The Athens Declaration
The undersigned Regulatory Bodies of Nursing, gathered in Athens for the third International Meeting of Nursing Regulators, have adopted, at the initiative of the European Nursing Council, the following declaration:
- Nursing Regulatory Authorities are profoundly concerned by the serious challenges that the shortage of nurses in many of our countries brings for patients, health services, and colleagues alike. The demand for qualified nurses in more prosperous countries leads to many colleagues migrating there. Even though this migration contributes to plugging the gap in these countries, we should not forget that it also leads to a significant drop in the quality of healthcare in less prosperous nations, thus exacerbating the strain already existing. Adopting measures, including economic ones, with the aim to motivate young people to join the nursing profession, and to encourage already serving nurses to remain professionally active, must remain our top strategy to deal with the shortage of nurses. In that context, it is also obvious that promoting policies towards improving of the wellbeing of nurses, protecting the mental and physical health of nursing professionals, supporting a work-life balance, and recognising the importance of nursing work, is essential for rendering nursing an attractive professional path as well as for ensuring the quality and safety of patient care.
- Nursing Regulatory bodies are further concerned by the lack of visibility of nursing work, and are very aware of the importance of traceability in nursing activities across different professional cultures and countries. For this reason, we firmly believe that a standardised language, shared among different nations and nursing communities, is necessary to realise an International Classification of Nursing Diagnosis. This would enhance visibility of Nursing work, and will be fundamental in achieving better quality of care, and better recognition of care outcomes, as outlined by scientific literature.
- Nursing Regulatory Bodies are taking into account scientific evolutions regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI); acknowledge that its advancement could bring substantial benefits for the exercise of the nursing profession, and for bettering healthcare in general.
Integration of AI in practice must not alter the goals of patient care. Integration of AI in practice must be enshrined by the Code of Professional Conduct and the professional Nursing values of Compassion, Care, and Commitment. The continuous evolution of advanced digital technologies such as AI must be adopted or integrated into nursing practice within these nursing and ethical care frameworks so that nursing practice remains relevant in the changing landscape (Fronczek, 2019).
To mitigate the more harmful effects of AI, and the potential negative consequences the use of this new technology might have for our patients, we contend that:
- It is essential that nurses and all healthcare professionals in general receive adequate education and training before using AI technology and tools.
- It is essential that, nurses and healthcare professionals, when using conversational AI assistance, are absolutely sure that the confidentiality of personal data is protected.
- It is essential that nurses and healthcare professionals inform the patient before using AI as a tool for an action, clearly explaining what the tool will be used for.
- It is essential that nurses and healthcare professionals who use AI to search for and gather documentation, ensure that the data provided is up-to-date, reliable, and scientifically valid. They must also acknowledge that they have used AI for such a search.
- It is essential that nurses and health professionals in general must, consistently, ensure that AI is a decision-making tool, the use of which must never diminish the special interpersonal relationship between them and their patients.
- Nursing Regulatory authorities are welcoming the improvement new communication technologies are bringing to the accessibility of healthcare, especially regarding the struggle to reach areas with a dearth of hospitals, clinics, and professionals available for the health needs of the local population. It is for this reason that we strongly encourage the adoption of more initiatives towards studying, developing, and promoting digital assessments, and interventions including the virtual ward and Telenursing.
European Nursing Council: https://enc-eu.org/
Federazione Nazionale Ordini Professioni Infermieristiche (Italy): https://www.fnopi.it/en/
Ordre Nationale des Infermiers (France): https://www.ordre-infirmiers.fr/
Order of Nurses and Midwives (Romania): https://www.oamr.ro/
Nursing and Midwifery Board (Ireland): https://www.nmbi.ie/Home
Hrvatska Komora Medicinskih Sestara (Croatia): https://www.hkms.hr/
Hellenic Regulatory Body of Nurses (Greece): www.enne.gr
Regulatory Body of Nurses (Hungary): www.meszk.hu
Urdhëri i Infermierëve të Shqipërisë (Albania): www.urdhriinfermierit.org
Oda e Infermierëve, Mamive dhe Profesionistëve të tjerë Shëndetorë të Kosovës (Kosovo): oik-ks.org
Pflegekammer Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany): https://www.pflegekammer-nrw.de/
TruMerit (USA): https://www.trumerit.org/
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HOW WE WORK
ENC has a strategic partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The latter contributes to our studies, positions and demands of members. A number of working groups monitors specific thematics and our secretariat in Brussels ensure logistic support and promotion of our work.
OUR PEOPLE, PRACTICE AREAS & PUBLICATIONS
As FEPI before, and with a renewed enthusiasm and determination, the European Nursing Council (ENC) strives to become the voice of the European regulatory bodies and competent authorities for nursing in order to protect European citizens and patients by securing excellence in (1) nursing competences and practice , (2) professional standards, (3) continuous education and training and (4) codes of conduct. To realize these objectives, we act as an advocate for patient safety towards the European Institutions in order to promote patients’ rights and public health at the national an European levels. As a healthcare actor EU-wide, we are a valuable source of information for all stakeholders including nursing professionals, policy makers, patients, educators and researchers about nursing related issues across the EU. Since 2004, ENC is also collaborating with a worldwide network of universities and Nursing Councils in order to facilitate sharing of good practice. ENC strives to promote continuous nursing education and training as well as to lobby for high standards of public protection and patient safety. Towards this end, ENC organises periodic conferences and meetings across Europe with professionals from health sectors to increase good practice exchange and to foster dialogue with political and administrative bodies related to health sectors.
Founded in 2004, the ENC represents Regulatory Bodies and Competent Authorities for the Nursing profession throughout the European Union.
The General Assembly of ENC is the supreme body of the organization. It is composed of all its full members. Associated and observer members may attend but have no voting rights. Correspondent organizations may also be invited to attend.
INFORMATION
ENC Secretariat in Brussels monitors all EU information relating to our profession and forwards it to the member organisations, along with a first analysis, via a monthly newsletter, the “News From Brussels”. Thus, Members come back to the Secretariat with feedback on issues of particularinterest to them, sometimes suggesting possibilities of common actions.
ADVOCACY
EU related issues of particular interest are discussed in the framework of ENC’s ad hoc Working Groups. An Executive Board, elected by all active ENC members, for a four years mandate, is coordinating all actions. It ensures contact with the Union’s institutions and Bodies and represents ENC in all relevant forums, assisted by the staff of the Secretariat composed of two to three political scientists and EU experts.
NETWORKING
ENC, since 2004 is successfully maintaining close contacts with the European Commission’s Directorate Generals for Health, Research, Competition, Internal Market and Services. Furthermore, our organisation strives to develop strong friendships with several Members of the European Parliament interested in Nursing and Healthcare. At the same time, ENC is regularly consulted on issues related to the Liberal Professions more broadly due to its membership of the European Council of the Liberal Professions (CEPLIS).