Orientation Programme for students admitted to the various courses offered by Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), Manipal was conducted from 1st to 14th September 2020 through the Microsoft Teams web platform. During this two weeks’ of the orientation programme, MCON Manipal in coordination with various Units of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal the newly joined students were inducted to the overall activities, which are important for them during their stay at Manipal.

September 1, 2020

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, addressed the students and their parents. Dean Dr Anice George gave a brief orientation on Manipal College of Nursing, Chief of Nursing Services Dr Suba Sooria briefed about the functioning of the nursing services at Kasturba Hospital Manipal and Chief Warden Air Commodore Harindra Kumar Dhiman explained on various facilities available in the MAHE Hostels and the rules & regulations to students.

September 2, 2020

During the 2nd day of Orientation, the Teacher Guardians of 1st year B.Sc Nursing and mentors of 1st year Post Basic B. Sc. Nursing, MSc Nursing, and Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Residency Program Nursing were introduced to the students by Mrs Radhika R Pai, 1st year Class Coordinator. Followed by this, an interaction session of students with their respective teacher guardians/mentors was held. Information related to students’ family, health, academic performance, and their hobbies were recorded. During this session, various facilities available for students on the campus was also informed to students.

September 3, 2020

The 3rd day of orientation started with the introduction of MAHE Library services. Dr. K. Shivananda Bhat, Chief Librarian, MAHE Health Sciences Library Manipal and Associate Professor & Co-Ordinator in the Department of Library and Information Science, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, demonstrated the practical method of utilizing the library services for both undergraduate and post-graduate students. Dr. Bhat briefed on the journals and other e-resources available in the Library. The second session was delivered by Dr. Geetha Maiya, Director, Student Affairs and Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, MAHE, Manipal. Dr. Maiya oriented on different student clubs of MAHE, besides academic activities. She urged students to take an active part in both curricular and co-curricular activities. She warned students not to get indulged in any activity which might cause risk to them.

Mr. Jomon C U, Lecturer, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal oriented about the Microsoft Team and its practical use. He focused on academic features such as accessing the educational materials and communicating with teachers and classmates. The session was ended by a brief orientation on digital examination and ‘impartus’, the lecture-capture facility of the College: Dr. Latha T, Assistant Professor and Class Coordinator of 1st year P.B.B.Sc. Nursing coordinated the event.

September 4, 2020

The fourth day was for faculty-student interaction. Faculty members and the students of 1st year B.Sc. Nursing (2020-21 batch) had an interaction on 4 September 2020 with the faculty members concerned. Students and few parents shared their brief details, viz: their name, place of residence, and their areas of interests and hobbies. Through this session, it was understood that many students are multi-talented and students are having interests in different fields such as photography, dancing, instrument playing, singing, sports, travelling, cooking, drawing, trucking, and many more. Parents, students, and teachers found this session very interesting and were happy to know each other and share their expertise in various fields. Mrs. Radhika R. Pai, Assistant Professor – Senior Scale, MCON Manipal, and the class coordinator of 1st year B.Sc. Nursing moderated the entire session.

September 5, 2020

Orientation of the day commenced with a briefing to students on the academic registration and admission formalities by Mrs. Malini B, JME, MCON, Mr. Deepak, Mrs. Shailaja, and Ms. Nayana, Associates, MCON Office. Following this, the students were briefed regarding the Anti-Ragging committee and its activities by Dr. Melita Sheilini, Assistant Professor, MCON, MAHE, Manipal. She explained about the online submission of the anti-ragging declaration by students and parents. Before concluding these sessions, Mrs. Anjalin D’Souza, Assistant Professor, MCON and member of Team Employer Reputation, MCON explained the details of MCON alumni and collected the alumni and family-related information through a google form. Mrs. Radhika R Pai, Assistant Professor – Senior Scale, MCON Manipal and the Class Coordinator of 1st year B.Sc. Nursing moderated the session.

September 7, 2020

The Department of Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nursing, organized a Guest Lecture on “Guidance and Counselling” as part of the Student Induction Program. Ms. Venkata Prafulla Ragireddy, the Consultant Psychologist, working at the Student Support Centre (SSC), MAHE, was the Resource Person. She spoke on the importance of mental health, warning signs of mental illness, the need for guidance and counseling, and various issues faced by youth. Ms. Prafulla also briefed on the services provided by SSC to the students of MAHE.

Following this session, there was a virtual orientation to the physical set up of MCON, MAHE building, Library, Student Support Centre, MAP, which was coordinated by Mrs. Radhika Pai and Dr. Latha through the MS Teams virtual platform. Orientation to the campuses of Basic Sciences – (Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Skill Lab), Hospital orientation that included OPD Complex, Student clinic, Dental block, Pharmacy, Emergency Dept, Baliga Block, Shiridi Sai Baba Hospital, MCH Hospital, Blood Bank was done through a PPT presentation through MS Teams Virtual Platform. This event was coordinated by Mrs. Prima D’Souza, Mrs. Binu Margaret and Mrs. Anusuya Prabhu. Mrs Flavia S Noronha, Lecturer, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, MCON, Manipal moderated the session.

