NIGH Featured at Beijing Conference

Nursing experts from many parts of the world are gathering in Beijing to discuss the role nurses in society.

Jointly organised by the Beijing Nightingale Consultation of Culture (BNCC) and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), the conference will be held from 21 to 23 October. RNAO is a professional association for Canadian nurses and BNCC provides nursing education in China.

Entitled Nurses: The Solution in Health Care Transformation, the conference will be attended by over 300 delegates. These include delegates from UK, Canada, US, Israel and Spain. A significant number from China and South-East Asia are registered to attend.

According to Doris Grunspun, Executive Director of RNAO: "This is a historic conference, as iit is the first time a Canadian nursing association is holding an international conference in collaboration with a leading Chinese counterpart. Its goal is to share, learn and give voice to nurses everywhere.

"China is undergoing tremendous transformation, including in their health care system, and our goal is that nurses be at the forefront of healthy public policy."

The conference will provide the opportunity for Chinese nurses to  share information about their profession with counterparts from other countries.

Nurses will discuss their changing roles, strategies for improving patient care and the importance of creating healthier work environments for all health-care professionals.

Conference workshops will address topics such as: providing patient-centred care; best practices for patients with diabetes, mental health challenges and dementia; nursing leadership, mentoring and advocacy.

Among those who will address the conference are: Ms. Jiang Jighui, Board Chairwoman, BNCC; Li Xiuhua, President, Chinese Nursing Association; Wendy Fucile, President, RNAO; and Doris Grinspun, Executive Director, RNAO.

The Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH) is represented at the conference by two of its co-directors: Dr. Deva Marie-Beck and Dr. Barbara Dossey.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has lobbied for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses’ contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.

The Beijing Nightingale Consultation of Culture is dedicated to improving nursing standards in China through the development and delivery of professional training programs and continuing education programs for nurses. These training programs are developed through collaboration and partnership with both the Chinese Nursing Association and international nursing organizations.