Vietnam Nurses Association

Vietnam Nurses Association
Name	Vietnam Nurses Association
Native name	Hội Điều dưỡng Việt Nam
Founded	1958
Headquarters	Hanoi, Vietnam
Region served	Vietnam
Membership	Registered nurses, midwives, nursing students
Leader title	President

Vietnam Nurses Association is the principal professional body representing nursing in Vietnam, coordinating clinical practice, education, and professional standards for nurses and midwives across the country. Founded in the mid-20th century, the association has interacted with national institutions such as the Ministry of Health (Vietnam), regional bodies like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and international agencies including the World Health Organization to advance nursing capacity. Its activities span workforce development, policy advising, public health campaigns, and cross-border collaboration with organizations such as the International Council of Nurses and bilateral partners.

History

The association emerged during a period of postcolonial reconstruction influenced by models from France, Soviet Union, and China, aligning early nursing curricula with standards from the Hanoi Medical University and provincial medical schools. In the 1960s and 1970s its cadres contributed to wartime healthcare efforts alongside units linked to the Vietnam People's Army and humanitarian groups like the Red Cross Society of Vietnam. After reunification in 1975, coordination with the Ministry of Health (Vietnam) intensified, and the association played roles in national campaigns such as immunization drives paralleling initiatives by the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization. During the market reforms of Đổi Mới, interactions with institutions such as the Hanoi University of Public Health and international NGOs expanded, leading to curriculum reforms inspired by standards from the Royal College of Nursing and partnerships with universities such as University of Melbourne and University of Washington.

Organization and Membership

The association is structured with a national executive council and provincial chapters mirroring administrative divisions like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hai Phong. Members include registered nurses licensed through the Ministry of Health (Vietnam) licensure framework, midwives certified by provincial health departments, and students from institutions such as the Vietnam National University and the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Leadership has included figures who coordinated with hospitals such as the 108 Military Central Hospital and specialist centers like the National Hospital of Pediatrics. Membership categories reflect links to professional orders and unions such as the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and affiliations with specialty societies, including those focused on gerontology linked to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Roles and Activities

The association organizes clinical guidelines dissemination and standards aligned with the Ministry of Health (Vietnam) directives and global protocols issued by the World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses. It convenes conferences, symposiums, and continuing education workshops in partnership with academic institutions like Hanoi Medical University and international partners including the United States Agency for International Development and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Emergency response activities have seen nurses from the association working alongside the Vietnam Red Cross Society and regional disaster-response teams during events such as Typhoon Haiyan impacts in neighboring countries and domestic floods in provinces like Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue. The association publishes position statements and practice guides used in tertiary hospitals such as Cho Ray Hospital and research collaborations with institutes like the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Ho Chi Minh City).

Education and Professional Development

The association influences nursing education by collaborating with schools and faculties such as the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Technology (Hai Duong Medical College), the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, and the Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy. It supports transition programs for diploma-to-degree pathways mirroring reforms advocated by the World Health Organization and regional quality frameworks like those promoted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Professional development programs include specialty certifications in fields tied to hospitals such as the National Cancer Hospital (K Hospital) and training in primary care models used in commune health stations across provinces like Bac Ninh and Tien Giang. Scholarship and exchange schemes have been established with academic partners including the University of Sydney, Nanyang Technological University, and public health schools such as the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

The association acts as an advisory stakeholder in policy deliberations with entities such as the Ministry of Health (Vietnam), the National Assembly (Vietnam), and provincial health departments. It has campaigned for workforce reforms responding to demographic shifts observed by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam and health financing adjustments related to programs run by the Vietnam Social Security system. Advocacy priorities have included safe staffing initiatives informed by research from institutions like the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and occupational safety measures echoing standards from the International Labour Organization. The association has also engaged in public health advocacy during outbreaks monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in vaccination drives coordinated with the United Nations Children's Fund.

International Collaboration and Partnerships

International engagement includes membership and cooperation with the International Council of Nurses, technical collaboration with the World Health Organization, and twinning programs with nursing associations such as the Royal College of Nursing and the American Nurses Association. Bilateral projects with development agencies including the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the United States Agency for International Development, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have supported capacity-building, infection control programs, and midwifery strengthening with links to universities like University of Melbourne and University of Washington. Regional networks through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and exchanges with neighboring nursing bodies in Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia have facilitated cross-border workforce mobility and harmonization of standards.

Category:Health care in Vietnam Category:Nursing organizations