Perspectives of the International Council of Nursing on person-centred care

Main Article Content

Tesfamicael Ghebrehiwet

Abstract

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of national nursing associations in 135 countries representing the millions of nurses worldwide.  Operated by nurses and leading nursing internationally, ICN works to ensure quality nursing care for all and sound health policies globally. Since the establishment of the ICN over 100 years ago, ICN policies and guidelines have embedded holistic, person-centered care at the core of its mission.ICN’s mission is to represent and advance the nursing profession and improve global health – all, ultimately for the public good. To this end, ICN collaborates directly with the World Health Organization (WHO) our member national nurses associations, other health profession associations, governments and other organisations.

Article Details

Section
Stakeholders’ roles and contributions beyond annual meetings: next steps to advance person- and people-centered care
Author Biography

Tesfamicael Ghebrehiwet, International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Tesfamicael (Tesfa) Ghebrehiwet, PhD, RN, is Consultant, Nursing and Health Policy, International Council of Nurses (ICN). He joined ICN in 1994. At ICN he is responsible for a number of programme areas including primary health care, HIV/AIDS, research and evidence-based practice, nursing ethics, and mental health. He is also Director of the ICN/MSD Mobile Library Project that delivers books to nurses in developing countries.   From 2004-2007 Dr. Ghebrehiwet directed ICN TB/MDR-TB Project and conducted training in six countries. He is the ICN representative to the World Health Organisation. Dr. Ghebrehiwet started his professional experience in Eritrea and Ethiopia where he held various positions including a staff nurse, nursing supervisor and nurse educator where he led a national training programme for nurses and primary health care workers. Prior to joining ICN, Dr. Ghebrehiwet served as Senior Lecturer and Head, Community Health Nursing Programme, College of Health Sciences, Kingdom of Bahrain. In this capacity he provided leadership in establishing a post-basic community health nursing programme and led the Programme for several years. In addition he thought in the associate degree, post-basic and bachelor of nursing programmes of the College of Health Sciences. He is a native of Eritrea and holds a citizenship of Canada.  Dr. Ghebrehiwet received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Indiana University (USA); Master of Public Health (MPH), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK); and PhD in public health from the University of Southampton (UK). He is the recipient of scholarships and awards including a USAID scholarship to Indiana University and an Award from the Vice-Chancellors and Deans of the UK. He was awarded the top prize for academic excellence during his MPH studies. Dr. Ghebrehiwet has served on a number of WHO consultations including Situational Analysis of the Advanced Nursing Practice Role in Primary Health Care in Oman, Global Outbreak Alert and Response, Patient Safety and HIV/AIDS. He has contributed widely to international journals including the Lancet, International Nursing Review, the World Health Bulletin, Building Quality in Health Care and Nursing Ethics. Dr. Ghebrehiwet is featured in the 2009 Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care.

References

Henderson, V. (2004). ICN’s Basic Principles of Nursing Care. Geneva: ICN.

ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses. (2006). Geneva: ICN.

Hancock, C. (2004). Unity with diversity: ICN’s Framework of Competencies. Journal of Advanced Nursing 47, 119.[4]

ICN (2009). TB Guidelines for Nurses in the Care and Control of Tuberculosis. Geneva: ICN.

www.patienttalk.info/

ICN (2009). Notes on Nursing: A guide for Today’s Caregivers. Geneva: ICN.