4TH NATIONAL NURSING MANAGEMENT CONGRESS HELD AT VEHBI KOÇ CONFERENCE CENTER

The Vehbi Koç Conference Center hosted the 4th National Nursing Management Congress, organized by the Association of Nurse Managers, with over 150 participants, three conferences, and three panels, where 88 oral presentations were delivered.

The "4th National Nursing Management Congress" was held at the Vehbi Koç Conference Center by the Association of Nurse Managers. The main theme of the congress was "Resource Management in Nursing," and it attracted more than 150 participants. The congress aligned with the 2024 theme of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), "Our Nurses, Our Future: The Economic Power of Care," featuring three conferences and three panels with 12 speakers. The congress took place simultaneously in three separate halls over two days, where 88 oral presentations were made.

The Role of Nurses Under Discussion

In her evaluation of the congress, Prof. Dr. Ülkü Baykal, President of the Association of Nurse Managers and Congress President, emphasized the focus on "Sustainability in the Management of Nursing Human Resources." She stated that discussions included recruitment processes, placement, orientation, continuous education, career development support, and efforts to improve working conditions while enhancing motivation, performance, and productivity. Baykal noted that the fundamental roles of nurse managers were compared in the context of public and private hospital practices, and insights were drawn regarding what could be done. The congress also addressed the economic issues in the healthcare system specifically related to nursing services.

Award Presented in Memory of Prof. Dr. H. Sevgi Oktay

The congress also discussed how to conduct cost-effectiveness assessments in nursing services, the economic power of nursing care, budgeting in nursing services, and the issues faced in Turkey from both public and private sector perspectives. Solutions to these problems were evaluated. Baykal mentioned that the presented papers were evaluated by academic referees, and awards were given to the top three papers. Furthermore, she announced the establishment of the Prof. Dr. H. Sevgi Oktay Special Award, named in honor of the late founding president of the association, to be presented to one of the papers in this inaugural year.

Global Nursing Concept Discussed

Prof. Dr. Ülkü Baykal, the President of the Association of Nurse Managers and Congress President, shared details about the 4th National Nursing Management Congress, stating, "The main theme of the congress aligns with the 2024 theme of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), which emphasizes the need for investment in health and nursing to achieve economic development. The report states that every $1 invested in health services can yield an economic return of $2 to $4 due to increased productivity in society. It highlights that the share allocated to primary healthcare should be increased by at least 1% of the gross domestic product (GDP), and employing qualified nurses in this area will enhance economic effectiveness and improve health indicators. The ICN has reported that there are 29 million nurses worldwide, accounting for 50% of all healthcare professionals, and it has indicated that approximately 60 million more nurses are needed to improve health indicators. It also addresses the effects of migration trends from developing countries to developed countries."

“Nursing in Turkey” Discussed Thoroughly

Prof. Dr. Ülkü Baykal also spoke about the number of nurses and their working conditions in Turkey. "According to data from the Ministry of Health, there are approximately 310,000 nurses and midwives in our country, including 234,000 in the Ministry of Health. When compared to the increase in the number of hospital beds, it is evident that there is a significant nursing shortage. Moreover, in recent years, the working conditions for nurses have worsened (increased weekly working hours, frequent use of shifts of 16-24 hours, low overtime pay, insufficient salaries and social rights, difficulties in taking leave, etc.), leading to an increase in the turnover rate of nurses. There has been a noticeable migration from the private sector to the public sector, and there is also movement among public hospitals. These issues have led many nurses to leave the profession, while the number of nurses migrating from our country to developed countries has also increased significantly." Baykal concluded her remarks by thanking the management of the Eskişehir Fuar Kongre Merkezi and Figur Congress Organizations for their support in organizing the congress.