IMPROVING THE NURSING CARE WITH BEST COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY STRATEGIES BASED ON EUROPEAN UNION STANDARDS Erasmus Project

Project Title

IMPROVING THE NURSING CARE WITH BEST COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY

STRATEGIES BASED ON EUROPEAN UNION STANDARDS

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

Complementary Therapy (CT) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses health systems, modalities, and practices. When CT is used in nursing and integrated into patient care, it should be documented within the scope of professional nursing practice. Nurses who use CT at practice are required to have sufficient information and professional knowledge about CT. However, skills-based training and information on CT are not included in the existing curricula of nursing education. By increasing the level of CT knowledge and skills of nurses, safety patient care were reached at EU standards.

The objectives of “Improving The Nursing Care With The Best Complementary Therapy Strategies Based On European Union Standards (BestCARE)” were to examine CT as a safe complement to more traditional approaches, to improve communication and collaboration among nurses and other healthcare professionals, to improve nursing practice with innovative ways on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) of addressing gaps in knowledge with the specific aim of improving care, to enhance cultural awareness and sensitivity toward patients, families, and other staff, disciplines and departments. During the project, in order to achieve the objectives of the project, educational materials on CT and other intellectual outputs such as ICT based e-learning programme which includes basic key techniques to perform CT education effectively and a website were developed. Through the Train the Trainer activity, 15 Nurses were trained in England. Thus, during the project, CT Trainers were shared their experiences, knowledge and skills with their local colleagues. New CT curriculum in EU standards in nursing were developed to be used within the higher education of Nursing Faculties. The project outcomes were shared with health care providers, clinicians, educators and researchers.

In order to strenght the cognitive skills of the nurses on CT, a reference book and handbook for nurses were prepared. Furthermore; during the project, leaflets, brochures, website, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) based instruments such as e-learning programme, communication platform, webinar and e-forums were developed in order to raise the awareness of importance of CT in nursing. In addtition to those activities and outputs, additional innovative instruments such as simulation laboratory and short-length videos were established and developed.

Most important of all, BestCARE helped reduce suffering for patients of oncology, women and their families. Importantly, it aimed to do this systematically and collaboratively across Europe and beyond to integrate knowledge from a range of healthcare environments and cultures.

BestCARE was coordinated by Akdeniz University Nursing Faculty. The partnership consists of six partners who were improved the nursing care with best CT. The partners were Centre for EU Projects of Governorship of Antalya (CEUPA), Antalya Association of Public Hospitals, Health and Natural Therapies Association in Turkey (HNTA), Athena School of Natural Therapies, Centro Studi Delle Professioni Sanitare (CESPI) and European Academy gGmbH (EURO-CERT). Project duration was two years.

Also, dissemination activities like seminars and conference for lecturers and students at Nursing Faculty and health care professionals of public and private hospitals were hold both local and regional level. The project was not only be implemented in TR but also in EU Partner countries through trainings, seminars, conferences and project outputs.

The impact of the project was carried out by sharing project outputs with universities nursing faculty and nursing departments and the Ministry of Health. This project was improved quality and innovation in vocational education and training systems, institutions and practices. CT were taked place in nursing education curriculum. Also, patients were received safe and quality nursing care.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 244565,57 Eur

Project Coordinator

AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY & Country: TR

Project Partners

• Health and Natural Therapies Association
• EURO-CERT European Academy gGmbH
• Ascension Training Services Ltd
• Antalya Association Of Public Hospitals
• CESPI CENTRO STUDI DELLE PROFESSIONI SANITARIE
• Antalya Valiligi