TY - JOUR
AU - Strömberg, Anna
AB - Abstract This paper described the formal collaboration between the American Heart Association's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and the European Society of Cardiology's Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing. This collaboration comprises following dimensions: (1) further expansion on collaboration on annual conferences; (2) development of mentoring initiatives; (3) initiation of research collaboration; (4) development of joint guidelines; and (5) appointment of liaison persons of AHA to ESC and vice versa. Cardiology, Collaboration, Nursing 1 Introduction The challenges with regard to the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease are very similar worldwide. Cardiovascular disease is and will remain a major challenge for health care professionals and health care systems and contributes significantly to the global burden of disease both in developed and developing countries [1]. Cardiovascular nurses, an integral part of the interdisciplinary health care team, are committed to develop state-of-the-art services in order to optimize outcomes of populations with cardiovascular risk factors or cardiovascular disease. Realization of this goal is informed and guided by research findings, educational initiatives, policy statements and everyday clinical practice, all acting in a continuous interplay among each other. Vision, guidance and support in this regard is also provided by professional organizations such as the American Heart Association's (AHA) Council on Cardiovascular Nursing (CVN) and the European Society of Cardiology's (ESC) Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing among others. Both organizations target cardiovascular nurses working in clinical practice, nursing education, research settings or policy formulation (or a combination). Both organizations have developed a number of methods over the years such as educational programs, research projects, policy statements and mentoring programs, to achieve their strategic goals. The goal of this column is to inform international cardiovascular nursing colleagues, patients and other clinicians about the formal collaboration between the AHA's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and the ESC's Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing that started in 2002 after a number of years of successful informal collaboration which demonstrated the added value and strategic advantage of ‘building bridges’ across the Atlantic with regard to cardiovascular nursing. 2 The AHA's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing The Council on Cardiovascular Nursing is one of 13 Councils of the AHA. The primary mission of CVN, as reaffirmed at the Leadership Retreat of 2002, is to support the AHA mission to reduce death and disability from cardiovascular disease and stroke. In addition, the Council identifies and articulates areas in which nurses can lead in the accomplishment of the mission and goals of AHA. Specific goals and corresponding activities, defined at the 2002 Retreat include: Conduct research and develop knowledge related to the prevention of and bio-behavioral adaptation to heart disease and stroke. Increase utilization of cardiovascular research findings through dissemination. On-going and planned activities designed to achieve these science-related goals include initiation and participation in the development and publication of AHA Scientific Statements, Advisories, Practice Guidelines and Conferences. Collaboration with colleagues from other AHA Councils, relevant national and international (i.e. ESC Working Group) nursing and interdisciplinary organizations was recognized as an important component of this goal. Structured liaisons with consumers to support the AHA mission. (Consumers were defined on a variety of levels including nursing and interdisciplinary organizations, the lay public (at-risk individuals and families), policy-makers, the media and industry.) Educate all consumers to calculate their risk assessment for CVD and stroke and ensure consumer knowledge of the benefits of lifestyle intervention. Develop a system for identifying and mentoring leaders within the Council and across the organization. Develop a process for readily identifying CVN Council members who have expertise, interest and leadership skills relevant to the CVN and AHA mission and goals. Support national AHA advocacy efforts in National Institutes of Health (NIH) appropriations and other AHA initiatives. Influence cardiovascular health policy at local, state, national and international levels. 3 The ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing The ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing was launched in 1991 as one of the 27 working groups of the ESC, which was founded in 1950. The main goal of the ESC is to improve the quality of life of the European population by reducing the impact of cardiovascular disease. ESC works to foster the development of cardiology and cardiovascular nursing through scientific exchanges and personal contacts and establish standards of training for those who work in the field of cardiovascular disease. The following objectives of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing have been formulated and activities developed: to promote and organize research in the field of cardiovascular nursing. An initiative worthwhile mentioning in this regard is the launching of the Undertaking Nursing Interventions Throughout Europe (UNITE) Study Group. This group is comprised of cardiovascular nurse researchers from several European countries who have committed themselves to promulgate international research in the field of cardiovascular nursing. The first study that was conducted was a survey on coronary risk factors in a cohort of cardiac nurses from Europe [2]. Four additional studies are planned or in progress aiming at the development of the nursing profession in Europe and improvement of care for patients with chronic cardiac disease [3]; to collect and exchange relevant and up-to-date professional nursing educational information through publications and information on the ESC webpage. The European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing was successfully launched in 2002 providing an important venue for dissemination of relevant knowledge and findings. The Journal is one of the official ESC Journals. to contribute to the preparation of the annual ESC Congress and other scientific meetings, symposia and courses. In addition to the yearly ESC conference, the Working Group organizes an annual spring cardiovascular nursing conference; to establish appropriate recommendations for the ESC in the field of cardiovascular nursing and to contribute to the development and implementations of ESC guidelines for practice; and to collaborate with national societies of cardiac nurses, with other working groups within the ESC as well as with other nursing or cardiovascular organizations (e.g. Working Group on European Nursing Research, AHA's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing). The nucleus of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing is comprised of 10 nurses involved in nursing research and/or clinical practice, assuring the integration of both science and practice in the field of cardiovascular nursing [4]. 