EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF NEUROSCIENCE NURSES
STRATEGY 2003 - 2008
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the European Association of Neuroscience Nurses (EANN) is to
support and enhance the development of competence in neuroscience nursing by
improving the exchange of information between neuroscience nurses in Europe.
Preamble
In realising the mission of the Association we acknowledge the necessity for
collaboration in neuroscience care in Europe. Optimal patient outcomes require
nursing to be pivotal in the delivery of a comprehensive framework for neuroscience
care with the value of the nursing contribution to the multi-disciplinary aspects of
neuroscience care acknowledged as central in healthcare throughout Europe. EANN
will play a major role in ensuring this development. This strategy which will attempt
to reverse this trend and ensure the prominence of neuroscience nursing in the field of
the neurosciences. Through the strategy the Association will attempt to demonstrate
the contribution of nursing to quality care outcomes whilst addressing the priorities of
neuroscience nurses across the continent.
The aim of this strategic plan is to establish a solid foundation for the future, serving
to set direction and priorities for the association. The realisation of this strategy will
only be possible with the support and participation of national associations and
individual neuroscience nurses.
GOALS
1.
Nursing care will be delivered by competent and practising neuroscience
nurses.
2.
Neuroscience nursing is recognised as a speciality in Europe by the public and
the healthcare systems
3.
The services of the EANN are accessible to every neuroscience nurse in
Europe.
4.
Neuroscience nursing knowledge is available to neuroscience nurses in
Europe.
Nursing care will be delivered by competent and practising neuroscience nurses
Critical Issues
1.
In many countries across Europe people are getting older. In the near future
the number of patients with neurological or neurosurgical diseases will
increase dramatically.
2.
Patients requiring neurological or neurosurgical care do not always have
access to qualified neuroscience nurses.
3.
Inequalities exist in the distribution of specialist neuroscience nursing care
across Europe.
4.
There are inequalities in the provision of post registration neuroscience
nursing education.
5.
Current neuroscience services do not always meet the needs of the patient.
Priorities for Action
1.
Advance the neuroscience nursing contribution to quality of care outcomes,
thus promoting the value of nursing to the public.
2.
Support continuing and post-basic education in neuroscience nursing care for
nurses in all healthcare settings.
3.
Accommodate national requirements for accreditation for post-registration
neuroscience nursing courses and develop standards for EANN educational
activity
Neuroscience nursing is recognised as a speciality in Europe by the public and
the healthcare systems
Critical Issues
1.
There are differences in Europe in relation to the recognition of neuroscience
nursing as a speciality.
2.
Currently there is no consensus either at a national or a European level as to
what constitutes a neuroscience nurse with regard to clinical competencies or
educational preparation.
3.
Currently EU regulatory frameworks are only targeted at pre-registration nurse
education and skills required for general nurses.
4.
The contribution of nursing within neuroscience is not always recognised.
5.
The contribution of neuroscience nursing within the nursing profession is not
always recognised.
Priorities for Action
1.
Collect information to determine the status of neuroscience nurses in each
country.
2.
Develop a common definition of “neuroscience nurse” to include educational
and clinical preparation.
3.
Highlight the impact neuroscience nurses have on patient care .
4.
Encourage national neuroscience nursing associations to develop a common
strategy with which to lobby for recognition at a national level.
The services of the EANN are accessible to every neuroscience nurse in Europe.
Critical Issues
1.
Neuroscience nurses in Europe may not be aware of the activities and benefits
of the EANN.
2.
The infrastructure of EANN cannot at present deal with the demands of a
developing Association.
3.
EANN has neither the administrative capacity nor finance to undertake a
widespread European promotion.
4.
At present there is limited public awareness of the role of professional nursing
organisations such as EANN and the influence they can have on healthcare.
Priorities for Action
1.
Identify and secure resources to promote the Association.
2.
Develop and maintain a strategy of relevance to European Neuroscience
Nurses.
3.
Optimise current means of information
4.
Develop stronger links between EANN and the national neuroscience nursing
associations.
5.
Develop an adequate infrastruture to support the activities of the EANN
Neuroscience nursing knowledge is available to neuroscience nurses in Europe.
Critical Issues
1.
The evidence base currently available lacks applicability to health care
systems not based on the medical model.
2.
There is limited European neuroscience nursing research activity.
3.
Distribution and implementation of knowledge of how to utilise research
results in practice is limited.
4.
There are limited funds available for neuroscience nursing research in Europe.
5.
Not nurses are fully appreciative of the value of basing their practice on
research results.
Priorities for Action
1.
Determine the research priorities of European neuroscience nurses.
2.
Prepare a position statement on the value of research utilisation.
3.
Establish and maintain a network of nurse researchers providing the
opportunity to conduct pan-European research.
4.
Promote the sharing of information from research studies and ongoing
research activity