Fr Muller Hospital Nurses are Not Just CARING and BEST LOVERS Too ‘-Father Muller Charitable Institution (FMCI) Director Fr Richard Coelho during the Valedictory Ceremony of Nurses Week 2019 and “International Nurses Day 2019” Celebrations held at FMCI Academy Hall on 11 May 2019 at 11.30 am.
Mangaluru: All’s Well that Ends Well!-That’s right. Quoting Shakespeare’s words, “But with the word the time will bring on summer, When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns, All’s well that ends well; still the fine’s the crown; Whatever the course, the end is the renown “- the Nurses Week that was launched a week ago, ended with a Blast on the valedictory Ceremony held at the Academy Hall on Saturday, 11 May 2019. International Nurses Day which is held every year on 12 May, was celebrated a day earlier at FMCI, and this year the Theme of Intl Nurses Day is- “Nurses: A voice to lead – Health For All”
And one Charitable Catholic Institution in the “Rome of the East” Mangaluru which has and is producing the best and the professionals in the field of Nursing to serve locally, Nationally and Internationally, is none other than Fr Muller Nursing Institution- and there is no doubt about it. Quoting the beginning lyrics from the Fr Muller Institution Anthem : “We Come to Comfort and to Heal, to Love and Serve in Woe and Weal “- these words truly fit and describe the prospective nurses and staff/registered nurses of this great Institution, who had launched the beginning of “Nurses Week 2019” on 7 May, and concluding it on 11 May. The programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a dance, followed by welcome address by Sr Janet D’souza- Chief Nursing Officer and Convener.
The programme began with garlanding the portraits of Augustus Muller-the Founder of Fr Muller Hospital, and also of Florence Nightingale- the Founder of Modern Nursing by chief guest Dr Larissa Martha Sams- Principal of Laxmi Memorial College of Nursing, Mangaluru, along with other dignitaries on the dais namely- Fr Richard Coelho-Director, Fr Muller Charitable Institutions; Fr Rudolph R D’sa-Administrator, FMMCH; Sr Jacintha D’souza- Principal, Fr Muller College of Nursing; and Sr Janet D’souza- Chief Nursing Officer. The report of the Nurses Week 2019 was read by Ms Laveena Nazareth- Assistant Nursing Superintendent, where she mentioned that Volleyball tournament was held for Men, and Throwball tournament was held for Women; Literary Contest on the Theme “Hand Hygiene Day”and poster contest on the Intl Nurses Day theme; Art Competition including Rangoli, Cooking Food without Fire, Wealth Out of Waste; and Panel discussions were held on 7, 8 and 10 May.
During the occasion, a pioneer in the nursing field, the ‘Angel of Mercy’ Ms Jacintha Rodrigues, who had worked for four decades at Fr Muller Hospital, was Honored by FMCI on this International Nurses Day- and the honor was done by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries on the dais. Her acceptance speech after felicitation is published at the end of this report, and also her citation read by Ms Helen Lobo- Assistant Nursing Superintendent. Prizes were distributed to the winners in the various contests, including sports, literary contest, Art, etc held during the Nurses Week 2019.
Addressing the audience chief guest Dr Larissa Martha Sams said, “I feel proud to stand here as a alumnus of this prestigious institution, and I owe my success to the management and staff of FMCI. Before going further I want to ask three questions- Are we nurses Improvised? Are we Implementary? Are we stable? Probably yes or no, may be the answer. Yes, nursing job is a stressful, but in the same time rewarding too. If we do good, we get complimented, and if we do bad, we get yelled at. We need to always look for the best, and make it happen. Don’t give up when you get criticized for a wrong doing, because everyone makes mistakes. Nurses don’t need praises, because we sacrifice our time beyond our limits. You need to update yourself on latest technology and health care, make an impact, and strive hard to be the BEST. Keep up the good job that you all are entrusted with, and may God bless you all”.
Addressing the gathering Fr Rudolph D’sa said, ” In our institution the Nurses are the ones who get complimented more than anyone else. Whichever patients that gets treatment and exits out of this hospital, have always praise for the nurses for their loving care, determination and commitment. I want you tell you that Nursing is not a profession, it is a vocation, because it’s a God’s choice that you are all selected for this job. For all the sleepless nights, hard work and overtime that you sacrifice for your patients, do you think you salary matches your service. Your nursing service is much more than what you earn. I can even say that more than profession, vocation, your nursing career is a Mission. FMCI is proud of you all, and would like to thank you for all the good things you do for the patients and to the institution”.
