Worldwide Universities Network Convenes Meeting of Nursing and Health Care Leaders

By Brenda Cleary, CCNA Director

As I look back on a very busy year with so many high points, one that especially bears mentioning was the opportunity to serve as the representative from the U.S. at an international policy and research roundtable in Sydney, Australia, in early September. Now I actually got to Sidney by default due to the misfortune of an esteemed colleague, Dr. Marla Salmon, Dean of Nursing at the University of Washington, who suffered a shoulder injury which prevented her from making the trip.

I joined nursing and health care leaders from Australia, Canada, and the UK, including the Chief Nurse of the Commonwealth of Australia and President of the International Council of Nurses, Rosemary Bryant; the Chief Nurse of Canada, Sandra McDonald- Rencz; and representatives of the UK Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery, Commissioner Anne Marie Rafferty and Commission Support Office Joint Lead Jane Salvage.  The visit was fully funded by the Worldwide Universities Network, a global research collaboration between 16 universities. Jill White, dean of the University of Sydney’s faculty of nursing and midwifery, hosted the four-day event to explore and develop health policy education and research priorities and strategies. For more information, go to  http://www.nursing.usyd.edu.au/news_events/news/roundtable.shtml.
 
The group concluded that nurses and midwives need to build closer alliances with health care consumers and community groups, which is very consistent with our efforts at the Center to Champion Nursing in America.  And they should "plot a course of action" that will serve as a catalyst to champion the need for higher quality, innovative healthcare services. 

The group plans to further develop its international nursing policy network at a meeting in 2010. Among other things, it hopes to discuss the UK Commission’s report, due out in March and also follow the work of the Initiative on the Future of Nursing in the U.S.

What did I learn?  I learned that a 4-5 day trip to Australia challenges human endurance (but it was so worth it).  I learned what it was like to serve as the Chief Nurse of a national health system from colleagues at the roundtable. And I was reminded that nurses share much in common around the globe.  Finally, I convinced myself that I could climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  See the flag on top in the picture—I was there, thanks to arrangements made by my Australian friends and meeting hosts!!