Thursday, July 12, 2007: 1:45 PM-3:15 PM
SPECIAL SESSION: Developing Global Standards for the Initial Education of Nurses and Midwives
Learning Objective #1: rationalise the importance of global standards
Learning Objective #2: contribute to the development of global standards
In May 2005 the Global Alliance Group for Nurisng and Midwifery charged the World Health Organization and the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International to set up a working group to take forward an action from WHA resolution 54.1. A working group with representatives from around the world was convened and a Nurse Scholar appointed to develop a background paper reporting on existing standards for nursing and midiwfery education and other relevant material. Following publication of this paper, in December, 2006, The World Health Organization and The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International convened a group of expert participants to identify key elements and issues critical to the development of standards for initial nursing and midwifery education. A set of common themes for each area emerged following small and large group discussions, using the nominal group process. The outcome of this meeting was consensus on the key elements in the areas of programme admission criteria, programme development requirements, programme content components, faculty qualification and programme graduate characteristics required to develop global standards for initial nursing and midwifery education. The experts who participated in this meeting recognised that nursing and midwifery are indispensable cornerstones of global health development and care delivery. They further acknowledged the need for uniformity and standards for initial education to ensure an adequate, knowledgeable workforce; continued influence in world regions where this exists and development of this influence in regions where the nursing and midwifery voice is less or absent; and visibility and impact of nursing and midwifery through education. Building on the outcome of this meeting, as well as existing documents on the competencies of nursing and midwifery, the participants believed the adoption of global standards will require concerted effort and unity within the global communities of nursing and midwifery. Draft Standards have now been developed and consultataion is being sought worldwide. Participants in this session are warmly invited to contribute to this pioneering initiative.
Organizer:	Valerie Fleming, RN, RM, BA, MA, PhD