In the lecture on ‘EU & healthcare legislation’ in Kortrijk (Belgium), 120 young nursing students became interested in how the EU works and how the nurses fit into the EU arena & policy decision making process.
The two hour course gave an overview of what the EU is, what the EU Institutions do, and what the EFN does in the European arena: its priorities, its lobby work, and how it positions and strengthens the nursing profession at the European level. Taking into account that the young generation is more mobile than ever, the main focus went to the Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by Directive 2013/55/EU, on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications. The students were explained the importance of this Directive and especially its article 31 which lists the 8 competencies that should have been implemented in the 28 EU Member States nursing curricula by 18 January 2016, as well as of the EFN Competency Framework which describes the competences required to nurses responsible for general care, aiming at being used by the National Nurses Associations to encourage and guide the nursing schools at national level to implement the competences listed under Article 31 of the Directive.
Furthermore, the students were informed about the EFN Workforce Matrix 3+1, which includes information on education, qualifications and competences, and shows the commonalities and differences of the three categories (general care nurse, specialist nurse and advanced nurse practitioner) and the Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) among 35 EU countries. This document is being used by EFN Members in their lobby work at national level to influence the workforce composition and provide clarity to the different nurses’ roles and responsibilities.
All that said, it was made clear that 75% of the national legislation is determined by EU legislation and thus EFN lobby work is crucial as it has an effect on over 6 million nurses within the European region, which is key to ensure patient safety and quality of care! Bringing policy-makers closer to the arguments is crucial to ensure that decisions taken at the EU Institutions better reflect the nurses’ daily reality.