A program was organized at Erzurum Technical University from 12-18 May on the occasion of Nurses Week.

The program, organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences and the ETU Turkish Nurses Association Student Council, was attended by ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Cakmak, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ceren Sultan Elmalı, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Elanur Yılmaz Karabulutlu, academicians, and a large number of students.

Speaking at the opening of the program held at Prof. Dr. Muammer Yaylalı Conference Hall with the theme "Our Nurses Our Future: The Economic Power of Care," Dean Karabulutlu expressed that nurses have always been a leading force in providing healthcare services, stating: "Nurses, embracing the principle of ‘Health for All’ regardless of religion, language, or race, play the most effective role in providing healthcare to individuals, families, and communities. Nursing is a profession that requires dedication. Florence Nightingale’s analysis and nursing practices during the cholera epidemic and dysentery that claimed the lives of thousands of soldiers during the Crimean War, significantly reduced mortality rates; in past epidemics, nurses being at the forefront and how effective their services were is the most important example. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us this again. Nurses have been recognized as the real heroes of the pandemic worldwide, and their importance has become more understood by society. On this special day, I would like to emphasize the importance of the quality of care, the training responsible for producing nurses who will provide this care, as well as the fact that the valuable nurses of today and the nurses of the future will be the ones who will change and advance the profession. With infinite patience, dedication, effort, and love, our valuable nurses who strive to practice their profession without compromising the sanctity of human life in every corner of our country, I congratulate the Nurses Week of May 12-18 and wish them success in their professional lives."

Following Dean Karabulutlu, Rector Cakmak took the stage and stated that Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who made great sacrifices during the Crimean War, saying, "Florence Nightingale is a figure known for her versatile personality. We always remind our students of this. Nursing is a very sacred profession. While our students continue their professional education, they should also develop themselves in sports, culture, and art without falling behind. Of course, although the name Florence Nightingale stands out in such programs, we also have very important figures in our history who practiced this profession, such as Safiye Elbi and Esma Deniz. We should cherish our values and protect them. Nursing is a profession filled with love, compassion, and sacrifice. Each of you deserves gratitude, not just for a day but for a lifetime. On this occasion, I congratulate you and wish you success."

The program continued after the opening speeches, with academicians and experts providing information to the audience about innovative work in the nursing profession. The program concluded with 2nd-year students of the ETU Nursing Department showcasing materials prepared as part of their education and training course.

Corporate Communication Directorate 14.05.2024