Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, together with Hogeschool Inholland and ROC Nova College, conducted research into the voice and position of assistant nurses. They mapped out what these nurses need in order to develop their voice and speak out, how they can get into a position where their voice is heard and how the profession can get the recognition it deserves.
The profession of assistant nurse provides the largest share of care. They do this mainly in elderly care in nursing homes and district nursing, but also in maternity care and care for the disabled. This makes them indispensable, but at the same time they are often invisible. They are not always acknowledged by managers, policy makers and directors of care organizations or national policy makers. On the other hand, assistant nurses don't often make themselves heard.
"Control must come from both sides," Van Wieringen said. "Assistant nurses also have the tasks of stepping forward, propagating their role and knowledge, and taking responsibility together for a pleasant, collegial working climate. This requires good and supportive employership. That means that care organizations must facilitate control by assistant nurses, and that managers and policy makers recognise and listen to employees, in order to know what is going on in care."
The study was done with a grant from the Ministry of Health.
