Inauguration & Expert Talk on Best Practices in Community Health Nursing

Date: 12/05/2026

Time: 2:00 pm onwards              

Mode: Hybrid

Venue: LT-10, Rohilkhand Medical College & Hospital, Bareilly

Organizing Body:

The Department of Community Health Nursing, Rohilkhand College of Nursing, a constituent unit of Bareilly International University, Bareilly in collaboration with Jhpiego, organized the “Community of Practice (CoP) in Community Health Nursing – Inauguration & Expert Talk on Best Practices in Community Health Nursing” on the occasion of International Nurses Day 2026.

The event was held under the distinguished patronage of the Chancellor of Bareilly International University, Dr. Keshav Kumar Agrawal; Pro Chancellor Dr. Ashok Agarwal; Vice Chancellor Dr. Lata Agrawal; and Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. Kiran Agarwal. Dr. Sushil Kumar Thakur, Registrar, Bareilly International University, Bareilly served as the Patron of the event.

The organizing body comprised Dr. Priyanka A. Masih, Principal Cum Professor, RCN as Organizing Chairperson, Dr. Anitha. P, Vice-Principal Cum Professor, RCN as Organizing Co-Chairperson, Dr. S. Linthoingambi Devi, Professor, RCN as Organizing Secretary, and Mrs. Princia Rolita D’Souza, Associate Professor, RCN, Mr. Tarun Dhyani, and Mr. Anand Prakash, Assistant Professor, RCN as Conveners.

The organizing committee worked collectively for the successful planning, coordination, and execution of the programme. reframe it in my words

Brief Introduction:

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a collaborative platform that brings together professionals, educators, and institutions to share knowledge, experiences, innovations, and best practices in a specific field. In Community Health Nursing, the CoP serves as a common forum for collective learning, professional interaction, peer support, and capacity building. It encourages continuous learning, collaborative problem-solving, leadership development, and the exchange of evidence-based practices to improve the quality of community healthcare services and outcomes.

The Expert Talk on Best Practices in Community Health Nursing was organized to provide participants with an opportunity to learn from experienced academicians and professionals from reputed national and international institutions. The programme aimed to strengthen professional collaboration, encourage knowledge sharing, and enhance best practices in Community Health Nursing. The sessions focused on institutional initiatives, innovative teaching-learning strategies, field-based community health practices, outreach models, leadership approaches, and successful interventions in community healthcare. The expert talks enhanced the practical knowledge, professional competencies, and understanding of participants regarding current trends and best practices in Community Health Nursing.

Programme Details:

The programme began with a warm welcome address by Mrs. Princia Rolita D’Souza, who welcomed all the distinguished guests, speakers, faculty members, and participants attending both offline and online. She briefly highlighted the significance and theme of the event and set the stage for the successful conduct of the programme.

The formal inauguration was carried out by the dignitaries present at the venue. The ceremony marked the official launch of the Community of Practice (CoP) for Community Health Nursing — a significant milestone for R.C.N, Bareilly and its collaborative partners.

The Keynote address was delivered by Dr. Sanjay Tripathi, State Lead, Health System Strengthening and State Program Manager, Jhpiego extended his greetings on International Nurses Day and appreciated the efforts of Rohilkhand College of Nursing in organizing the Community of Practice (CoP) and Expert Talk. He emphasized the importance of such platforms in promoting collaborative learning, professional networking, and sharing best practices in community health nursing.

Dr. Monica Rita Hendricks, State Programme Officer, Jhpiego also conveyed her wishes on International Nurses Day and appreciated the initiative of conducting the CoP and Expert Talk. She highlighted the role of structured knowledge-sharing platforms in strengthening nursing competencies and improving community healthcare outcomes, while also acknowledging the contribution of Jhpiego in supporting nursing education and community health initiatives across India.

