Confronted with an international warning that over the next few years health systems will be facing a shortage of nurses, it has been confirmed that hospital units that enjoy a healthy working environment retain staff for longer. Five organisations from five different countries are also participating the project selected by the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 programme, with the aim of improving current conditions.

 

The working group is being coordinated by Cyprus Nurses & Midwives Association (CYNMA), who will work alongside Media Partners SRL (Romania), Croatian Nurses Society of Anaesthesia, Reanimation, Intensive Care and Transfusion (Croatia), Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Nurses (Poland) and UIC Barcelona (Spain). Researchers Mireia Llauradó and Cristina Alfonso, who are also professors at the Department of Nursing, will represent the University.

 

The researchers have explained how “the project aims to improve the working environment and make the ICU a healthier place for the nurses to be, as well as improving the quality of patient care”.

 

The international team participating in the programme (Spain, Croatia, Poland, Romania and Cyprus) is made up of researchers and experts that will develop an online educational platform. By using this tool and taking part in the training, ICU nurses and professionals alike will be able to access, identify and implement the educational material to improve their working environment and therefore prevent losing nurses from their hospital units. 

 

All participants will have the chance to build communication bridges in an attempt to strengthen relationships between European countries. It will also be a great opportunity to work on innovative actions in the field of education and knowledge.