Sigma Theta Tau European Regional Newsletter

Transcription

1 Sigma Theta Tau European Regional Newsletter No. 4 Christmas 2014 On behalf of the European Communications Task Force, we would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and an energetic and vibrant new year for each of our Chapters. This is our fourth joint, trans-european newsletter in our efforts to share, connect and bring together all STTI nurses in our region. Six months since our Spring 14 Newsletter, we will update you on what has been happening around the Region. Our ambitions are to be able to continually support you with current developments and planning within the region, and we welcome all forms of comments from our fellow members. Please enjoy! On behalf of the European Regional Communication Board, Professor Elizabeth Rosser CONTENT The European STTI region 1 Rho Chi at-large The Netherlands 2 Tau Omega - Sweden 2 Phi Mu - England 3 Phi Xi Purtugal 3 Upsilon Xi-at-Large Wales 4 Forthcoming events 4 The Circle 4 Contact information 5 The European Sigma Theta Tau Region The European Region has had a very successful year, in all sorts of ways. Congratulations again to Dr Thora Hafsteinsdottir who took up her role as STTI Board member in the summer with her nominated replacement as Professor Joy Merrell from the Upsillon Xi Chapter in Wales. Professor Merrell held her inaugural meeting on 15th June at the 2nd Biennial European Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden with a number of priority areas. The European Region is keen to further increase the critical mass of chapters across Europe with honor societies developing in Southern Ireland, Scotland, Norway and Finland. There is some strength of feeling that the European Development fund which was set up following the inaugural European Regional Conference in Cardiff, Wales should be used to send nurses from lower income countries to STTI events but that the detail around this will be developed over the coming year. Joy has met the European Regional committee already, to discuss the European Strategic Plan and all Chapters have had the opportunity to contribute. Professor Brendan McCormack was inducted into the Researcher Hall of Fame at the STTI Research Conference in Hong Kong in July Nominated by the European Region, this is the first European to be elevated to this position and we are all very proud of him. The second European Regional conference was a great success. Held in Gothenburg, Sweden and hosted by the Tau Omega Chapter led by Professor Margret Lepp, the conference attracted not only nurses but other health care professionals from 27 countries worldwide although primarily from Europe. In all there were 200 attendees some of whom were not members of STTI. The overarching theme of the conference was Leadership, Learning and Research in Nursing and Midwifery and this was broken down into 7 subthemes in order to organise the conference programme. A preconference seminar was provided by Professor Hester Klopper, President of STTI and Pat Thompson the Chief Executive. There were 4 keynote speakers including Professor Hester Klopper, Swedish professors Emeritus Ingegerd Bergrom and Katie Eriksson (delivered by Professor Bergrom due to ill health of Professor Eriksson) and Professor Wendy Chaboyer from Australia. The Conference also included Social events. One was a Reception with Swedish music, the other a boat trip around the bay, off the coast. These were greatly enjoyed by all participants. The buzz of all the networking and making connections was palpable. As a result, future collaborations and joint working were being planned and all who attended seemed to have a great time both intellectually as well as socially. Overall, the event was a great success. Well done all! The next European Biennial conference has been chosen as the Rho Chi Chapter-at-Large in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Planning has already begun under the leadership of the new Rho Chi Chapter-at- Large President, Marie-Louise Luiking. It is anticipated that the US Chapter Omicron will collaborate in this next European Regional Conference and instill a greater partnership with members from the US. In November, a videoconference was organised by Professor Joy Merrell, connecting chapters across Europe. Guest speaker Dr Estelle Codier presented an excellent keynote on: "The emotional intelligence of nurses: Research and implications for nursing. In future newsletters, we will endeavour to include news from members working centrally in STTI Headquarters to keep you in touch with the impact we are making in the Society. Next year will be the central STTI Biennium and hopefully we will all get the chance to meet up in Las Vegas. We wish you all a joyous and peaceful festive season.

2 Page 2 Sigma Theta Tau European Regional Newsletter The Netherlands Chapter Rho Chi The Rho Chi at Large chapter has since the 1 st of July 2014 a new president: Marie- Louise Luiking. A lot of events have been organised. On the 26 th of September the Nursing Science department of the University Medical Centre, Utrecht held their yearly symposium. The Rho Chi was an integral partner in in its organisation. Afterwards the 22nd Mebius Kramer presentation was given. Invited to give this presentation was Prof. dr. Barbara Resnick, professor of Nursing at the University of Maryland., On November 4 th, 2014 the Rho Chi together with the Rotterdam Stroke Service and the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences are organising a conference. On the 24 th of November the RhoChi is organising its 2nd symposium together with the Dutch Nursing Society entitled On the way to excellent nursing: learn to recognize your role model. We have a varied programme this year of keynote speakers, workshops and abstract/poster presentations. Following this symposium we will induct 18 new members Afterwards will be our yearly dinner for the chapter members. During this event the chapter will hand out the Friend of Nursing Award and the Promising Nurse Award. The Swedish Chapter Tau Omega The 2nd European Regional Conference: Leadership, Learning and Research in Nursing and Midwifery took place on June 16th -18th 2014 at the Wallenberg Conference Center at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference was hosted by Tau Omega Chapter, (STTI) in Gothenburg, Sweden. The planning of the conference and the conference was chaired by Professor Margret Lepp. The themes and the content in the conference programme reflected a broad range of issues which were planned and implemented by the Scientific Committee chaired by Dr Harshida Patel, and in co-operation with the Board of Tau Omega Chapter and the Planning Committee. The conference had 200 attendees who represented 27 countries. The conference programme included: a preconference, keynotes, plenary sessions, and parallel sessions of 101 oral presentations, 7 workshops and 44 posters. The conference was of an interest to members of STTI such as nurses, midwives, students and researchers from diverse clinical practice and academic settings to facilitate networking, collaboration, and friendship. In addition, the conference attracted the attention of non-members, who strive to improve nursing care worldwide. The first European Recognition Nursing Award was presented to the Swedish nurse Bibi Kennergren. The conference was found to be a great success! A report with an evaluation form included six (6) open-ended questions can be found at:

