“Leadership in Nursing” Conference took place at Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital due to 12 May International Nurses day and 12-18 May Nurses Week.

Osman Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Head of Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Assoc. Prof. Elif Gürsoy MD. attended the conference as a guest.

Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Samiye Mete MD., Founding Board of Trustees member Mehmet Soykurt, Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Paediatrics Specialist and Deputy Head Physician Prof. Arzu Babayiğit Hocaoğlu MD. and Head Nurse of Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Türkan Şahin delivered their speeches at the conference.

Conference where there was an intense participation and interest commenced with the speech of Head Nurse Türkan Şahin.

Türkan Şahin: “Nurses Work For The Health Of Individuals, Families And Societies Regardless of Religion, Language and Race”
In her speech, Şahin stated that the success of health services depends on the nursing services and also stressed the importance of nurses in protecting public health, recovering it when it is affected negatively, providing health education, health service and nursing.

Türkan Şahin shared a quote of Florence Nightingale to commence her speech “Health which is the most precious gift of God has often placed in nurses hands” and stated that nurses work for the health of community without any discrimination.

Şahin said that every nurse deserves to feel appreciated and celebrated Nurses Day and Week of all nurses.

Prof. Hocaoğlu Md. : Nurses Are Crucial Members of The Healthcare Team
After Head Nurse Şahin, Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Paediatrics Specialist and Deputy Head Physician Prof. Arzu Babayiğit Hocaoğlu MD. delivered her speech and stated that doctors work to save lives and connect the patients to life and the rest is under the responsibility of nurses. Hocaoğlu stated that neither hospitals nor a strong healthcare service can exist without nurses and added that nurses are crucial members of healthcare teams.

Mehmet Soykurt: “We Work With Experienced Staff”
Founding Board of Trustees member Mehmet Soykurt stated that when he first started to work in the healthcare sector he first met with the nurses and received information about the sector and therefore, he is well aware of the importance of nurses. He added that experience and knowledge shared in the conference will light the students way and even if the hospital established recently they work with a very experienced staff. He also added “Thus, I am sure that our students receive the best education.”
Soykurt stressed that nurses save lives by sometimes holding hands of the patients, sometimes with the treatments they apply or following up the treatments applied and informing the physicians, and also celebrated the Nurses Day of all nurses.

Prof. Mete MD. :“If We Become Aware Of Our True Strength, There Is Nothing We Cannot Achieve”
After Founding Member of Board of Trustees Mehmet Soykurt, Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Samiye Mete MD. delivered her speech. Mete started her speech by sending her regards to everybody who have put effort for he organisation of this conference. She also stated that the biggest thanks should be sent to students who are the future nurses. She said that when they were offered to organise this conference all students were very eager.

In her speech Prof. Mete MD. mentioned the historical development of nursing and also explained the approach of Florence Nightingale for this occupation, which is the most important name in the transformation of this occupation. Mete explained that Nightingale pioneered the establishment of nursing schools, publishing of studies in the field and structuring the occupation on a scientific basis. She also added that Nightingale set a great example for this subject and then mentioned some of the women who acted as leaders in the history of nursing in Turkey and Cyprus. Mete concluded her speech by saying, “If we become aware of our true strength, there is nothing we cannot achieve.”

Assoc. Prof. Gürsoy Md.: “Strengthening Nurses Is The Most Essential Step Towards Better Healthcare System ”
Assoc. Prof. Gürsoy MD. who was invited to the conference as a guest speaker started her speech by thanking everyone who worked for this organisation, all staff and students. Gürsoy provided some information about “Why leadership in nursing is important and necessary? ; What kind of work has been done in this field at the national and international level?; What are the important characteristics of a leader?; How can you be an effective leader?” She also added that nurses are mainly working on three main areas; education, application and burocracy and leadership is essential in each area.

Gürsoy stated that leadership is important in every field but it has more important for the health sector because of its complex structure.

In the presentation, Gürsoy provided some information about the education programs and scholarships on nursing in various institutions, universities, non-governmental organisations around the world and advised students to closely follow up what is being done in the world in this field.

Gürsoy stated that although nurses are the appliers of the health policies, unfortunately they are not involved in the establishment of these policies and by this means, they have passive roles rather than active roles and this must change.

Gürsoy mentioned that nursing students also have leadership lessons in other parts of the world and stressed Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital plays an important role by providing these lessons in order to prepare students for the leadership roles.

Gürsoy said that nursing can only be strengthened with “knowledge, law and experience” and stressed that the most essential step to improve healthcare sector is to strengthen nurses.

The Leadership in Nursing conference concluded with the presentation of plaque and flowers to the Assoc. Prof. Elif MD. Gürsoy by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samiye Mete, followed by a cocktail reception.