Dr. Toni Bewley, the adjunct faculty of Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), MAHE, and Senior Teaching Fellow and Programme Lead at the School of Nursing, Edge Hill University, UK, visited MCON from 25th June to 13th July 2025. Her visit was marked by a series of impactful academic engagements, sharing of global best practices, and thought-provoking sessions that enriched the learning experience for nursing students and faculty alike.
On 28th June 2025, the Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, organized a session titled “Best Practices in Paediatric Care in European Countries” at the Child Health Nursing Lab. During this session, Dr. Toni elaborated on key aspects of paediatric care rooted in healthcare standards and clinical guidelines followed across Europe. She spoke about the provision of universal health coverage for children, emphasizing services such as immunization, preventive health check-ups, and specialist consultations, often provided free or at subsidized costs. The session further highlighted the importance of child- and family-centred care, wherein care plans are developed collaboratively with families and, where possible, the children themselves. The holistic model practiced in Europe, including multidisciplinary teams comprising paediatricians, nurses, psychologists, dietitians, and social workers, was discussed in detail. She also drew attention to the high standards in neonatal and maternal care, support for breastfeeding, early developmental interventions, and the increasing attention paid to child and adolescent mental health across various European healthcare systems. This session directly supported the objectives of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
On 30th June 2025, Dr. Toni deliberated a lecture for second-year Diploma Nursing students at Manipal School of Nursing on the topic “Patient Stories and the Importance of Reflection on Learning.” The session underscored the value of reflective practice and narrative in nursing education, with Dr. Toni illustrating how patient stories can be powerful tools in fostering empathy, insight, and personal growth among nurses. The lecture was interactive and engaging, employing active learning strategies to reinforce concepts. It contributed meaningfully to Sustainable Development Goal 4, “Quality Education,” by promoting reflective and student-centred learning.
Continuing her academic engagements, Dr. Toni delivered another session on 4th July 2025 for second-semester BSc Nursing students on the topic “The Art of Listening to Patients.” Held from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, the session focused on the role of empathetic listening in nursing care. Through powerful patient narratives and video demonstrations, she illustrated how attentive listening builds trust and is key to delivering compassionate care. She emphasized how nurses who practice the art of listening are valued not only by patients but also by healthcare teams. A total of 54 students attended the session, which was coordinated by Mrs. Charlet Jasmine Vaz, Assistant Professor, Department of Fundamental of Nursing, and was aligned with SDG 4, emphasizing quality in healthcare education.
On 5th July 2025, a session on “Resilience Building” was organized for the postgraduate nursing students of MCON. Dr. Toni addressed the underlying causes of stress among healthcare students and professionals and offered practical strategies for managing it. Dr Toni encouraged students to view stress not as a limitation but as a motivator for growth and change.
Through personal stories and reflective prompts, the session inspired students to become more self-aware and resilient in the face of academic and professional challenges. The session was coordinated by Dr. Melita Sheilini, Associate Professor, and was attended by 19 first-year and 10 second-year MSc Nursing students. The discussion reinforced the importance of mental well-being and aligned with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.
A specialized session on “Care of Children on Ventilators” was conducted on 10th July 2025 for MSc Pediatric Nursing students at the Child Health Nursing Lab. Dr. Toni presented a detailed overview of ventilatory care, including both invasive and non-invasive techniques, and elaborated on the critical role of nurses in providing technical support as well as emotional and psychological care to children and their families. Dr Toni highlighted the distress experienced by families, particularly in long-term ventilation cases, and emphasized the need for a family-centred, holistic approach. The session covered supportive practices such as kangaroo mother care, infection control, use of non-nutritive sucking techniques, and adequate nutritional support during ventilation. By linking these practices to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), Dr. Toni emphasized the importance of equitable, high-quality care for all children regardless of their socio-economic background.
Dr. Toni’s visit concluded with a highly impactful online session on “Building Compassionate Global Care Partnership for Dementia” held on 12th July 2025 at 10:30 AM. The session was attended by a multidisciplinary audience comprising healthcare professionals and academicians. As an expert in dementia research, Dr. Toni addressed the growing global burden of dementia and called for collaborative international strategies to improve care systems. Dr Toni discussed the role of compassion in dementia care, the socio-cultural barriers to equitable support, and successful international care models. Dr Toni also emphasized the role of education, innovation, and capacity-building in low-resource settings to strengthen global dementia care partnerships. The session was coordinated by Ms. Elsa Sanatombi Devi (Convenor) along with Mr. Agin Jiju and Dr. Anil Raj (Co-Convenors) and concluded with an open invitation for future cross-border collaboration, extended by Dr. Judith A. Noronha, Chairperson and Dean, MCON. The session reinforced the value of global solidarity and knowledge exchange in realizing the goals of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Dr. Toni Bewley’s visit was a remarkable opportunity for students and faculty to engage with international perspectives on healthcare education and practice. Her sessions were highly appreciated and left a lasting impact by fostering a spirit of empathy, resilience, global collaboration, and evidence-informed care. The alignment of her engagements with global development goals further underscored MCON’s commitment to advancing nursing education and practice on a global scale.