3 Sigma Theta Tau European Regional Newsletter Page 3 The English Chapter Following an Away Day in September the Chapter Board met at Middlesex University on 21st October. The central agenda item was the decision to hold what will be our Biennial conference in June Three bids have been received to host this conference and a decision on the venue will be made soon. The theme of the conference will be Caring Leadership in a Politicised Nursing Arena. The intention is to include a debate on Politics and care as well as invite presentations from appropriate keynote speakers. Phi Mu The Board is also concerned to improve Communication strategies particularly with the use of social media and publicity material. This relates to our desire to increase membership with particular emphasis on the student body. An Innovative idea has been put forward by one of our student prize winners who approached the Bournemouth University Student Union with a view to increasing student engagement. As a result it has been agreed that a Student Club should be formed under the name of the Society. Linking with other sites by Skype calls for example may foster organisational skills and create competition between student groups leading to engagement on a National level. These two activities lend support to our ambition to spread the vision of Sigma Theta Tau throughout the country. The Portuguese Chapter Coimbra Nursing School which hosts the Phi Xi Chapter organized the 5th Colloquium Ageing, Health and Citizenship and offered its members registration in this national Event. The event had by background the demographic changes and ageing challenges in Europe. It considered that the rising number of elderly people will need different support at home, and different formulas of healthcare to improve older peoples' lives. It addressed the help they would need to contribute to society and reduce pressure on health and care systems - ultimately contributing to sustainable growth. The main concepts of discussion were directed at active and healthy ageing as the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance older adult s quality of life, and ageing as an opportunity rather than a burden, valuing older people and their contribution to community and society. Phi Xi Matters such as gerontological nurses' skills, related to health literacy; patient empowerment; adherence to prescription and medical plans; prevention of functional decline and frailty; prevention of falls; integrated care for chronic diseases and innovation for age friendly environments were discussed. It was also highlighted that demographic ageing societies require a timely and well-planned response by adopting good practices reflecting the collaborative work and knowledge transfer of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Health Ageing.

4 Page 4 Sigma Theta Tau European Regional Newsletter The Wales Chapter Upsilon Xi-at-Large The key event for Upsilon Xi at Large Chapter was hosting Dr Estelle Codier from the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii and President of Gamma Psi in Hawaii at Swansea University. Dr Codier currently on sabbatical in Germany kindly provided two presentations. The first presentation on " Multi-user virtual environments: Teaching nurses in Second Life" provided a fascinating insight into teaching students using this novel pedagogy. The second presentation on The emotional intelligence of nurses: Research and implications for nursing". This presentation was transmitted live to members across Europe. Offering this scholarly presentation to all Chapters in Europe provided an opportunity for Chapter members to listen to and interact with Dr Codier, an early pioneer in the field of emotional intelligence in nursing. Her research was the first to demonstrate evidence for a correlation between measured emotional intelligence ability and both clinical performance and retention in clinical staff nurses. An ongoing multisite study explores the emotional intelligence of nursing students. Her presentation was thought provoking and well received by all who participated. Following the presentation the Chapter inducted Dr Zac Maunder as the new Faculty Counsellor for Swansea. It is hoped that each Chapter will consider video conferencing at least one scholarly presentation per year so that Chapters can pool resources and all gain from the benefits of technology and improved communication. FORTHCOMING EVENTS 26th International Research Congress: July 2015, San Juan Puerto Rico, USA Phi Mu Conference 2nd Biennial Nursing Scholarship Conference: Friday 19th June, Weetwood Hall, Leeds. Caring Leadership in a Politicised Nursing Arena 43rd Biennial Convention: 7-11 November 2015, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. European Regional Conference, Utrecht, Netherlands, 6-8 June 2016: Leadership in Nursing Scholarship, Education and Practice What do I do in The Circle? The Circle was developed to connect members with each other, their chapters, regions, headquarters and with the benefits and services of membership. Features of The Circle include member profiles you can personalize according to your preferences and event notifications. You can find other members via the member directory, network with those who share the same specialty and stay active with your chapter through new chapter websites. Who is in The Circle? All active STTI members have been added to The Circle. Once logged in, members will determine what information they would like to share and whom they would like to share it with. How do I log in? If you are an STTI member, all you will need is your address and seven-digit member number. How can I get started? Read 10 Easy Steps to Get Started or log in at to get started today! Chapter leaders can receive training for their chapter websites in the Tools and Resources section of STTI's website.

5 Sigma Theta Tau European Regional Newsletter Page 5 of 6 The European Regional Newsletter is composed and distributed by the European Communication Committee, consistent of: Professor Elizabeth Rosser Bournemouth University President of Phi Mu, England [email protected] Professor Joao Apostolo Nursing School of Coimbra Phi Xi, Portugal [email protected] Ariane van Wamel-Beukers Universitair Medisch Centrum Rho Chi at large, The Netherlands [email protected] Dr Ann Bevan Bournemouth University Phi Mu, England [email protected] Caroline Williams Hywel Dda University Upsilon Xi-at-Large, Wales [email protected] Dr Kristofer Bjerså University of Linköping and Karolinska Institutet Tau Omega, Sweden [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]