From the realm of primary medical care to specialized treatments, the indelible impact of nurses on India’s healthcare landscape and healthy society cannot be overstated. Reportedly, nursing forms two-thirds of the overall workforce in India, rising steadily in tandem with the increasing number of registered nurses. Lamentably, despite the development, the nurse to population ratio remains consistently low, foregrounding the constant demand for skilled professionals. While the ongoing situation has led to the influx of nursing colleges, only a few are instrumental in improving the standards of education and the subsequent professional lives of nurses. Through their distinctive education modalities, they stand unsurpassed in imparting conducive environments for learning, research, innovation, and future-proofing to leverage comprehensive care. Situated in Kolhapur, D. Y. Patil College of Nursing serves as a perfect example for such an educational avenue dedicated to empower aspiring nursing students to contribute positively to patient care and healthcare advancements.

D. Y. Patil Institute of Nursing Education offering GNM Nursing was started in 2002, followed by D. Y. Patil College of Nursing which was incorporated in 2006 as an extended arm of an eminent tertiary medical center, D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Kolhapur, is one of the many wings of its prestigious parent organization, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), which is accredited by NAAC with A++ grade (with CGPA of 3.53). The deemed-to-be university and its constituents bear the name of its founder and the Padma Shri Awardee, Dr D. Y. Patil, and have been efficient in fulfilling his objective of delivering quality education and creating well-versed professionals of high caliber. The president of D.Y. Patil Group and the Chancellor of D.Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), Dr Sanjay D. Patil is an engineer by profession, maintains the high academic standards of the institution with the help of renowned academicians. D. Y. Patil College of Nursing is distinguished for its top-notch courses, learner-centric infrastructure, excellent scholarship facilities, and research-oriented endeavors, all within an affordable fee structure.

Operated in alignment with the same mission, D. Y. Patil College of Nursing is distinguished for its top-notch courses, learner-centric infrastructure, excellent scholarship facilities, & research-oriented endeavors
 

Promoting Excellence

Recognized by the government of Maharashtra, the Indian Nursing Council, and the Maharashtra Nursing Council, D. Y. Patil College of Nursing offers B.Sc., P.B.B.Sc., and M.Sc Nursing Programmes in five specialties focusing on medical-surgical, child health, obstetrics and gynecology (OBG), mental health, and community health. Spearheaded by the seasoned professional and the Principal, Dr Umarani J, the college is also marked by its highly qualified faculty, who bring with them extensive knowledge and shared passion for enhancing the capabilities of the students. The teachers are on-boarded based on their merits and their pedagogical approaches demonstrated in a formal interview and a micro lecture for a set of students. “As a deemed-to-be university, we adhere to a few strategies and specific norms laid by the Indian Nursing Council and UGC for hiring faculty. Hence, the majority of our faculty members are postgraduates or possess PhDs. The well-qualified faculty significantly improves the quality of education at our institution,” shares Dr Umarani J. In addition, the curriculum backed by technology-infused infrastructure at the college is designed to promote theoretical as well as experiential learning. Academically, the students and the faculty have to enroll in the college’s Learning Management System (LMS), which enables convenient learning and test assessments, excluding the final exam. Its pursuit for providing an effective teaching-learning process is further complimented with facilities, including ICT-enabled classrooms and advanced laboratories, through which the students can reap hands-on clinical experience. The college also possesses a world-class central and departmental library with a vast collection of over 4000 books and national and international journals.

One of the most notable factors of D.Y.Patil College of Nursing is its state-of-the-art simulation center set up to mimic real-life settings, customized to a student's level and specialization. While the first-year students learn about anatomical models and human anatomy, second-and third-year students are taught life-saving skills like CPR training. Likewise, the final-year students can acquire necessary expertise, including assisting labor and deliveries by using advanced manikins, equipping them to handle similar scenarios independently in their future internships at hospitals. The students are also trained in business-must software like Health Management Information System (HMIS), helping them develop efficiency in managing any healthcare activities. In addition, the institute’s MoUs with other specialty hospitals provide the students with further clinical exposure to diverse medical cases and practices. “Our hospital itself is a multi-speciality hospital. But our collaborative efforts and initiatives like industrial field trips serve as an additional learning experience for the students,” states Dr Umarani J.

D. Y. Patil College of Nursing also emphasizes providing value-added courses on soft skills and professional development and rich-enriched augmented discussion (READ) sessions as a part of its curriculum. Right from the first year, the college conducts activities for each department, encompassing conferences and workshops for faculty as well as students on teaching-learning evaluation, faculty upskilling, and specialty-specific topics. “It is mandatory for our postgraduate students to organize either a workshop or a conference to build teamwork and leadership abilities while boosting their knowledge and skills,” asserts Dr Umarani J. Once the students reach the final year, they are also trained completely for campus interviews with esteemed hospitals for potential job roles.

Beyond Academics

As per Dr Umarani J, the emphasis of D. Y. Patil College of Nursing also lies in catalyzing the holistic development of a learner. Apart from extracurricular activities, the college boasts a fully equipped sports complex, and the students are also encouraged to actively participate in the annual intercollegiate sports meet, conducted by the University. Equal attention is also placed on supporting the research projects of students and the faculty. “We aim to increase our number of patents and research publications in the reputed indexing journals,” adds Dr Umarani J. The college also aims to, champion evidence based practice to elevate quality and drive academic excellence, encouraging faculty and students to undertake pioneering research projects with significant real-world implications.