Meeting Report
3rd European Doctoral Conference in Nursing Science (EDCNS)
Christa Lohrmann
Department for the Education of Nurse, Paramedic Teachers and Nursing Science, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
PP: 108 - 108
Article Text
The 3rd European Doctoral Conference in Nursing Science (EDCNS) took place at the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany from October 2002. The Dean of the medical faculty as well as the Director of the Centre for Humanities and Health Sciences of the Berlin universities emphasised nursing science as essential in interdisciplinary health care cooperation at the conference opening.
The aim of the conference is to offer PhD students the opportunity to present their PhD research project in 20 minutes followed by 20 minutes of discussion. It has been shown that this is really appreciated by the PhD students, because a lot of helpful hints and sharing experiences were exchanged. For many students it was the first presentation and for some the first presentation in English. The atmosphere was relaxed.
PhD students (University of Maastricht and Humboldt University of Berlin) organized the conference, primarily for other PhD students. Professors, supervisors and other Nursing or Health Science Faculty staff also attended the conference. Participants were from 14 different countries, mainly from Europe but also from the USA and Africa.
During the two days of the conference 29 presentations were made. This year the parallel sessions were chaired by experienced German, Dutch and Finish nursing scientists. There was a broad spectrum of different research projects, qualitative as well as quantitative. Various aspects of nursing were touched on such as: pressure ulcer, mental health, quality of life, cancer care, critical care and so on. A variety of methods and design were also found: RCTs, intervention studies, phenomenology and much more. An overview of the titles of the abstract can be found on the website: www.charite.de/ch/pflege.
Poster presentations on the first day were followed by panel discussion on the second. Referees, editors from European scientific journals and experienced writers participated on the panel. Prepared questions and statements lead to active discussion between the audience and the experts.
Dr. Välimäki from Finland summarised the difficulties one can go through as a PhD student, but showed the opportunities one can experience through networking. Common lunch breaks and a guided tour and dinner through the Jewish neighbourhood of Berlin contributed to high levels of communication and networking.
Participant evaluation of the conference was very positive showing clearly that the conference has a platform for the future. Many participants have expressed interest in the 4th conference in Maastricht (The Netherlands) in 2003. At this conference different workshops on 'methodological issues' and 'how to present' will be organised as participants indicated this as being of great value.
EDCNS is a very helpful and interesting arena for PhD students from different countries. It is a good place for exchange of knowledge and to network. All PhD students can participate whether they are at the beginning or at the end of their research project. The conference creates the opportunity to discuss nursing science from a global perspective.
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