International Council of Nurses Conference Focus on Positive Practice Environments

Many topics related to socio-economic welfare issues with an impact on working environments were addressed. For example, topics such as management and development of health human resources, intranational and international migration of nurses, nurses’ shortages as well as a focus on positive practice environments.

The positive practice environment sessions were attended by nurses at all levels with interests ranging from clinical practice and their working conditions to management of services, research, education, legislation, regulation, policy development and implementation.

A questionnaire was used to facilitate participants to identify their main priority issues and concerns within their working environment. In addition, they had the opportunity to share innovative initiatives that have been developed within countries to support and develop positive practice environments.

While acknowledging that working environments differ considerably from country to country, the respondents identified a number of common issues of concern including: shortage of nurses, heavy workloads, lack of efficient management practices, continuing education, violence, occupational health and safety.

Participants generously shared their experience and the follow are some examples of the innovative initiatives to improve working environments:

Professional recognition

• Advanced practice nurse positions, Hong Kong
• Development of a professional model based on certification of competencies, Portugal
• Annual national awards for nurses in clinical, long service, education and development - awarded on nurses’ day, Botswana

 Support structures

• Professional association liaison with unions and the labour division within the Ministry of Health, Japan
• Wellness programs, Botswana, Honk Kong

Education opportunities

• Development plan of Nursing HR 2010-2020 with the aim of increasing the number of nursing students to 40,000 in 2020, Paraguay
• Specialisations and continuing education, Portugal, France
• On-line programs that facilitate access, Colombia

Effective management practices

• Sistema de gestión de calidad (Quality management system): "Ambiente, higiene y seguridad" (environment, hygiene and safety) in Portugal
• HUG has conducted a satisfaction survey among 10,000 workers - results dissemination due in November 2011, Switzerland

Occupational Health and Safety

• Constitution of a committee for the control of biological hazards by needelstick injury, Colombia
• Vaccine programme for all health care workers and health assessment for health professionals and workers, Hong Kong.

PPE and ICN Socio-economic Welfare Network presentations

• Positive Practice Environments: Perspectives from Taiwan, Dr Lian-Hua Huang
• The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Nurses and the Nursing Profession in Iceland, Elsa B. Friðfinnsdóttir
• Innovative strategies to empower frontline staff, Dr Peter Carter
• Positive Practice Environment: Thailand perspectives, Dr Jintana Yunibhand
• Addressing violence in the work environment, Ian Needham