Nurses Week at FMCI concludes on Int’l Nurses Day 2022

Mangaluru: The Nurse’s Week celebration was inaugurated on Saturday, May 7 in the Asha Kiran grounds at 7:15 am. After invoking the blessings of the Almighty, Helen Lobo, Nursing Superintendent, welcomed the gathering. The Nurses Week was inaugurated with the lighting of the Nightingale lamp by Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions. Dr Antony Sylvan Dsouza, Dean, FMMC, the Guest of honour, unveiled the plaque bearing the theme of the International Nurses Day 2022 followed by the release of helium balloons by all the distinguished guests.

Rev Fr Rudolph Ravi Dsa, Administrator FMMCH, Chief Guest enlightened the nurses on the theme focusing on the true value of nurses to the people of the world and appreciated the nursing fraternity at the Father Muller Medical College Hospital for their dedication to the profession. Sr Dhanya Devasia, Chief Nursing Officer, FMMCH offered a present to the Chief Guest Rev Fr Rudolph Ravi Dsa, as a token of appreciation.

The Director, Rev Fr Richard Coelho, delivered the Presidential address and acknowledged the nurses for their tireless contributions to healing and comforting the sick at the hospital. He also encouraged the nurses to participate in the activities scheduled during the nurses’ week. The Inaugural event ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Renita Lasrado, Assistant Nursing Superintendent and CNE Co-ordinator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital. The Inaugural ended with the institutional anthem followed by the distribution of sweets.

Taking into consideration the time factor, the Nursing Service Department organised literary- art competitions. These events were organised for the nurses and hospital assistants from April 28 to 4th May 4 prior to the official Inaugural celebrations. A test on the Continuing Nursing Education topics was conducted on February 9 and 10 for staff nurses and on April 29 for the ward incharges.

Nurses and hospital assistants were divided into seven teams to facilitate active participation from all quarters. There was indeed active participation in all activities. A talk on Happy nurses- Kind smile cures diseases was organised on May 6 at 3 pm in the hospital conference hall. Fr Rudolph Ravi Dsa was the guest speaker. ANS, Ward incharges and staff nurses were present. A Symposium on the theme of the year was organised on May 9 and 10. It was informative and well appreciated by the audience.

The International Nurses Day and the Finale of the Nurses Week Celebrations 2022 began with a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration at 7.30 am at the St Joseph Chapel. During the Mass, the nurses contributed grocery and household items which will be distributed to the poor homes looking after the sick and aged.

At 11:30 a.m., the felicitation and finale of the Nurses Week were celebrated at the Academy Hall. A prayer song performed by the nurses filled the ambience with awe. Sr Deepa Peter, Principal Athena College of Nursing graced the programme as the Chief Guest and Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, the Director of the Institutions was the President of the Programme.

Rev Sr Dhanya Devasia, Chief Nursing Officer accorded a warm welcome to the gathering. It was followed by a tribute to two stalwarts for their services to the ailing society, Rev. Fr Augustus Muller, Founder of Father Muller Charitable Institutions and Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing. Their portraits were garlanded by Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions and Sr Deepa Peter, Principal Athena College of Nursing as a sign of respect. A report of the activities and events of the Nurses Week 2022 was read out by Renita Lasrado, Assistant Nursing Superintendent and CNE Co-ordinator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital.

Sr Ellen Marie was honoured for her selfless contributions to serving the sick and suffering at these Institutions in various capacities. In her message, she opined to the nurses to strive for inner peace rather than outward showings. She reminiscences about her struggle to reach upto the nursing superintendent’s post, all the while being a religious. Her vocation and profession matched, both had the nature of caring and nurturing.

The CNE test topper, best nurses and Panelists of the symposium were congratulated by the Chief Guest.

Sr Deepa Peter, Chief guest distributed the awards to the recipients,

Late Geetha Srestha Memorial award goes to Precilla Rodrigues as Best Ward Incharge
Late Annie Theresa Coelho Memorial award goes to Simi Mathew Best Senior Staff Nurse
Prize instituted by Msgr. P.M. Saldanha, goes to Jobile Jose, as Best Staff Nurse
Prize instituted by Rev. Fr. Augustine Lobo, goes to Joylet D Souza highest marks obtained in C.N.E. test
Prize instituted by Fr. Frank Rodrigues, goes to Josephine Aranha as the best Hospital Assistant.

The Chief Guest’s message to the nurses was that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and that nurses are the ones that uphold it. Nurses have been instinctive in being part of the healing and caring of the patient. The pandemic has shown the dedication of nurses and their importance in organised healthcare.

The Director, Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho presented a gift to the chief guest.

Rev Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, Administrator of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, presented the Prizes to the winners and awarded the rolling trophy to the jasmine team.

Malini Noronha and Carol Queen Dsouza were felicitated with a shawl gift and sapling by the dignitaries in recognition of their renowned skills and as a token of appreciation by the multitude of nursing staff.

Rev Fr Richard Coelho, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions congratulated the nurses and prayed that nurses all over the world be beacons of healing and care. Nurses are a part of the healthcare team, without them the void is huge. He suggested that though remuneration may seem the priority, the joy of serving another human should be prioritized.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Lavina Nazareth, Assistant Nursing Superintendent and it was followed by a short cultural programme and lunch.