KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (deemed to be a university) and the Institute of Nursing Sciences Belagavi organized the National Conference on “Transforming Paediatric Nursing: Bridging Research, Advocacy, and Practice for Better Outcomes” on 23rd and 24th May 2025, at KLE’s Centenary Convention Center, JNMC, Belagavi, Karnataka. The conference was inaugurated on 23^rd May 2025 by watering the plant by the guests.

Dr. Prabhakar Kore, honorable Chairman of the KLE Society and Chancellor of the KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, in his presidential remarks, said, without nurses, hospitals cannot function, and the KLE Society is running nearly 8 nursing colleges with their own hospitals.” He also stated that the KLE hospital is one of the best organizations with modern technology and the pediatric conference is very much necessary to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the nurses, and he said he is happy to inaugurate the conference.

Prof. (Dr.) Veereshkumar Nandgaon, Principal, welcomed the gathering and introduced the dignitaries. Following this, guests were felicitated, and souvenirs on Transforming Pediatric Nursing and the mobile application developed by the Department of Child Health Nursing on health assessment of children were released during the event.

The chief guest of the function, Dr. Deepika Cecil Khakha, Nursing Advisor, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Planning, Government of India, addressed the event and said research gives visibility, advocacy provides the voice for the voiceless, and research enhances the clinical skills. She also stated that compassion, patience, and empathy are the essential skills of pediatric nurses and practice never makes us perfect, but perfect practice makes us successful, and she also congratulated the institution for hosting the valuable conference.

Guest of Honor Dr. Nitin Gangane, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Speaking on the occasion, he said nursing education is a skill-based profession, and finishing school, which was started by the KLE Institute of Nursing Sciences, is a wonderful initiative, and KLE University is presently focusing more on research. Dr. Vaishali R. Mohite, Dean, Krishna Institute of Nursing Sciences, Karad, expressed her gratitude towards KLE University, as she is an alumna of the institution, and said nursing is a divine profession to practice and good nurses are just not trained; they are made for providing empathetic care to society.

The event brought together a total of 520 delegates from various institutions across the country. The delegates represented Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, nurse midwifery educators, nursing officers, nurse practitioners in midwifery, faculty, and Ph.D. scholars participating in the conference.

In these two days, five plenary sessions, including two panel discussions, posters, and paper presentations, will be conducted, followed by a cultural event. The resource persons and delegates from different states are participating in the event.

The resource persons of the conference are Dr. Baby S. Nayak, Professor & HOD, Dept. of Child Health Nursing, Manipal Nursing College, Manipal, Mangaluru; Dr. Bhagyashree Jogdea, Principal, Professor & HOD, Child Health Nursing, B.V.D.U.C.O.N, Pune—Maharashtra; and Dr. Mrunal Chavan, Vice Principal P. D. Hinduja, Institute of Nursing Sciences, Mumbai. Maharashtra, Dr. Seema S. Chavan, Associate Professor, College of Nursing, AIIMS Gorakhpur (UP), Dr. Somashekar K., Professor & HOD, KLE’S Institute of Nursing, Sciences Hubballi. Dr. Ana Braganza, Professor & HOD, Govt. College of Nursing, Bambolim, Goa, Dr. Prakash Naregal, Asso. Professor, Krishna Institute of Nursing Sciences, Karad, Maharashtra; Dr. Kavita K, Professor, HOD, BLDEA’s Institute of Nursing Sciences, Vijaypur; Dr. Radha M. S., Professor & Vice Principal, M.S. Ramiah Institute of Nursing Education & Research, Bengaluru; Dr. Assuma Beevi. T.M., Professor & Principal, MIMS College of Nursing & Director, MIMS Academy, Kozhikode, Kerala. Mr. Jonils A. Macwan, National Florence Nightingale Awardee—2021, Chief Nursing Superintendent, Divisional Railway Hospital, Vadodara—Gujarat; Dr. Jasneet Kaur, Professor, Symbiosis College of Nursing, Pune, Maharashtra; and Dr. Ramu K., Dean, R. R. Institute of Nursing Sciences, Bengaluru.

Shri Mahantesh Kavatagimath, Former Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council and Board of Director of KLE Society, Dr. Alka Kale, Principal at KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, Belagavi, Dr. (Col.) M. Dayanananda, medical director, KLE’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belagavi; principals; and university officials were present during the function. The Program was started with invocation song by Students of School of Music and program concluded with singing of the national anthem.

Dr. Gavi Salimath, organizing secretary, proposed the vote of thanks; Prof. (Dr.). Sangeeta Kharade, Dean, and. (Dr.) Preeti Bhupali, Vice Principal, shared the stage. The Indian Nursing Council and the Karnataka Nursing Council had given credit points for the conference.