September 8, 2020

The day started with a guest lecture on Good Study Habits and Reverence organized by Department of Child Health Nursing. Mr. Vithoba Narayan Mhalkar, Asst. Professor, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Institute of Psychiatry and Human behaviour, Bambolim Goa and also an alumna of the Institute, spoke on the topic. During his talk, he briefed on why good study habits and reverence are essential for a professional nurse. He gave different tips for study viz: effective planning, choice of place for studying, and also things and resources to be kept ready prior to start studying. He stressed on ways to develop and practice critical reading skills, self-discipline, managing study timings, developing a positive attitude and sharing the information. He urged not to compare oneself with others.

Followed by this session, there was an interaction of BSc Nursing students with the class coordinator. After this session, Mr. Anil Raj, Lecturer, MCON Manipal, delivered a talk on LPG safety measures. He briefed about safety measures to be taken before, during, and after the use of LPG in the Nutritional Lab and gave some of the safety tips.

Ms Anusuya Prabhu, Assistant Professor, Department of Child Health Nursing moderated the session.

September 9. 2020

The Department of Community Health Nursing, MCON Manipal, organized a Guest Lecture on “Care and Affection towards patients’. Dr. P.V. Bhandary, Director and Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr A.V. Baliga Group of Institutions, Udupi, was the Resource Person. Dr Bhandary during his talk highlighted the importance of nursing care to patients. He depicted the qualities of a good nurse with appropriate examples.

Followed by this session, an Orientation to the ISO:14001: 2004, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) training and NHS as well as the UK recruitment, was introduced to the

freshers by Dr. Elsa Sanatombi Devi, Professor, Dept. of Medical-Surgical Nursing. She briefed about the student exchange programs, milestones of IELTS training, and opportunities available for students. She gave a brief explanation on VSO activities. Following this, Dr. Vishnu Renjith, MCON alumna, presently working in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, RCSI, Bahrain, shared his experiences on his journey in Manipal. He appreciated the students for their right decision in choosing the right profession, right institution, and right course at the right time. Mrs. Jeyalakshmi K, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, moderated the session.

September 10, 2020

A guest lecture on Communication Skills by Dr. Shubha HS, Associate Professor, and HoD, Media Studies’ Coordinator, Manipal Institute of communication, MAHE Manipal was conducted on this day. She spoke on good communication skills, barriers to communication, and how to use communication skills in day to day personal and professional lives of students. The Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing coordinated the session.

Followed by this, there was a session by Dr. Deepak Ram Bairy, Deputy Director of Physical Education, KMC Manipal. Dr. Bairy briefed on the various sports facilities available in the campus. He emphasized on ‘Marena Indoor Stadium’, a world-class facility for indoor sports, and informed about its timings and the amenities. Further, there was an orientation to ‘Utsav’ – an annual inter-college cultural festival by Dr. Sambit Dash, Secretary, Cultural Coordination Committee, MAHE, Manipal. He spoke about the various activities organized by the cultural coordination committee and the importance of participating in cultural events during the student period.

Mrs. Laveena Barboza, Lecturer, Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, MCON explained about the mercury spillage management. She explained on mercury spillage, its health hazards, and the immediate management of accidental mercury spillage. Mrs. Janet Alva, Assistant Professor, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, introduced the speakers and expressed gratitude to the speakers.

September 12, 2020

On 12th September 2020, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing coordinated the orientation program. A guest lecture on Trust, Respect, and Glory in the profession of Nursing by Prof. Samuel Johnson K, VIT AP School of Business, Amaravathi, Andra Pradesh was organised. He emphasized on having the self-confidence to respect and trust. He spoke on having a good mind and body, loving one’s job, being humble and respecting people/ teachers. He mentioned about learning different languages for a satisfying personal and professional lives of students.

Following that Mrs. Laveena Barboza briefed about the Student Nurses Association (SNA). She explained about the students’ participation and activities conducted by the SNA. She also explained on membership of SNA and TNAI.

Further, there was an orientation to ‘Voluntary Service Organization (VSO)’ by Dr. Latha T Bhat, VSO Coordinator, MCON. She described the objectives of VSO; various activities held, and how to get a membership to VSO. Mrs. Ranjani P, Assistant Professor, Department of OBG Nursing, moderated the sessions.

September 14, 2020

The final day of orientation included course orientation and subject orientation. Orientation to 1st year B. Sc. Nursing, 1st year P.B.B.Sc. Nursing, 1st Year M.Sc. Nursing and 1st year Nurse Practitioner in Critical Care Nursing courses were given by Mrs Radhika R Pai, Dr Latha T, Dr Sonia RB Dsouza and Dr Jyothi Chakraborty the respective class coordinators. This event was followed by the subject orientation by all the subject coordinators.