4 Building bridges: AHA and ESC's nursing initiative As can be inferred from the goals and activities of the AHA's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and the ESC's Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing, major commonalities have existed that resulted in a naturally increasing informal collaboration between the two organizations over the past 5 years. This collaboration has been most extensive regarding educational programs. Joint (nursing) sessions have been organized at the annual ESC and AHA meetings since 2000 focused on: (1) nurse led cardiovascular services: new systems of care; (2) patient education; (3) patient education: from paper to CD-rom; (4) palliative care in heart disease; and (5) how to manage co-morbidities in heart failure patients. Speakers from Europe have been invited to present research findings and lectures at the AHA Scientific Sessions—Cardiovascular Nursing programs and vice versa. Abstract graders from both sides of the Atlantic participate in abstract grading for the AHA and ESC meetings. Parallel with these initiatives, US renowned cardiovascular nurse scientists increasingly mentor European nurse colleagues in building their programs of research. More mutual collaborative efforts are expected as European cardiovascular nursing research continues to mature. Dr Laura Hayman, immediate past chair of the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, recognizing the potential of increasing synergies between the two organizations, created an ESC liaison position within the Leadership group of the AHA's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing in 2002 to formalize and further develop and guarantee continuous lines of communication and collaboration between both organizations. At the AHA annual meeting in Chicago 2002, a plan for formal collaboration between the AHA Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and the ESC's Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing was outlined including the following elements: The ESC and AHA will continue and extend their collaboration regarding annual conferences. The coordination between both AHA and ESC nursing sessions will be enhanced as well as the trans-Atlantic participation in AHA and ESC conferences. Educational initiatives of AHA and ESC will be announced on their respective webpages and Journals. An exchange program for students and faculty will be developed based on the positive experience of the mentoring initiatives described above. The goal is to link students/faculty interested in cardiovascular research with expert mentors overseas, thus optimizing available resources on both continents and enhancing options for networking. The webpages will again provide the major communication tool to make this happen. In view of research collaboration, it is envisioned that the model of the ESC's UNITE group could be extended across continents. The funding in this regard needs to be further explored as the option would create major opportunities for cardiovascular nursing research [5]. At a policy level, the joint AHA–ESC group envisions the development of joint guidelines and policy statements thus also optimally using available expertise and resources. Dr Erika Froelicher from the University of California at San Francisco (USA) has been appointed as the first liaison person for the AHA to the ESC's Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing. Dr Sabina De Geest, University of Basel (Switzerland) has been appointed as the first ESC's liaison to the AHA's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. These first five action points for the formal collaboration between ESC's Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing and the AHA's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing are promising developments for further collaboration in the field of cardiovascular nursing. Extension of this collaboration to African, Asian, Australian and to the Canadian and South American cardiovascular nursing organizations is indicated over time. Tackling cardiovascular illnesses as a major contributor to the global burden of disease requires globally concerted action indeed. The trans-Atlantic bridge is the first of many collaborative efforts! References [1] World Health Organization. Innovative care for chronic conditions. Building blocks for action: global report. 2002, WHO, Geneva, ISBN 92 4 159 017 3 [2] Undertaking Nursing Interventions Throughout Europe (UNITE) Study Group. A survey of coronary risk factors in a cohort of cardiac nurses from Europe: do nurses practice what they preach? Eur J Cardiovas Nurs 2002;1:57–60 [3] Undertaking Nursing Interventions Throughout Europe (UNITE) Study Group. Undertaking nursing interventions throughout Europe: research activities of the working group on cardiovascular nursing of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur J Cardiovas Nurs 2002;1:167–169 [4] Moons P , Jaarsma T The Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing: a European forum for international collaboration in cardiac care Progr Cardiovas Nurs 14 1999 156 – 158 Google Scholar OpenURL Placeholder Text WorldCat [5] Stewart S Investing in the future of cardiovascular nursing as a research-based profession—an international perspective Progr Cardiovas Nurs 15 2000 26 – 28 Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS WorldCat © 2003 European Society of Cardiology This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model) © 2003 European Society of Cardiology
TI - Building Bridges: The American Heart Association–European Society of Cardiology's International Nursing Collaboration
JO - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
DO - 10.1016/s1474-5151(03)00068-9
DA - 2003-12-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/building-bridges-the-american-heart-association-european-society-of-8k4C5Ns0eS
SP - 251
EP - 253
VL - 2
IS - 4
DP - DeepDyve
ER -