On 12 April, a working meeting at the premises of MZ SR, attended by a nurse's vice-president, or director of the hospital nursing and specialised medical institutions in the establishment of MZ SR, was initiated by the State Secretary of the Slovak Republic Lenka Dunajová Družkovská, and his aim was to discuss the concept and reform of nursing for the coming period. Vladimír Lengvarský, Minister of Health, also came to appreciate the work of nurses and other medical staff: It's been a long time since it's been asleep, things haven't been settled, and it's time to get started. Thank you for your work, patience, I believe it will move in the right direction.
At the working meeting, all managers of invited and present medical institutions were heard, not only assessing the current situation with nursing staff, but also proposing solutions that could lead to halting the practically unsustainable decline in the number of nurses in hospitals as well as improving the conditions for their work, including technical background, and not least increasing their financial appreciation.The debate took place not only on the lack of nurses, but also on the reasons for this shortage and the search for opportunities to eliminate these causes by improving the quality of education (more practical teaching), in sufficient financial assessment, in interdisciplinary cooperation or the efficient use of available staff, in changes in standards, in reducing administrative burdens and so on.
State Secretary MZ SR Lenka Dunajová Družkovská:We have discussed many problems. We will do our utmost to help nurses and other professions in practice.
Monika Smolenická, FNsP J. A. Reimana Prešov:
I'm perfectly satisfied, because since I've been working as a nurse's Deputy, this is the first such meeting. We see the Ministry's efforts to deal with the lack of sisters.
PhDr. Monika Trnovcová, FNsP F.D.Roosevelta, Banská Bystrica Bystrica:
The working meeting is very positive, we were able to sum up the biggest problems in hospital nursing in Slovakia, we proposed solutions based on practical experience, and I also appreciated the feedback of the state secretary with a view to solving these problems.
The next working meeting is scheduled for 2 months and will analyse all the proposals received in writing to improve the health situation and status of nurses.
