Opening Address to the 8th quadrennial congress of the European Association of Neuroscience Nurses

Mr. Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarsson

Minister of Health and Social Security

Presidents of EANN European Association of Neuroscience Nurses and IANN Icelandic Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Keynote speakers, Dear Congress Guests.

It gives me great pleasure to address the 8th Quadrennial Congress of the European Association of Neuroscience Nurses. It is only a week since I was appointed Minister of Health and Social Security so it is one of my first official tasks to welcome you all here to Iceland.

I am pleased to see that such a large group of nurses have considered it worthwhile to come to our small country to participate in the congress. I also welcome the large attendance, from Iceland. I see from the program that you will have an exciting agenda for the next few days that consists of plenary lectures, abstracts, poster presentations and work shops.

Dear congress guests!

Nurses have always been highly regarded in the Icelandic society and their contribution to the health care service has been very valuable. We have always been so fortunate to have a well educated and progressive nursing profession. We have nurses in the top layer of the organizational charts in all health care institutions and also within the Icelandic parliament, county councils and within the Ministry of Health. Icelandic nurses have therefore always been able to ensure that their education and experience influence decision making and policy making in the health care system.

It is interesting to look back and view how work and profession has developed at the same time as we see new opportunities. Nursing research has developed rapidly during the last decades. The tasks of Nurses are becoming more complex but at the same time more diversified and challenging.

In a world of modern technology and rapid development, health care organizations are changing rapidly. A range of factors like technological advances and ageing population calls for more professional specialization. But at the same time it is also important for nurses to protect the basic elements of nursing which do not change, such as caring and respect for the individual.

Dear congress guests.

Neuroscience Nursing in Iceland is a relatively new field of specialties. The Icelandic Association of Neuroscience Nurses was first established in November 2004 and we are building up capacity in the field. But when we look a the size of the population, of just over 300 thousand, and the development in Neuroscience Nursing during the last few years it is fair to say that we are on the right track.

Despite the size of the Icelandic nation, it is part of our strong national identity to feel we are a match for the rest of the world. Therefore I was not surprised to learn that during the last congress that was held in Copenhagen in 2003, Icelandic nurses decided to host this congress even though the Icelandic Association of Neuroscience Nurses had not been established at that time.

Enough of the Icelandic mentality.

Neuroscience Nursing is a field of great importance. The number of people suffering from neurological diseases has been growing and so has the need for education and research to better understand these disorders.

This goes hand in hand with the theme of this congress that is “The Future Perspective of Neuroscience Nursing – Clinical Practice, Education and Research”.

Through clinical practice, education and research, Neuroscience Nurses can improve preventive education to the public, reduce costs of patient care and length of hospital stay and provide better care and support for patients and their families.

It is obvious that many opportunities await Neuroscience Nurses.

Dear congress guests!

I would like to use this opportunity to thank all those that have organized this congress. I have no doubt that this will be an exciting, memorable and fruitful congress, and that it will provide an active forum for presentations and discussions of all the latest developments in Neuroscience Nursing.

And last but not least I hope you will have enlightening and interesting time her in Iceland and a save journey back to your home

Thank you for your attention.

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