On November 6 and 7, 2023, the 3rd symposium Health Promotion & Prevention in Nursing took place at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (HWG LU). The focus was on digitalization in nursing and the PRO*PFLEGE certificate course, which stands for nursing ethics, health promotion and professionalism. The series of conferences is the contribution of the Health Research Network and Unfallkasse RLP to the Rhineland-Palatinate's Care 2.1 specialist and qualification initiative. In his welcoming address, Minister of State Alexander Schweitzer, Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Social Affairs, Transformation and Digitization Rhineland-Palatinate, emphasized that digitization "can help nursing professionals stay in the profession".
Care provision can only be secured if the currently extremely stressful working conditions are improved and the health of care professionals is promoted. Representatives from state politics, science and practice agreed on this at the 3rd symposium "Health Promotion & Prevention in Nursing", which took place on November 6 and 7, 2023 at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society. Experienced professionals stay healthy at work, the nursing profession is attractive to young talent. The conference series is part of the Rhineland-Palatinate state's Nursing 2.1 specialist and qualification initiative. Dr. Andrea Kuhn, Head of the Health Research Network at the HWG LU, called the motto for this year's conference 'Do we want to be drivers or driven? Together with Dr. Peter Mudra, Professor and former President of the HWG LU, she moderated the conference, which was attended by ninety participants from nursing practice, associations and companies despite the cold wave.
Using the PRO*PFLEGE certificate from the Health Research Network as an example, they were able to find out on the first day of the conference how current findings can make the requirements of professional ethics tangible, promote health and thus strengthen the professionalism of nursing. Keynote speeches on nursing ethics, psychological stress in everyday nursing care and personnel and organizational development provided insights into the course programme. The course participants presented the concepts they had developed for promoting health in practice. Some of them have already been implemented. Representatives of the sponsors of the occupational health management project - the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Transformation and Digitization (MASTD RLP), the Rhineland-Palatinate Accident Insurance Fund, the Franziskus Foundation for Nursing and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Chamber of Nursing - were present and were delighted with the success of the pilot project and the enthusiasm of the participants. PRO*PFLEGE strengthens the health and professional well-being of care professionals and motivates them to find their own solutions.
The second day focused on how digitalization can relieve the burden on care and promote health and satisfaction. In his welcoming address, Minister of State Alexander Schweitzer, MASTD RLP, emphasized the special attention paid to nursing care in RLP. He referred to the "Digi2care" study funded by the state and the planned education offensive for the digitalization of care. Digital processes that work in the private sphere should also be used to ease the burden in the professional world. He sees the promotion of digital skills and networking among teachers and students as a necessity for the future security of care provision. Dr. Christoph Heidrich, Member of the Management Board of Unfallkasse RLP, called for urgent measures for healthier and more attractive working conditions. He pleaded for the use of digital technologies, but without controlling or even displacing people. The willingness to embrace this is present among care professionals of all ages.
There are great opportunities for digital tools to make care practice easier: AI systems for the early detection of delirium, sensor, projection and video communication systems increase the safety and well-being of people with care needs. Video visions improve professional communication and thus medical and nursing care, especially in rural areas. The telematics infrastructure ensures data transmission between healthcare stakeholders such as pharmacies, medical practices and care services. Modern skills labs and digital learning tools ensure high-quality training in the nursing and midwifery degree programs at HWG LU. Online learning units promote digital skills in the profession.
"The 3rd symposium offered nursing professionals an interlocking range of topics: the starting point was our studies, which show that good working conditions are irreplaceable for remaining in the profession and that workplace health promotion must be taken seriously. In the nursing profession, nursing ethics, health promotion and professionalism are mutually dependent. They increase confidence and performance. Nursing is and remains people-oriented. Increased competence, social appreciation and relief through digital tools increase the attractiveness of the profession and secure nursing care," explained organizer Andrea Kuhn from the university's Health Research Network. Lively discussions, intensive networking and trying out the new digital tools on the marketplace of opportunities characterized both conference days, and the impulses were well received.
Summaries of the conference presentations can be found on the homepage of the Health Research Network https://forschungsnetzwerk-gesundheit.hwg-lu.de/kommunikation/gesundheitsfoerderung-praevention-in-der-pflege
Specialist contact:
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
Health Research Network
Dr. Andrea Kuhn
Tel. 0621/5203-244
E-mail: andrea.kuhn@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 hwg-lu.de
