On Nurses’ Day, the perspectives of the growth and development of the role of nurses will be emphasized, and the best nurses of the Eastern Hospital will be honored

Highlighting the growing importance of nurses and development perspectives in the health sector, several important topics will be emphasized at the Eastern Hospital conference – several leading specialists of the Eastern Hospital will share their observations, experiences and scientific works on the role of nurses in health care. In total, 1,379 nurses and 1,038 nurses’ assistants and sanitary workers work in Eastern Hospital.

During the conference, there will also be an award ceremony for the nurses and nursing staff of Eastern Hospital. Every year, East Hospital thanks its nurses and nursing staff for their contribution to the hospital’s work and patient care. 12 nurses will be honored with the “Star of Life” award – for their contribution to the development of the nursing profession and the improvement of care processes at Eastern Hospital, 11 doctors will be awarded in the nomination “Gudrā Puce” – for nurses’ involvement in education and research, and 13 more Eastern hospitals will receive special thanks employees.

Chairman of the Board of Eastern Hospital Normunds Stanevičs emphasizes: “The importance of nurses in our hospital work and health care system is inestimable and continues to increase. Nursing’s contribution to patient care is an important factor contributing to the well-being and treatment of our patients. However, I especially want to draw attention to the concept and meaning of a nurse-run hospital. This concept, which is based on nursing leadership and decision-making, is not only an effective model for patient care, but also demonstrates the professional abilities and knowledge of nurses, building business and management skills. I am proud of the efforts of each of our nurses, so I encourage you to support the work of nurses so that together we can continue to provide high quality healthcare to our patients. Thank you to all the nurses for their trustworthiness and care!”

Director of Nursing at Eastern Hospital Inese Budzila explains: The profession of nursing is essentially a calling of the heart. Living with the pain or death of patients is not easy, it is emotionally difficult. It is important for nurses in Latvia to understand that this profession is not some kind of addition to the soup, but an essential part of overall care. I want the sisters to walk with their heads held high. It is equally important that nurses in the country and in our hospital feel they belong to Latvian medicine and realize their importance. We have to prove and develop our profession ourselves.”

But the sister is definitely “not a single player,” he says Inese Budzila, nurses work in a multidisciplinary team, so professional holidays should also be celebrated together, “with the gathering of doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, paramedics, chaplains and many others”. The nurse with the patient “is together day and night, perhaps when the patient is at his worst. That’s when he needs this person next to him, this light to talk to and to see positive things in his illness, to make the right decisions. A sister is the star of the morning, of hope and of life.”

Several readings are planned during the event, which will highlight the essential contribution of nurses to the development of the healthcare industry and the treatment of patients in the 21st century, exploring the growth and nuances of the nursing profession from interesting angles. Chairman of the Board of Eastern Hospital Normunds Stanevičs will present to those present his vision of health care in Latvia and the role of nurses in it. Member of the Board of Eastern Hospital the professor Harald Plaudis will share his thoughts on the topic “Nursing led (the nurse speaks) hospital – one of the cornerstones of the transformation of the healthcare system”. Chief specialist of Internal Medicine of Eastern Hospital professor Aivars Lejnieks will talk about the nursing profession – from revolution to evolution.

Director of Care Inese Budzila will give a lecture “The Driving Force of Nursing Health Care”. On the other hand, the head of the Anesthesiology Clinic Professor Agnese Ozoliņa will give an insight into the interpretation of the guiding theme of the conference “Our sisters – our future”. Chairperson of the Council of the Latvian Nurses Association Ilva Aršauska will inform about future challenges in the nursing profession.

Eastern Hospital has been holding conferences dedicated to the nursing profession for several years, but award ceremonies honoring the hospital’s nurses have been taking place since 2017.