FMCI Director Fr Richard Coelho addressing the audience said, ” While wishing all the Nurses of Fr Muller Hospital a Happy Nurses Day, I also want to congratulate and compliment you on three reasons – 1} Your profession is one of the largest group in the world; 2} Nurses trained and got education at Father Muller’s are the BEST NURSES ACROSS THE WORLD; 3} Our Nurses are rendering the best services in the hospital, than other hospitals across the nation. So you should be proud of your status. And you could do that only through the blessings of God and Augustus Muller. During the morning Mass today, we had offered prayers to all our nurses so that you take good care of the patients, show them love and empathy. Let me once again compliment you all for being very dedicated, compassionate, loving and caring towards the sick. We all love you, respect and will will support you”
“Like Fr Rudolph said that our Nurses are the ones who get praised a lot for their service, and that is true. Our nurses are not only CARING but also BEST LOVERS too- it could be in loving the patients, or it could be the other romantic one? You are the most loved working force in the nursing fraternity, and most biggest lovers in nursing dept. Along with profession and vocation, your nursing career is a mission healing the sick. Your smile shows empathy and love for the patients, unlike the smile of the air hostess. Because of your dedicated service people love to come to our hospital. This is not just my observance, but I have heard from many people. That’s the reason our hospital is full all the time. Now I don’t want the doctors to feel bad that I am praising the nurses a lot- but they should know that nurses are always besides them while going for hospital rounds or during treating patients. Nurses your role in healing ministry is very important. Keep these three things in -Profession, Vocation and Mission. You all have taken your nursing career with profession and mission. Serve the patients with broad smile, with love, be compassionate, courteous and caring. May God bless you all” added Fr Coelho.
Prior to the formal function, a Eucharistic mass was held at St Joseph’s Chapel at the Hospital this morning, where Fr Richard Coelho con-celebrated the mass along with Fr Rudolph D’sa, Fr Ajith Menezes and Fr Felix. The vote of thanks was delivered by Sr Jacintha D’souza, and the programme was compered by Ms Adriel Quadros and Monika D’souza. The formal programme ended with cultural entertainment comprising of a humorous skit on a lighter side of vein of a nursing job, followed by a group song.
In conclusion, quoting Florence Nightingale, “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God’s spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts”. Long Live the Nurses- the Angels of Mercy!
Citation to the Veteran Nurse: Mrs Jacintha Rodrigues :
As a student Miss Jacintha D’Souza was intelligent, enthusiastic and enterprising. Imbued with these traits, Miss Jacintha was absorbed by the medical fraternity of ESIC Hospital in the city of Mumbai as a staff nurse from 1980 to 1983. In 1983, the wedding bells rang for Miss Jacintha to Mr Cyril Rodrigues. The same year, she migrated to Oman and worked at Al’Hana Hospital for a period of two years. Returning to Mumbai, she worked at P D Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai until 1990. Giving priority to her vocation as a mother to Conell and Crystal, from 1990 to 1995 she took a break and returned to the land of her birth. Considering her leadership qualities, she was assimilated into Highland Hospital as the Matron from 1995 to 2000. In the year 2000, the then management of the Father Muller Charitable Institutions invited its Alumni to serve at its Alma mater and Mrs Jacintha Rodrigues returned to serve as ward in charge and Assistant Nursing Superintendent until 2015.
Maya Angelou, an American poet, laying emphasis on the quality of human interactions says that ‘people may FORGET your name, but they will NEVER FORGET how you made them feel’. This quote summarizes the nature of commitment and service of Mrs Jacintha Rodrigues at Father Muller Medical College Hospital. Every interpersonal human encounter leaves behind memories. The memories she left behind gave her great credibility and respect among the nursing fraternity and the beneficiaries alike. Her nursing skills were accompanied by her motherly care and her guidance was made priceless by her years of experience. Today, Mrs Jacintha Rodrigues serves as Assistant Nursing Superintendent at Srinivas Hospital, Mukka. FMCI acknowledges your service to our needy humanity and surrender your future to the grace and benevolence of God. We are proud of you, Mrs Jacintha Rodrigues and you indeed deserve our admiration, appreciation and recognition.
Acceptance Speech by Veteran Nurse Ms Jacintha Rodrigues:
I am humbled as I am felicitated as the veteran nurse by the Nursing Service Department of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, today, on the International Nurses Day 2019. I am thankful to the management of this renowned institutions for recognizing my services and contribution during my tenure at the hospital. My journey in this institutions began in 1975 when I walked into the humble portals of the institution for my nursing studies. I recall my days as a young aspirant, when nursing was a difficult task and not any body’s piece of cake. It demanded dedication, commitment and selflessness both in education and practice.
The education I received from my teachers and Principal are still fresh in my mind. The principles of nursing which were planted in me 40 years ago are well concreted in my memory and until date I put it into practice. Those days were not equipped with any state of the art technology but our beneficiaries received love, compassion and empathy which assisted our patients towards wellness or a peaceful dignified death.
I am and I will be ever grateful to my Principal and teachers for their endless efforts in inoculating in me the best virtues. My gratitude to my Nursing Superintendents for trusting me while I worked as a ward in-charge and Nursing Superintendent. My deepest sense of acknowledgment to the Directors and Administrators of this Institutions for recognizing my services and considering my due promotion as a Nursing Superintendent. I would like to place on record my association with the present Director, Rev. Fr Richard Coelho, who was the administrator of the hospital during my period of service. Fr Richard had been supportive and kind to me at all times. His constant boost to me kept me going.
Lastly a few words to the budding nurses present here. You are called to be nurse by God. Today, it is your vocation and profession. Live your profession with pride and dignity. Our patients are our customers and every customer would like to be attended to with undisturbed attention. While in the ward, concentrate in your assignments and complete your task diligently. While at the bed side of your patients, wear a genuine smile on your face, speak to your patients politely, treat your patients with respect and leave your patients with words of assurance. May your kindness to your patients draw blessings in abundance from the Almighty. As I take leave, I pray blessings in abundance on this institutions, it’s management, employees, students and all those who enter these portals for their health and well-being.