Strong Nurses, Strong Health System
Cyprus International University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Department faculty member Assist. Prof. Dr. Refiye Akpolat Yenel made a statement within the scope of Nursing Week, celebrated between May 12–18, emphasizing the importance of the nursing profession in the sustainability of healthcare systems and the protection of public health. Evaluating the topic in line with the 2026 theme of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), Yenel stated that nurses are not only healthcare professionals, who provide care services, but also an important professional group that contributes to the development of health policies, engages in scientific production, and takes an active role in strengthening public health. Yenel noted that increasing chronic diseases, an aging population, global pandemics, and inequalities in access to healthcare services have made the importance of the nursing profession more visible every day. She added that the role undertaken by nurses in strengthening healthcare systems continues to grow steadily.
Stating that nurses are among the professionals who establish the closest contact with individuals in healthcare services, Yenel emphasized that nurses’ knowledge and field experience should be utilized more effectively in the process of shaping health policies. She explained that strong healthcare systems are built upon well-educated nurses who embrace scientific approaches, possess critical thinking skills, and demonstrate leadership qualities. Yenel also highlighted that nursing education is not limited to providing technical competence alone, but also carries the responsibility of training professionals who adhere to ethical values, conduct research, and can adapt to change.
Drawing attention to the digital transformation taking place in healthcare, Yenel stated that electronic health records, remote patient monitoring systems, digital care applications, and artificial intelligence-supported technologies have become integral parts of healthcare services. She noted that technological advancements make significant contributions to patient safety and the efficiency of care processes. However, she emphasized that the nursing profession will always remain grounded in a human-centered approach, empathy, and communication. According to Yenel, the nursing approach of the future requires training professionals who can effectively use technology, adapt to digital health applications, and closely follow scientific developments.
Yenel further stated that at the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Cyprus International University, students are educated not only with professional knowledge, but also as individuals equipped with digital literacy, research skills, critical thinking abilities, and ethical values. She stressed the importance of an educational approach centered on evidence-based practices and patient safety. Referring to Florence Nightingale, who is regarded as the pioneer of modern nursing, Yenel said that the scientific approach introduced by Nightingale has evolved further today through technology- and research-oriented studies. She emphasized that nursing is a multidimensional profession focused not only on disease, but on people as a whole.
On the occasion of Nursing Week, Yenel thanked nurses working at every stage of healthcare services for their devoted efforts and underlined that qualified nursing services are among the fundamental elements of strong societies and sustainable healthcare systems.