By Jung Min-ho
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Conference isn’t just for professional nurses. About 800 nursing college students from 29 countries held their own assembly at the COEX Auditorium, Friday, to discuss the future of nursing education.
Under the theme, “Global Nursing Education ― Challenges for Change,” students shared ideas of how the nursing system should evolve in the age of globalization.
“I hope this conference serves as an opportunity for us to explore and share our thoughts on how nursing education can prosper,” ICN Nursing Student Assembly Chair Sung Joo-hyun said. “It is now evitable that the healthcare environment is in need for more knowledgeable and professional nurses who can keep pace with practice innovation.”
Hong Joon-hee, a keynote speaker, said un-unified teaching methods and insufficient infrastructure for nursing education is a common issue that many countries have. She also noted that every country should work together to establish global standards.
Maria Alejandra Cabrera Polania, a representative of Columbia, said an unemployment problem and poor working conditions of nurses have been a major issue for the country.
“Around 32 percent of the nurses are unemployed. And among 68 percent of the employed nurses, only 43 percent have work contract in an indefinite term,” she said. “These conditions have led to the situation where nurses work in two or three different places in order to supply the lacking salary, and in many cases, they sacrifice their own health.”
Otoo Eunice, a representative of Ghana, said a ratio of faculty-to-student (1:76) is one of the biggest obstacles in the nation’s nursing education system.