Strengthening National Nursing Associations

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2012) include: Nursing associations are increasingly recognized as a credible voice on health policy issues and are better able to offer effective evidence-based advice. All partner associations were involved in official bodies task forces committees or working groups with opportunities to influence policy regulations and law. For example: (i) Ethiopia's association served on the committee to review and update the National Health Act; (ii) Indonesia's association developed an innovative program for community family care which led to the revision of the National Community Health Regulations; and (iii) Vietnam's association provided technical and consultative support to the Ministry of Health to develop the 2010-2015 National Action Plan for Nursing and Midwifery. Partner associations are increasingly able to work with nurses and government to improve nursing regulations practices and education as well as care and patient safety. For example: (i) The Nicaraguan and Indonesian associations developed Nursing Practice Acts. (ii) The Burkina Faso association collaborated with the regulatory body for nurses to finalize nursing competency standards. (iii) At the request of the Ministry of Health the Indonesian association provided technical advice to 17 health professions as they introduced national competency examinations and accreditation programs. The Indonesian association has issued Certificates of Competencies to 12 538 nurses from 10 provinces. (iv) The Salvadorian association piloted a practical low-cost community family health care model that the provincial Ministry of Health adopted. The Salvadorian association also implemented a nursing outreach program in the remote municipality that had the highest rate of maternal mortality. During the program there were no deaths or complications among pregnant women. Overall partner associations have improved their governance financial management and ab