Akal College of Nursing, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, organized its 7th International Nursing Conference on “Family Nursing: A futuristic approach to health care” in Bhai Gurdas Hall & campus auditorium on October 27th & 28th, 2017. Akal College of Nursing always extend a warm hearted welcome to all in this valley of divine peace and Mecca of education –Baru Sahib. The fraternity of nursing is committed to the cause of comprehensive, cohesive and collaborative approach to the health care of the society at large. Family is the first cohesive unit of society to invest in healthful and mindful living. Starting and reinforcing the health interventions at the grassroots in the family is the focus of our meet this year. Let’s acknowledge family as the basic unit or the core of any civilisation, nation or community and weave this fabric of health consciousness as early as the birth of a child. The challenge for Nursing educators and researchers is to embed this concept of family nursing as a Trans-disciplinary one across all specialities of nursing.

Conference overview was given by Dr. Lekha Vishwanath at the start of the conference. The beginning of the auspicious occasion was marked by the invocation of the heavenly muses in the Shabad by Students of Akal College of Divine Music.’

On behalf of Akal College of Nursing, Mrs. Ranjit Kour, Principal, Akal College of Nursing deeply appreciated and accorded a cordial welcome to the gathering. Dr HS Dhaliwal, Vice-Chancellor, Eternal University declared the opening of 7th International nursing conference.

Then the gathering was provided with the glimpse of Kalgidhar Trust by Dr. Davinder Singh, Registrar, Eternal University. Dr. Neelam Kaur, Dean Faculty of Health & Allied Sciences reflected the concept of spiritual nursing at Akal College of Nursing.

The Inaugural Address was delivered by Chief Guest, Dr. Rathi Balachandran, ADG, Nursing, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Delhi. She addressed the gathering & gave her best wishes for the organization of the conference.
Honourable Dr Ashok Kumar Sharma, Directorate Medical Education & Research, Himachal Pradesh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest who showered blessings & expressed happiness about the organization of conference.
The Lamp Lightning was done by various eminent personalities.

Hon’ble Baba Iqbal Singh Ji, Chancellor, EU, Baru Sahib and President, The Kalgidhar Trust enlightened the gathering for achieving the highest level of professional competency and to inculcate the qualities of disciplined living, honesty, integrity, diligence and dedication, so that nursing students should become outstanding nurses and global citizens with the nerves of steel and compassionate heart and released the movie named Chup”, produced by Kalgidhar Trust based on Drug Deaddiction. The souvenir of 7th International Nursing Conference was also released on this occasion.

Chief guest Dr. Rathi Balachandran & Dr. Ashok Kumar were honoured by Honourable Baba Ji, along with Drexel University Faculty.

Dr. Jill Derstine, Clinical Associate Professor, Drexel University delivered the key note address.
Collaborative partners of the International Conference from Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA are Dr. Jill .B. Derstine (Clinical Associate Professor), Dr. Mary Lu McHugh(Clinical Assistant Professor), Dr. Carol Okupniak & Dr. Jane Green Ryan, along with the Faculty of Akal College of Nursing.

Eminent National Nursing personalities who graced the occasion includes Dr. Anice George, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal, Karnataka, Mrs Bandana Bhattachrya, Former Dean of Rufaida College of Nursing, Dr. Mehmooda Regu, Principal,MMINSR, SKIMS, Srinagar Dr. Latha Venkatesan, Principal, Apollo College of Nursing, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Sreevani R, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatric Nursing,, Dharward Institute of Mental, Health Neurosciences, Dharward, Karnataka. Dr. Shama Lohumi, Principal, Shivalik College of Nursing, Shimla Dr. Chander Sarin, Principal, Rayat Bahra College of Nursing, Chandigarh, Dr. Molly Babu , Sr Lecturer, RAK College of Nursing, Delhi Dr. Sailaxmi Gandhi, Addl Professor and Head, Dept. of Nursing, NIMHANS, Bangalore. Dr. Harinder Goyal, Principal, RAK college of Nursing, Delhi Dr. Sandhya Ghai, Principal, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Dr Satwanj Baltej. Former Dean, Akal College of Nursing, Baru Sahib, ,Dr. Sushma K Saini, Lecturer, NINE, PGIMER Chandigarh, Dr. Rafiqa Bashir, Professor / Principal, Rajiv Gandhi College of Nursing, Jammu .

This international nursing conference is seventh in row, it has become a platform of collaborative learning experience & sharing the innovative ideas for the present key issues in nursing.