EORNA Spearheads Harmonisation of Nursing Education Standards Beyond Europe

European OR Nurses Accreditation Council promoting Education as WHO regional healthmap

BRUSSELS, April 25, 2012 /CNW/ - At their 6th Annual Conference entitled 'Sailing to the Future' (26^th-29^th April 2012) in Lisbon today, the European Operating Room Nurses Association (EORNA) highlighted the latest progress in the harmonisation of education standards for operating room (OR) nurses in Europe and beyond.

In just three years since first launching, the EORNA Accreditation Council for Education (ACE) has been implemented in the majority of EORNA's 26 European member countries and 27 member associations. EORNA membership extends beyond Europe as it follows the guide of the WHO regional health area map. The Association continues to grow, with Russia having completed their written submission for membership and Malta, Poland and Luxemburg having lodged their expressions of interest to join.

With 60,000 registered nurse members, EORNA has developed a comprehensive path for the education and continuous professional development for OR nurses in Europe through their Core Curriculum Document 2012 (A Perioperative nursing education guide), the EORNA Perioperative Competency framework and the ACE Accreditation system.

The only nursing accreditation system of its kind in Europe, EORNA's ACE system aims to improve and harmonise the quality and standard of perioperative care in all member countries. Not only will the education framework and accreditation system facilitate the drive for best practice in OR's, but its implementation will ensure greater patient safety from the moment of admission, to leaving the perioperative setting.

Commenting on the success of the Accreditation Council to date, Caroline Higgins, President EORNA said, "ACE symbolises our commitment to safe, high-quality perioperative nursing care on a European level. Ultimately, we are driving for strong and consistent accreditation standards, to promote quality improvement and in return, improvements in patient care. In introducing a standard, we can decrease variation in care which makes the difference in ensuring we have the highest level of nursing care and the best level of safe practices in operating rooms."

As the company which assisted EORNA in developing ACE, Peter Dobbelsteijn, Senior Vice President Regional Director EMEA for Ansell Ltd. said, "Continuing education is key to high quality healthcare services and we applaud EORNA's efforts in providing the OR nursing community with the tools to further educate, harmonise and improve the quality of surgical care across and beyond Europe."

EORNA Media Relations

About EORNA:

A non-for-profit association, the European Operating Room Nurses Association (EORNA) was founded in 1980, and today consists of 24 member associations, representing 60,000 Healthcare professionals. EORNA exists to enhance and develop perioperative patient care across Europe. It does so by promoting and maintaining a high standard of perioperative patient care; by being the influential voice of perioperative nurses in Europe; and by linking and collaborating with relevant European and international organisations. One of the EORNA's most important educational activities is EORNA ACE, the Accreditation Council for Education.

More information on the organisation and the EORNA Congress "Sailing to the Future" can be found at http://www.eorna.eu and http://www.eornacongress.eu/

About Ansell:

Ansell is a world leader in providing superior health and safety protection solutions that enhance human well being. With operations in the North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia, Ansell employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and holds leading positions in the industrial and medical gloves market, as well as in the sexual health and well being category worldwide. Ansell operates in four main business segments: Medical Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Specialty Markets, and Sexual Wellness. Information on Ansell and its products can be found at http://www.ansell.com.

Ansell Media Relations, Wouter Piepers, Global Coms - Ansell, Tel: [phone], [email protected], Claire Keane - Edelman PR, Tel: [phone], [email protected].