College of Nursing successfully ended up with the first day of 5th International Nursing Conference. The theme for this year’s Conference is “Innovations in Nursing Education and Practice.”The Conference mainly aimed to ascertain new trends and innovations in modern Nursing Education, to continue Professional development, to familiarize innovative teaching learning framework and to incorporate innovative models of Nursing Education. The registrations of delegates started at 8:00am. There were total 273registrations including 200 student delegates, 38 Faculty delegates and 35 resource persons.. Ms. Priya, Nursing Tutor, Akal College of Nursing, BaruSahib and Ms. Kalpna, Nursing Tutor, Akal College of Nursing, BaruSahib hosted the session.

Inaugural ceremony started with Shabad by the students of Akal School of divine music; that gave a glimpse of spirituality. Bouquets were presented to the resource persons. Dignitaries lit the lamp up. Dr. Davender Singh, Secretary, Kalgidhar Trust, BaruSahib open his talk with a very divine thought of combining modernization in technology with healing touch. He added that absolute politeness and humanity must include care, love and compassion along with innovations. Dr. Neelam Kaur, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, BaruSahib, extends her gratitude to nursing fraternity. She focused on strengthening and bringing up the instructional leaders.

His Holiness Baba Ji, Chancellor, Eternal University, Baru Sahib released the Souvenir and showered blessings to all nursing students, faculty members and delegates. Mrs. Kaushalya Chaudhary, Registar, HPNRC (Guest of Honour for the Event)delivered the inaugural address. She congratulated Akal College of Nursing for organizing Conference and added that it will be useful to all the delegates

Professor Sujana Chakravarty gave overview of Conference. She advised the nursing students to realize what really nursing is and how many nursing leaders are there in the Country. Professor Sujana Chakravarty addressed the issues like Detachment of nursing education and practice, linking the theory with practice and non-attending certifications.

After tea break Dr. Jill .B. Derstine Ed.D, RN, FAAN unfolded the theme of the International conference. She called Innovation as “Revolution”; a positive change and to get that change going. Group activity called “Ice breaking session” was carried out to choose the best student delegate and the best faculty delegate. Cash prize of Rs. 5000/- each will be rewarded to the winners. Plenary session-I was initiated under the chairmanship of Dr. Jill .B. Derstine Ed.D, RN, FAAN, Dr. Sandhya Ghai and Professor Triza Jiwan with the sub-theme “Trends in modern Nursing Education.” Dr. Diane D. Depew, Assistant Professor, Drexel University, USA, presented her topic on “Technology, simulation and Education.” At the end of the presentation Dr. Jill added that demonstration of simulation given by Dr. Rocky Rockstraw, Faculty Drexel University was very helpful for the students of ACN, BaruSahib.

Presentation ends with discussion and resource persons asked some questions. Dr Sandhya Ghai (Chairperson for the session) stressed to add these new techniques to Nursing Education. Dr. Triza Jiwan congratulated the presenter and added that the presence of students in class is must; non-attending certifications should be avoided to enhance skills of the students. Dr. AV Raman, Director Westfort College of Nursing, Trissur, Kerala presented her topic on “Innovation advancement: Nursing Education.

She focused on competence based Education. Next, Dr. Suresh K Sharma, Principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS Rishikesh put light on the topic Status of Nursing/Midwifery Education and Practice. After Lunch break Ms. Renuka Das, Principal, CON, Gwalior talked about Fostering innovative models of Nursing Education to address the changing needs in health care. Side by side Concurrent sessions were also carried out in the Auditorium in which oral paper presentations were done under the chairmanship of Dr. Satwant Baltej, Former Dean ACN BaruSahib, Dr. Rajinder Mahal, Principal, Mohan Dai CON, Ludhiana and Dr. Sushma K Saini, Lecture, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Plenary session-II was initiated with the sub-theme “Transforming Nursing Education” under the Chairmanship of Dr. Marylou McHugh, Dr. Pity Koul and Dr. Kanwaljit Gill. Presentation was initiated by Dr. Jogindrawati Gupta, Principal, SGHCON, Sohana, Mohali on the topic “Value based curriculum and Evidence Based Practice in Nursing”. Dr. Prakasamma, Executive Director, ANSWERS, Hyderabad was next to continue with plenary session-II. Fortifying staff development, Nursing Education and challenge on Non-attending program certification: a much awaited topic to be discussed was covered by Dr. Sister Anne, Principal, Vijay Marie College of Nursing, Hyderabad.

Plenary session-III includes the sub-theme “Collaborative Teaching Learning”. Dr. Raman Kalia, Principal, Saraswati Nursing Institute, Morinda, Kurali, Punjab discussed regarding Interdisciplinary collaboration in Nursing Education. The cultural presentation of traditional Ganesh Vandana, Choreography and mime by Akal College of Nursing students which was appreciated by one and all. The event ended with happy note and lots of learning.

~ Tapasleen kaur
~ New Delhi, 5th Oct ’15