European Operating Room Nurses Demand Unified Training; Greater Recognition at EU Level

February 15th: European Day of Perioperative Nursing

BRUSSELS and DUBLIN, February 14, 2011 - On the occasion of the 6th European Day of Perioperative
Nursing, to be celebrated on 15 February 2011, the European Operating Room
Nurses Association (EORNA) calls for the urgent implementation, at EU level,
of a minimum basic level of perioperative nursing education, a credit-based
continuous education system, and the mandatory rotation of student nurses
into the operating department in order to expose students to this critical
care area and encourage recruitment. This crucial nursing specialisation is
facing a labour shortage exacerbated by the lack of uniform training
programmes and diplomas recognised at EU level by fellow Member States. This
creates a barrier to mobility within the EU, contributes to keeping salaries
low and hinders recognition of a key nursing specialisation.

EORNA, which represents 50,000 members, is lobbying for
greater equity across EU countries, and points out that even continuous
education based on a credit system (as offered to its members via the EORNA
Accreditation Council for Education, or ACE programme) pre-supposes a common
level of initial training. In order to address the growing shortage of
perioperative nurses in Europe, EORNA also emphasises the need to encourage
the perioperative nurse training pathway, through the mandatory rotation of
student nurses through operating theatre departments.

Perioperative Nursing Day 2011

The 6th European Day of Perioperative Nursing theme "Effective
Team Communication improves Patient Safety" aims to draw attention to the
critical role that perioperative nurses play in ensuring positive patient
outcomes in surgery. In line with the WHO 'Safe surgery saves Lives'
initiatives, they ensure all identified aspects are checked and verbalized as
accurate and correct by each relevant team member.

"With this initiative we want to obtain more recognition for
our profession. We also want to draw the EU's attention to the barrier to
free movement which is the result of such a disparate approach to education
among other issues," explains Caroline Higgins, President of EORNA.

About EORNA

A non-for-profit association, the European Operating Room
Nurses Association (www.eorna.eu) was founded in 1980, and today
consists of 25 member associations, representing 50,000 Healthcare
professionals. EORNA exists to enhance and develop perioperative patient care
across Europe. One of the EORNA's most important educational activities is
EORNA ACE, the Accreditation Council for Education.

Ansell Healthcare (www.ansell.eu) supports EORNA with specific
courses from its AnsellCares(R) educational programme and is a proud sponsor
of the 6th European Day of Perioperative Nurses.

Note to editors:

More information and posters of the 6th European Day of Perioperative
Nurses may be downloaded from www.eorna.eu/

For more information about EORNA or the issues facing peri-operative nurses in Europe, please contact: Caroline Higgins, EORNA President, tel: +353-12213621, cellular: +353-86-8336437, email: caroline.higgins at eorna.eu; Christine Willems, President Education Commitee - Belgium, cellular:+32-478-62-91-09, email: christinewillems.afiso at gmail.com