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Heart of Healthcare: Celebrating Our Nurses

The World Patients Alliance (WPA) hosted the Heart of Healthcare: Celebrating Our Nurses webinar on October 3, 2024 as part of a campaign dedicated to honoring and supporting nurses worldwide. This event highlighted the vital role nurses play in patient care, as well as the pressing challenges they face in today’s healthcare landscape. The webinar opened with a welcome from Andrew Spiegel, Chair of WPA, who acknowledged the dedication of nurses globally and reaffirmed WPA’s mission to amplify the voices of healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), presented the keynote address focusing on the global nursing shortage, which has reached crisis levels. Catton, who has spearheaded ICN’s initiatives since 2019, provided data showing the stark reality of this shortage: ICN and WHO reported a global deficit of six million nurses in 2020, with up to 4.7 million nurses considering retirement. Catton also discussed the “COVID effect,” which accelerated the exodus of nurses from the profession due to heightened stress, burnout, and safety concerns. ICN’s data estimated that, without intervention, the world would need approximately 30 million nurses to meet healthcare demands by 2030.

Catton highlighted ICN’s efforts to address these challenges, including international collaborations and advocacy for a binding WHO Global Code of Practice. This would regulate nurse migration and ensure fair compensation for countries that lose nurses to wealthier nations. He emphasized that while international recruitment can help alleviate some shortages, it is not a sustainable solution on its own and called for systematic reforms to foster workforce retention and safe, supportive work environments.

Beth Battaglino, Registered Nurse and CEO of HealthyWomen.org, presented on the daily challenges nurses face, including outdated equipment, burnout, and lack of support. She highlighted the importance of community engagement and policy reform to create a healthier and more supportive work environment for nurses.

Penney Cowan, Secretary and Founding Director of WPA, shared her personal experiences, offering a patient perspective on the invaluable role of nurses in healthcare. Her segment underscored the compassion and commitment nurses bring to patient care and urged for enhanced policy measures to improve working conditions, compensation, and resources for nursing staff.

Key Takeaways from the Heart of Healthcare:

Celebrating Our Nurses Webinar
1. Global Nursing Shortage: The nursing shortage is critical, with 30 million more nurses needed by 2030.
2. Sustainable Workforce: International recruitment alone won’t solve the crisis—binding policies and retention efforts are essential.
3. Patient Safety Risks: Shortages lead to increased infection rates, errors, and missed care, affecting patient outcomes.
4. Workplace Challenges: Nurses face burnout, long shifts, and safety issues; better support is crucial for retention.
5. Community and Advocacy: Public support and policy reforms are needed to elevate nurses’ roles and address their challenges.
6. WPA’s Commitment: WPA will continue to advocate for improved conditions, fair pay, and essential resources for nurses.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Hussain Jafri, CEO of WPA, who thanked all participants and reiterated WPA’s dedication to advancing policies that protect and empower nurses. Overall, the Heart of Healthcare webinar was a resounding call for global support and recognition of nurses, emphasizing the need for collective action to secure a brighter future for this essential profession.

Agenda

Speakers

Penney Cowan
Penney Cowan In 1980 Penney Cowan founded and became CEO of the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA). Ms. Cowan is a recognized speaker advocating a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management. She has been an outspoken advocate and consumer representative for pain issues, contributed to numerous books, videos and Websites, consulted on the development of several pain management programs, issues and received numerous awards from organizations, such as the Institute for Public Service, American Pain Society, and American Academy of Pain Medicine. She served as Consumer Representative for the FDA/CDER Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee (AADPAC); Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (IPRCC) of the National Institute of Health; and Co-chair of the National Pain Strategies Public Education and Communication Working Group, part of the IPRCC. Ms. Cowan is the author of Patient or Person, Living with Chronic Pain. She has also written all manuals and materials used by the American Chronic Pain Association. She successfully established September as Pain Awareness Month in 2001.
Howard Catton
Howard Catton is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), appointed in February 2019. He is dedicated to ensuring ICN represents nursing globally, advances the profession, and advocates for nurses' well-being. A strong advocate for nurse leadership in health policy, Howard co-chaired the first-ever State of the World’s Nursing Report and has been instrumental in supporting nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing protection and investment in the profession. Joining ICN in 2016 as Director of Nursing, Policy, and Programmes, he worked closely with WHO, UN, and other global health organizations on nursing policies and leadership initiatives. Howard also managed ICN's leadership development programmes and coordinated scientific events, such as the ICN World Congress. Howard qualified as a nurse in 1988, with experience in England, the U.S., and New Zealand. He holds degrees in Social Policy (Cardiff University) and Industrial Relations (Warwick University) and has worked in various healthcare policy roles, including Head of Policy & International Affairs at the Royal College of Nursing. Howard has also served as a Local Government Councillor in England and was named in the Health Service Journal’s top 100 Clinical Leaders list in 2015.
Beth Battaglino
Elizabeth Battaglino, R.N., brings a unique combination of sharp business expertise and, as a practicing registered nurse, medical knowledge to her role as CEO of HealthyWomen.org the not-for-profit national women's health resource center. Providing women with in-depth, objective, evidence-based information on a broad range of women's health and wellness issues. Her management and marketing expertise is particularly critical as HealthyWomen moves to expand its outreach to millions of women across the country through technology, wider program distribution and new public education and awareness efforts. Ms. Battaglino is responsible for setting the strategic direction and businesss development of HealthyWomen and building alliances with corporations, health care professionals and consumer groups. She also serves as the organization's chief spokesperson, regularly speaking at corporate, non-profit, community and media events. Ms. Battaglino is a practicing Registered Nurse in the field of Maternal & Fetal Medicine. She received her nursing degree from Marymount University in suburban Washington, DC as well holds degrees in Business, Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration.
Andrew Spiegel
Andrew Spiegel has nearly two decades of experience in the patient advocacy arena. Spiegel co-founded the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, now the leading US based national patient advocacy organization dedicated to colon cancer. Mr. Spiegel, an attorney, besides being a co-founder of the organization and longtime board member of the Alliance became CEO in January of 2008 and he ran the CCA for nearly 5 years, before undertaking his next venture, the Global Colon Cancer Association (GCCA). Currently, Spiegel is co-founder and executive director of the GCCA, an international patient advocacy organization. This organization is an international community of nearly 50 colon cancer patient advocacy organizations and stakeholders dedicated to end the worldwide suffering of the 3rd leading cause of cancer deaths. In addition to his work in the colon cancer community, Spiegelis an active advocate for health care policies both in the US and now worldwide. He is a co-founder and currently serves on the steering committee of the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM). He is on the Board of Directors, and in December 2014 was elected to Chair, of the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC),a founding member of the Coalition to Increase Clinical Trial Participation and in May of 2016 he began a three year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO) where he chaired the fundraising committee. Spiegel has won multiple awards for his work in patient advocacy. Spiegel is a 1986 graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with minors in English and Philosophy. He is a 1989 graduate of the Widener University School of Law. After working for a Philadelphia litigation firm, Spiegel opened his own law firm in 1995.

Date

Oct 03 2024
Expired!

Time

9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Category

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