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Nurse scholar: "Health for all is possible" |
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To improve global health, nurses around the world must work together to
develop solutions that will ensure an adequate supply of nurses to meet
our current and future healthcare needs.
by Dionne Sinclair
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Dionne Sinclair
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For my advance practicum during my Masters’ of Science in Nursing program, I had the great fortune of working with the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH).
In order to empower nurses and midwives around the world, NIGH has created a declaration campaign, where a nurse can sign up online or by mail to declare their goals, dreams, and values.
During my practicum, I had the opportunity to attend the first meeting of nursing leaders in late March 2008 at the United Nations in New York City.
I represented York University, Ontario, and Canada at this initial meeting.
NIGH seeks to address in all regions of the world, the critical global shortage of practicing nurses that prevails as a significant obstacle to sustaining human health.
The world’s supply of nurses appears to be insufficient to meet the global need now and in the future.
Without sufficient practising nurses, many developing countries lack the resources to implement programs to improve the health of their communities.
Government health campaigns for confidential HIV testing and counselling in such countries are placed in jeopardy. For example, in Swaziland, the nursing shortage is considered the main obstacle for the expansion and long-term maintenance of critical antiretroviral therapy programs.
To improve global health, nurses around the world must work together to develop solutions that will ensure an adequate supply of nurses to meet our current and future healthcare needs.
Despite the current state of the world, I believe that health for all is possible.
Nurses and midwives must invest in health, using the principles of transformational leadership to work collectively in their communities to address the determinants of health. Transformational leadership teaches you to source from “self” and find the solutions to any issues you are facing.
Nurses are able to rely on their own knowledge and skills to solve the shortage of practising nurses. It’s a different way of thinking and doing things.
Nurses draw on their beliefs and values to find solutions. Through transformative leadership, I believe that unemployed nurses in developing solution to the current nursing shortage. A nurse leader who embodies empowering behaviours can be pivotal in encouraging these nurses into the workforce.
Once there is realization that they can unleash human potential and influence the health and well being of their communities, they will begin to create new futures individually and collectively, thus improving the health of the global community.
Nations need to become self sufficient in their ability to develop their own nursing talent. Nurses must create healthy workplaces through collaboration among governments, professional associations, employers, educators and researchers. Nations must collaborate with nursing leaders to develop integrated strategies for nursing human resources.
Dionne Sinclair, RN; BScN, D.O.H.S; MScN; CPMHN(C), works with the care group at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Group. She aims to actively participate in the development of health policies and normative tools on nursing and midwifery services at the global level and make a significant and meaningful contribution to a managed migration program and other related global nursing issues.
courtesy Canadian Association for International Nursing (CAIN) newsletter
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