From research: what trends do you see emerging most strongly in the nursing internship ?
I think that the most important emerging trends in nursing research are oriented towards the transformation of care systems through integrative, innovative, personalized and sustainable approaches. For example, digitalization and the use of technologies, or the incorporation of artificial intelligence, as we could see in the annual COENAV workshop "Artificial Intelligence and Nursing: an alliance for a more human care" held last May 8, are generating new lines of research on their ethical and effective applicability in nursing care. There is also a growing emphasis on outcomes assessment , which allows scientifically demonstrating the value and impact of care in improving the health of the population and the efficiency of the healthcare system. Another emerging axis, from my point of view, is participatory and community-based research , which promotes the improvement of services and the design of interventions with patients, family members... in final, with the users of the system. Addressing the social determinants of health, the impact of climate change and equity in access to care are also shaping new research priorities that transcend the clinical setting and are part of a global health perspective.
What subject of leadership does nursing need today to have a voice in healthcare decision making?
Nursing needs a transformational leadership, based on evidence, ethical values and the defense of the right to health. A leadership that not only represents the interests of the profession, but also contributes to building people-centered and equity-oriented public policies.
As a professor, I believe it is imperative to strengthen leadership skills from initial training , promoting skills in change management , interprofessional communication, political influence and negotiation in complex environments. As the International committee Nurses' policy guide , "Engaging nurse leaders in strategic health staff planning" underlines, effective health planning requires the active participation of nurses at all levels of governance, from service management to global policy formulation.
What are the main challenges for the profession in the coming years?
I believe that nursing, like other professions, will face many challenges. For example, this year the theme chosen by the International committee Nurses for International Nurses Day is "Our nurses, our future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies," thus putting the spotlight on the importance of supporting the health and well-being of nurses. I think this year's theme reinforces the call for all organizations and governments to value, protect, respect and invest in nurses to ensure a sustainable future for the profession. One of the key challenges lies in the need to create safer, more positive and supportive work environments that foster high performing cultures, ensure better patient care, increased staff retention and a stronger, more resilient healthcare system that benefits us all.
On the other hand, we cannot lose sight of the challenge of adapting the nursing internship , and academic training , to the new healthcare scenarios marked by population aging, chronicity, mental health and emotional well-being, climatic emergencies and the integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
As a professor, how can you train professionals not only with technical knowledge, but also with critical and ethical skills?
Training professionals with critical and ethical capacity implies overcoming a merely technical or reproductiveeducational model . It requires a transformative pedagogy, focused on reflective thinking, ethical deliberation and the integration of theoretical knowledge with lived experience. To this end, it is essential to create learning spaces where students can question, argue, make complex decisions and understand the social, cultural and political implications of the care they provide.
In our School we have implemented strategies such as problem-based learning, the case method, clinical simulation, analysis of ethical dilemmas, applied research and participation in community or service-learning projects. All of this is always framed in a professor accompaniment that favors the development of professional identity from social responsibility, compassion and commitment to the care of people.
