The Ukrainian Red Cross and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine promote nursing reform
Nursing is a key profession within the healthcare system, providing essential patient care and playing an integral role in the delivery of high-quality medical services. In Ukraine, the profession is beginning to gain recognition as an independent field that must align with modern international standards.
A professional standard is a formally approved set of requirements for employee qualifications and competencies, defined by employers and used as the foundation for developing professional qualifications.
The process of developing professional standards for nursing specialists was launched in 2024 by the State Agency “Centre for Nursing Development of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”.
“We are currently supporting the development of six draft professional standards for medical specialists, which will be applied across all healthcare institutions in Ukraine and will serve as the foundation for revising educational programmes at all levels,” said Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross.
The introduction of professional standards will ensure:
- Unified requirements for the knowledge and skills of nurses, leading to improved quality of medical services and enhanced patient safety.
- Clearer preparation of medical school graduates for real-world working conditions.
- Updated educational programmes and the implementation of a professional development system.
- Increased prestige of the nursing profession and better integration of Ukrainian specialists into the international labour market.
- A framework for the licensing and certification of nurses.
- Reduced healthcare costs through fewer complications and re-hospitalisations.
The working groups will soon begin developing professional standards in Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Dnipro, Kyiv, Ternopil, Lviv, and Sambir. Their task will be to identify key needs, methods of operation, and challenges within the profession.
The next steps will include drafting the professional standards, holding a public discussion of the documents, and approving the standards in accordance with the established procedure.
The project is supported by the Norwegian Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. This initiative marks an important step towards advancing nursing in Ukraine and raising the standards of medical care for every patient.
