Caring is the heart and soul of nursing, say experts at SQU

The ceremony of the First International Nursing Conference, organised by the College of Nursing at Sultan Qaboos University, was held yesterday under the patronage of Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, minister of health.

Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, WHO Patron for Nursing and Midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and President of the Jordanian Nursing Council (JNC) delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

The theme of the conference was 'Innovations in Nursing Education and Practice Leading to Quality Care' and it comes as part of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of SQU. As many as 1,200 participants from 22 countries are attending the conference which features nearly 100 oral presentations and around 60 poster presentations.

The conference theme covers innovations in the nursing, nursing practice, management, information technology, ethics and professionalism, quality care, nursing research and evidence-based practice.

Addressing the media at the conference venue, the Minister of Health said that he was happy to see the large turnout of participants who attended the conference regardless of the nationwide holidays. He observed that nursing is a noble profession and nurses have contributed their commitment and dedication to their patients, giving comfort and support. "The nurse's job of caring for patients is a physical manifestation of a caring attitude. The conscious caring attitude and skill of the nurse is enhanced through practice over time.

"The caring energy that resonates from the nurse to patient restoring ones normal health is incomprehensible," he said.
In her keynote address, Princess Muna Al Hussein, said that caring should be the heart and core of nursing in readdressing patient centered care in nursing education, practice and leadership.

"Caring should be addressed by the management, practicing nurses and by educators, to preach and practice patient centered care to show that we have not forgotten about caring. Patients want respect, empathy and understanding, physical comfort and confidential treatment, continuity and stability, time to be heard effectively with clear and reliable communication," she said.

In his address, Prof. Bazdawi Al Riyami, Dean of the College of Nursing at SQU, said that it has been well established that nursing is a very old profession and it has been said that it is even older than medicine. "The care that mothers give to their children and other family members, their dedication, has been cited as one of the oldest forms of nursing worldwide", he observed.

The Dean added, "Nursing is the pillar as well as the nerve centre of the health care services and much of what we know as health care systems are based on and dependent on this pillar."

The fact that the role of nursing has continued to grow and develop in modern times serves to emphasize the value and importance of this profession".

Dr. Raghda Shukri, Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee said that the conference has attracted a large number of professional nurses from both the nursing education and practice sectors, at both local and international levels.

"We are particularly proud to welcome those whose international profiles and excellent track records continue to play a key role in developing, strengthening, and advancing the nursing profession and who expend their energies in representing and leading the cause of nursing at the International Council of Nurses, the World Health Organization, Ministries of Health throughout the world, as well as those leaders in nursing education and practice representing the 22 countries participating in this conference", she said. The two day conference will conclude tomorrow (29 November).
 
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