Bengaluru: College of Nursing, St Martha’s Hospital held College Day and Graduation Ceremony on March 5 at Good Shepherd Auditorium, Bengaluru. Mr Om Prakash, IPS, DG & IGP, Karnataka was the chief guest. Others present on the occasion were Sr. Prameela Perumpilly,president of St. Martha’s Hospital, Mr. Jaykar Jerome, Director, St. Martha’s Hospital, Dr Ravindranath, Medical Superintendent, Sr Naomi Mascarenhas, Nursing Superintendent, senior faculty members, members of the hospital management, besides priests, nuns, parents, Doctors, staff and students of St. Martha’s family, friends and well-wishers. Mr Om Prakash could not be present throughout the function as he had to discuss important matters with Home Minister. He was also unable to deliver his speech as chief guest during the brief time he was present.
Sr Prameela, president, St. Martha’s Hospital, in her speech urged the students to smile and give miles and miles of smile to be an effective nurse. If one frowns at the daily situations such as traffic jams, delay in flights and other inconvenient state of affairs, the effect would also be such. She called upon them to try to send out good thoughts and positive vibrations so that the world may become better place, resulting in their becoming whole. “And for this, you yourself must become whole, healthy and vibrant with peace of mind and joyful heart.”
Sr Prameela who is also Superior of the convent hoped that the students would continue to spread the light they had received from St. Martha’s hospital, College and School of Nursing for the past four years so that they could spread it all round, not only in Bengaluru, not only in Karnataka, or in India but the whole world and thus the whole univers. She wished them a happy, professional and family life.
Sr Shanty Chacko, Principal, College of Nursing while presenting the annual report of the School and College of Nursing extended a hearty welcome to all guests, invitees and all others for the college day cum graduation ceremony of 2016.
Documenting its development and achievements for the year 2014-2015, she said the school has completed 83 years and the college 18yearsin the field of nursing education. I thank God Almighty for directing us through the years and guiding us safely to move on towards new horizons. Here I acknowledge and put on record the vision and efforts of all the past principals, members of management and faculty members of the college whose exceptional capabilities have taken the institute to great heights and left us with a legacy that we cherish.
Admissions
St Martha’s family was happy to welcome 60 BSc and 48 GNM students for the academic year 2015 based on a competent entrance examination and interview. An orientation programme was arranged to induct the students into their respective courses.
Clinical Training
Clinical training is the most important part of nursing professional training, since the student through it finds the required opportunity for the scientific learning of the theoretic lessons and acquiring professional skills.
Our students are fortunate to get their hands on training in our parent hospital which has a history of over130 years of compassionate service to the sick and suffering, more so the less privileged ones of the city of Bangalore and the neighbouring cities and states. The students are accompanied and assisted in their learning process by a team of dedicated, well qualified and experienced faculty. Here I would like to acknowledge the contribution of Nursing Service Department headed by Sr. Naomi Mascarenh’as.
The focus of community health nursing today is to prevent disease and to improve the health of the community as a whole by improving the health status of the individuals, families and groups. This is the axis on which we revolve the training of our student nurses in community health nursing both urban and rural; with a view to awaken in them an aptitude to serve the underprivileged through public health nursing.
The Urban community health nursing training is provided in the slums of Arundhadi Nagar, Bypanahalli and Doddanna Nagar. Rural community health training is conducted in the villages in and around Utharahalli. Students are provided with good hostel facilities during their rural posting. I acknowledge the guidance and cooperation of Dr. Veena, the Chief Medical officer of Arundhadhinagar PHC and the staff of Utharahalli PHC.
The students engage in home visits, treatment of minor ailments, dissemination of information via mass health educations, conducting preventive and screening health checkups for adults and school going children. I wish to thank Dr. Ravindranath and His team of Doctors for the necessary help extended towards health checkup.
Examinations and Results:
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach one’s potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
Pursuing the desire to excel, our students have indeed tried to give their best in academics to gain knowledge, translate the theory into practice and achieve good results.
The results of the B.Sc. Nursing Degree Course conducted by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health sciences for the year 2014-2015 were; IVth Year -100% with 30 first classes and 09 distinctions; Ist, IInd and IIIrd Year results are yet to be announced by the University.
The results for the Diploma in General Nursing & Midwifery Course for the year 2014-2015 were:I st Year – 100% with 9 first classes; II nd Year – 100% with 18first classes and 1 distinction and III rd Year- 100% with 24 first classes and 5 distinctions.
My sincere appreciation to our students for their hard work in spite of the hours they spent in bedside nursing and co-curricular activities. Congratulations dear students. May God continue to bless your efforts!
Teaching Faculty & Faculty enhancement programme:
The teaching faculty plays a pivotal role in assuring quality educational experiences that prepare the nursing students for a diverse, ever-changing health care environment. We are blessed to have a team of dedicated, zealous and hardworking teachers and that they are willing to go beyond the call of their duty hours at the interest of students. My sincere thanks to each one them.
