The lamp lighting ceremony for the 32nd batch of BSc Nursing students of Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, Manipal was held on 31st January 2022 at Dr TMA PAI Lecture Hall, KMC, Manipal.

The Lamp lighting ceremony is held as a tribute to Florence Nightingale an auspicious occasion in every nurse’s life. The budding nurses, adorned in their uniforms for the first time, formally mark their entry into the nursing profession. It is an important event, where the lamp symbolises the light that a nurse becomes to her patients and as a symbol of hope and comfort to those who are suffering. Students light this lamp as a commitment, and they recite the Nursing pledge of the service. A total of 97 students of first-year BSc Nursing received the light from the Chief Guest, Dr Suja Karkada, Principal, CSI Lombard Memorial College of Nursing, Udupi, Dr P Suba Sooria, Head of Nursing Services, Kasturba Hospital Manipal, Dr Judith A. Noronha, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal and Dr Tessy Treesa Jose, Associate Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal which was followed by the oath-taking ceremony of the novice nurses.

Chief Guest, Dr Suja Karkada, in her address to the gathering applauded the students for choosing the nursing profession and emphasised the importance of commitment in the profession. She said, every nurse should have the basic qualities like communication skills, emotional stability, leadership quality, an educator and so on. Based on the changing trends and technology, she said, nurses should update their knowledge and skills by lifelong learning. She stressed that every nurse needs to inculcate multitasking skills, be compassionate to the patient and maintain good IPR in dealing with the patients in the clinical. Dr P Suba Sooria, Head of Nursing Services KH Manipal in her address enlightened on the selfless service that every nurse should possess by adding a good attitude and passionate care in their practice. Dean Dr Judith A Noronha spoke on the significance of lamp lighting and various qualities that a student nurse needs to inculcate in her/his profession. She emphasized on developing curiosity, humility and passion for the care of the patient.