Mrs. Oshin Masih, Program Officer, Jhpiego, along with Mrs. Princia Rolita D’Souza, presented an overview of the Community of Practice (CoP), discussing its objectives, future scope, and expected outcomes in strengthening professional competencies and collaborative learning.

The scientific sessions included insightful presentations by renowned speakers:

Session I: Institutional Best Practices in Community Health Nursing (Dr. Mehev Khanam, Lecturer, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE): 

Presented international educational models including Preceptorship for clinical transitions and Peer Mentoring to reduce student stress. She highlighted the role of Digitalization, specifically using the Metaverse to create immersive 3D virtual environments for risk-free clinical simulations. 

Session II: Institutional Initiatives: Innovative Community Health Nursing Perspectives (Mrs. Deepa. S. Nair Professor/Head Department of Community Health Nursing, St. John’s College of Nursing, Bangalore, Karnataka)

Detailed innovative wellness frameworks like the SMILE Plus Model (stress management via laughter yoga) and the SMART Plate Model for real-time nutrition education. She also introduced the OBSERVE Model for providing cardiovascular risk screening directly in workplace settings.

Session III: Field-Based Community Health Nursing Practices (Mr. Kiran Kumar Divakaran

Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, Rajshree Nursing Institute, Bareilly, U.P.)

Focused on the integration of nursing education with National Health Programmes (such as Ayushman Bharat). He emphasized the development of field-based skills, including community assessment, home visiting techniques, and multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Session IV: Institutional Best Practices and Outcomes in Community Health Nursing Practices (Capt. (Dr.) Geeta Parwanda, Principal & Dean, Panna Dhai Maa Subharti Nursing College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, U.P.):

Discussed the Community Engagement Empowerment Model and midwifery excellence through the LaQshya and SUMAN initiatives. She highlighted a specialized 4-week summer internship at a leprosy rehabilitation NGO to build student empathy and clinical confidence.

Session V: Community Health Nursing Best Practices & Outreach Models (Prof. Shandrila Gnanatheebam, Dean & Head of Community Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu):

Shared the CONCH Model, showcasing a large-scale outreach system including nurse-led clinics, geriatric clubs, and mental health screening. The model also features a strong Women’s Empowerment component through 180 Self-Help Groups and vocational training.

After the scientific sessions, a feedback and discussion session was conducted. The feedback link for the sessions and expert talks was shared through the chat box and WhatsApp group for all participants. During the interactive discussion, participants actively raised their queries and the speakers addressed them effectively by sharing their valuable insights and experiences.

Dr. Anitha P delivered the vote of thanks and expressed sincere gratitude to the Chief Patrons, Patron, Chief Guest, distinguished guests & speakers, organizing committee members, participants for their valuable support and contribution towards the successful conduct of the programme.

Participation:

The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from Nursing Faculty Members, Ph.D. Scholars, Nursing Students, Community Health Nursing Officers, and Clinical Nurses across various States, Cities, and Institutions. A total of 750 participants attended the programme in hybrid mode, including 500 offline and 250 online participants.

Key Outcomes and Impact:

• The Community of Practice for Community Health Nursing was successfully inaugurated, marking a new chapter in collaborative professional learning for nursing institutions.
• Participants gained exposure to international and national best practices in community health nursing from five distinguished expert speakers.
• The event fostered meaningful networking among nursing faculty, students, community health officers, and clinical nurses.
• The hybrid format ensured wider reach and inclusivity, enabling participation from geographically distant institutions.
• All registered participants received an e-certificate, recognizing their engagement and learning.
• The event laid the foundation for ongoing collaboration through the CoP platform, encouraging continuous professional development.

Conclusion:

The Community of Practice (CoP) Inauguration & Expert Talk on Best Practices in Community Health Nursing was highly informative and impactful. The programme successfully promoted collaborative learning, exchange of best practices, innovation, and leadership in Community Health Nursing. The organizing committee expressed sincere gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, participants, and collaborators for making the programme a grand success.