Non-teaching staff of the college is indeed to be praised for their commitment, loyalty and generosity. I appreciate each of them and thank them for being a source of true support.
The faculty also takes keen interest in organizing staff development programs and attends workshops to keep themselves updated with the ever growing medical and nursing science.
A long cherished dream of starting MSC nursing with four specialties; Medical surgical, obstetrics and gynecology,pediatrics and community health nursing; is becoming a reality this September 2016! We have just completed the Inspection by Indian nursing council and is awaiting the sanction order.
Library and other facilities:
We were able to upgrade all the laboratories effectively to enhance the learning process and to add additional computers with high speed internet, books and journals to library to facilitate the teaching learning process.
Student Nurses Association (SNA) and National service Scheme (NSS)
Extracurricular activities are the best way of developing an individual’s personality and trimming down mental stress, to improve their skills and enhance their confidence level.
The Student Nurses Association spent a considerable time conducting various activities; sports, cultural and editorial. The panel of SNA executives under the leadership of Ms. Sanjana Meshak, kept the SNA united, creative and enthusiastic throughout the year. The SNA won many prizes in the inter college and inter institutional competitions. My appreciation and gratitude to the SNA Advisors Ms. Dorothy Rosaline and Sr. Regi Philip for their tremendous support and guidance to the students.
“Not me, but you” is the motto of NSS which motivates the students to develop in them a sense of altruism; to consider the other as oneself. This value of love for fellow beings was translated into action through various activities under NSS. One blood donation camp, five school health programs, two health camps and eight health awareness programs were conducted throughout the year. Differently abled children and street children too were taken care through regular visits.
Members of the red ribbon club, a sub section of NSS are indeed enthusiastic in spreading awareness on HIV/ AIDS to high school children and village youth. Here I acknowledge the contributions of NSS coordinator Ms. Maria and student in-charge, Ms. Amoolya.
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS:
I am grateful to the many benefactors of this Institution. Financial assistance was available to needy students.They were given Scholarships or interest-free loan scholarships. Over 40 students are currently receiving these Scholarships. To mention a few
1. The late Cassey Sisters Scholarship
2. The late Lucy Mascarenha’s Scholarship, thanks to Sr. Naomi’s family
3. Scholarship for the students from rural Karnataka instituted by Cherish, an NGO, thanks to Ms. Cheryl.
4. Benny Rodrigues’s general fund for BSc students
5. Shobana memorial trust general fund
6. Joyce Bankien memorial scholarship for BSC students instituted by one of the former employee’s family
7. Interest free loan facilities.
Our benefactors also made it possible to encourage merit-based students, by instituting awards and scholarships for creditable performance, both in academic and in extra-curricular activities.
To mention a few:
Dr. Ida Gonsalves Cash Award for the Best Outgoing & Runner-up Students of B.Sc. Nursing Degree Course; The Prof. R.K. Zutshi & Mrs. Dhanwati Zutshi Cash Award for the Best Outgoing & Runner-up Students of Diploma in Nursing; Mrs Aleyamma Varghese Trophy and cash award for the best student Nurse in Clinical excellence; Mrs Violet Shobana shield for the best GNM student in OBG Nursing; The Lorna Raymond Trophy for B.Sc. Student who secures highest marks in the Degree Course; The Margaret Ryan Trophy for the Best Social Worker of the year; The Sangliana Trophy for the “Best Smiling and communicating Nurse” of the year Such awards were a source of great encouragement to our students to strive for all-round excellence.
Acknowledging the contribution of others:
While I conclude , I would like to acknowledge the contributions of a few significant individuals;the MSFS fathers from Vinayalaya Community, Fr. Luke, the Hospital Chaplain and the Salesian Fathers for affectionately ministering to the spiritual needs of our students; to Sr. Prameela, president of St. Martha’s Hospital Society and Mr. Jayakar Jerome, Director, for their tremendous support for the development of the college.
I express my indebtedness to all who in their own way have helped in raising the institution where it stands today. Dear students, my deep felt thanks to all of you. I am sure that our collective endeavor shall take our College to greater heights in serving the society meaningfully and contribute positively to raising the standards of nursing education. I thank our past students who have demonstrated exceptional abilities to excel in the profession and are the guardians of the institutions’ high traditions. They have held high, the torch given to them by their Alma Mater.
My whole hearted thanks to all parents and alumni who have been in touch with us during the year.
Lastly in profound gratitude, I bow before Jesus the Good Shepherd for showing this institution the right path and guiding us safely to move on towards new horizons. May the Almighty shower His choicest blessings on this institution and may He take it to newer heights. Thank you for your patient listening and May God bless you all.
Other highlights of the function were procession, invocation, lighting of the Lamp, welcome address by one of the staff, distribution of the Certificates, administration of Oath, distribution of prizes, response by the graduates, sharing her memories by Sr. Sinduja and cultural programme which included dance, songs and thematic skit stressing women’s rights and the problems they face. The programme came to a close with vote of thanks, College and National Anthem.
