To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Robert Rosseter of American Association of Colleges of Nursing, +1-202-463-6930, x 231, rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 160 nurse educators and healthcare leaders from around the world converged in Toronto, Canada on October 1-3, 2008 for the inaugural conference of the Global Alliance for Nursing Education and Scholarship (GANES). With attendees representing 17 countries worldwide, this groundbreaking event provided a forum for nursing colleagues to share their insights and perspectives on meeting the global challenge of increasing capacity and ensuring sustainability in the nursing workforce.

"Nurse educators worldwide are being challenged to address the nursing shortage which is impacting access to health care in all parts of the globe," said Dr. Fay Raines, PhD, RN, President of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). "The GANES conference was an important step toward fostering synergy among nurse educators who came together to share the latest research and success stories, identify challenges facing nursing professionals, and advance collaborative solutions that will help academic leaders prepare well-educated clinicians."

Dr. John Daly, RN, PhD, FRCNA, Chair of the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand) and the newly appointed Chair of GANES, said: "this was a landmark conference for global leaders in nursing and health education. There was clear endorsement of the need for our organization and its mission, and recognition of the urgent need for us to work globally with governments and key non-governmental organizations to assist in scaling up the global health workforce. We are excited about implementing and extending our agenda and influence to improve health care for all. Investment in quality nursing and health education will be crucial to this aspiration."

Hosted by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, the agenda for the 2008 GANES conference reflected the theme Educating the Future Nursing and Healthcare Workforce:

A Global Challenge. Keynote speakers included Emeritus Professor John Dwyer, AO, MD, FRACP, the esteemed founder of the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance who is leading efforts to create structural reform within the Australian healthcare delivery system, and Naomi Seboni, PhD, RN,Head of the University of Botswana School of Nursing who has worked as the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development to create a strategic plan for nursing and midwifery development in Africa.

In addition to the plenary sessions, more than 80 concurrent sessions gave attendees the chance to explore a variety of themes, including educating students for evolving nursing and health professional roles; the changing skill mix in health care; innovative learning approaches; developing faculty capacity; leadership development; education for interprofessional health care; and preparing for ethical and cross cultural collaboration. Conference presentations will be posted on the GANES Web site within the next few weeks at http://www.ganes.info.

Formed in December 2005, GANES was established by four of the world's leading nursing education organizations to improve patient care and ensure a robust global supply of highly educated nurses. Members share a commitment to enhancing the educational preparation of registered nurses, expanding opportunities for nursing education, and addressing student enrollment concerns, including the growing shortage of nurse faculty. GANES members include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, the Council of Deans of Health (United Kingdom), and the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand).

GANES is currently planning next steps and identifying opportunities for future meetings. The founding members are working with representatives of nursing organizations from several nations who are in the process of joining the alliance. Plans are already underway to host the second GANES conference in Australia in 2010.

SOURCE American Association of Colleges of Nursing

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