Highlights of the 23rd Quadrennial Congress of International Council of Nurses Congress

Authors and Disclosures

Barbara Sheer, DNSc, FAANP, Associate Professor, University of Delaware, Newark; Coordinator, Nurse Practitioner Programs, University of Delaware, Newark; Chair of ICN-NPAPN Network Communications Subcommittee.

Disclosure: Barbara Sheer, DNSc, FAANP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Anniversary Celebration of Nurse Practitioners Moves to the Far East

As we celebrate 40 years of the NP movement in the United States, Dr. Loretta Ford, the founder of the NP movement, traveled to the Far East as part of the 23rd ICN Quadrennial Congress. The meeting in Taipei was the culmination of a 3-country tour including Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan.

Dr. Ford shared her wisdom and experience in meetings and conferences throughout Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. The first stop was Hong Kong. With boundless energy and charisma, Dr. Ford and Dr. Rosemary Goodyear met with representatives of the hospital authority. Over the next several days, there was a variety of events, including a meeting with the hospital authority and a 1-day conference.

On the densely populated island of Hong Kong, the face of nursing is changing. A few years ago, nurses were offered a retirement incentive to reduce healthcare costs, and this country now faces a shortage of qualified nurses. Advanced practice models are now being implemented.

The next stop was Bangkok, Thailand, a land of great contrasts. A 2-day conference was organized by the Thailand Nursing Council. The first day of the conference featured Dr. Ford, Dr. Rosemary Goodyear from the United States, and Somchit Hanucharunkul, PhD, Professor at Mahidol University Bangkok. The second day was presented in Thai and featured nurses from Thailand who are now working in other countries. The project is called "reverse brain drain," where Thai nurses educated in other countries return to Thailand to share their insights and expertise.

Thailand is a country of vast contrasts. In a country where the average wage is low and the family is of great importance, there are sweeping changes in healthcare. The national policy on primary care is a model consisting of primary care units that cover a population of 10,000. These units consist of an MD, 2 professional nurses (one is an NP), and additional personnel. The model results from concerns facing countries all over the world, including a shortage of health personnel, inadequate funding of healthcare, and an increased workload. The purpose is to bring healthcare to the people in their home, increasing access. The significant challenge for nursing is to educate the number of NPs in a short time frame.

In every country, there are sweeping changes in healthcare. Nurses are taking their place as leaders in healthcare delivery. What a wonderful way to celebrate our 40th anniversary and for Dr. Ford to share her vision and enthusiasm with the leaders in the Far East. On behalf of all NPs, I thank Dr. Ford for her insight, perseverance, enthusiasm, and humor that she shares so willingly.