Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Department organized a “Nursing Week Event”. The event was attended by Üsküdar University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka, Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun, Head of Nursing Department Prof. Dr. Selma Doğan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurcan Uysal, Dr. Lecturer Elçin Babaoğlu, and Prof. Dr. Tayfun Doğan from the Psychology Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
In the event moderated by Prof. Dr. Selma Doğan, opening speeches were delivered by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka and Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun.
Prof. Dr. Dursun: “Nurses are the closest individuals to the patient”
Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun emphasized that the nursing profession holds a sacred value; “Much also falls on us in the field of education. We provide our children with education under these values. Nurses, who serve in a valuable profession in the healthcare field, are the closest individuals to the patient,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Zelka: “Where there is no health, prosperity, economy, or education cannot exist”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka; “Covid-19 has taken the entire world under its influence. It has seriously affected the healthcare structure. Where there is no health, prosperity, economy, or education cannot exist. We understand how valuable this is better during this process. The contributions of all healthcare professionals have been very important during the pandemic,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Doğan: “Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system”
Prof. Dr. Selma Doğan, addressing the place and importance of nurses in the healthcare field, said; “Nurses are the most important members of this field. They are at a point that should definitely not be overlooked. They are also the largest group in terms of number in our country. They undertake very important tasks globally in the areas of health protection and promotion. In an aging world, they hold important roles and have become the group working closest to patients. They are the professional group with the highest power to intervene and influence patients. Nurses are the individuals who work wherever there are people. During the pandemic, the importance of nurses' role was understood better and became more visible. We have been fighting for this visibility for years. Because nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uysal: “It is very important to showcase all skills and experiences”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurcan Uysal; “The entire world was caught unprepared by the Covid-19 pandemic, and nurses were at the forefront of this struggle. It was a tough fight for them, and it still is. It is very important to showcase all skills and experiences. We conducted a research study with 17 nurses. The pandemic since March 2019 caused a crisis; the existing balance was disrupted. Nurses are the ones fighting in all epidemics. The pandemic is a difficult process for nurses who experience all fear, anxiety, and uncertainty,” he said.
Dr. Lecturer Babaoğlu: “Psychological reactions emerged during the pandemic”
Dr. Lecturer Elçin Babaoğlu spoke about the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on nurses' mental health. Babaoğlu said; “The psychological reactions that emerged during the pandemic show a variety ranging from extreme fear to indifference and fatalism. There have been studies on the SARS epidemic, and these have shown that the psychological effects of such pandemics are not short-lived and can lead to severe and lasting mental health problems. Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder are psychological reactions and conditions observed in healthcare workers. Nurses are affected more than other healthcare personnel. What affects individuals is not the events themselves, but the perspective they develop towards these events. Psychological reactions emerged during the pandemic.”
Prof. Dr. Doğan: “People are not happy”
Prof. Dr. Tayfun Doğan, touching upon psychological well-being and positive psychology, stated; “Positive psychology focuses on the positive. It is nothing more than examining the strengths and virtues of an ordinary person. The meaning and purposes of life are very important. Like having a sense of meaningfulness and thoughts that make it meaningful. The importance of happiness is also great. It can be a choice. Happy people live longer, are healthier. They are energetic and productive. There are many more things I could list. We can see that happy people do no harm. But unfortunately, during the pandemic, people are very angry. There have been mental health disorders. People are not happy.”