The role of the nurse is evolving towards that of a specialist, leader and researcher, while still committed to care as the driving force of the profession

Sant Boi de Llobregat, 15 May 2025. The evolution of the nursing profession is transforming its profile and professionalising it, driving the rise of specialist nurses and advanced practice nurses (APN) and heightening interest in nursing research and the vision of leadership. This is all taking place without losing sight of the origin of the profession; caring for and supporting the person being attended to.

This is one of the conclusions of the International Nurses Day Conference, held today at Parc Sanitari SJD under the tagline 'Care as a tool for transformation'. “When it comes to leading teams, leadership has to be more nursing than medical. It is a challenge that we have to meet,” argued Sebastià J. Santaeugènia, Parc Sanitari SJD CEO at the opening of the conference, commenting on the profession and the need to recognise all the specialities necessary to have more specialist nurses and APNs.

Specialist nurses receive specific training as a prerequisite through residency in a particular health area (such as mental health) which enables them to deliver advanced specialised care within their field in any of the domains (care, teaching, management and research). As for advanced practice nurses (APNs), they also have training as specialist nurses or postgraduate studies (master's degree or PhD) coupled with work experience in the field which allows them to practise with a high degree of clinical autonomy and leadership. Both profiles are essential for an effective and comprehensive approach to the health needs of the population.

"Our core role is to care, that is our basic purpose, yet we also need to be leaders, transformers and change-makers and work with scientific evidence every day," contended Raquel Fabregat, Director of Nursing at Parc Sanitari SJD.

Added value in nursing practices

"70% of what we do on a daily basis does not generate added value," noted Antonio Pérez, Deputy Director of Primary Care Nursing, Quality and Patient Safety at Guadalajara Integrated Care Management in his opening remarks. Reviewing what we need to stop doing, turning around low-value practices and battling resistance to change are three of the issues that Pérez identified as the starting point for building a value-based healthcare model.

Values, culture and good working environment: keys to retaining young nursing talent

Retaining talent and finding ways to attract young professionals were the topic up for discussion at the first panel. The key issues addressed included mentorships with professionals, conveying the organisation's values and culture from the outset and fostering a good working environment built on trust, respect and growing together. “When you feel at ease, you feel recognised, you share values and you are on the same page,” said Mª José Tojo, Director of Nursing at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Sant Boi.

Transforming the nursing profession: advances and challenges

The conference was arranged in four thematic blocks featuring panel discussions with external speakers and professionals from Parc Sanitari SJD which unpacked issues including talent retention, the economics of care and the need for assessment. There was also time for the presentation of projects which have already been implemented.

"Nurses lead projects, enhance our profession, run programmes, suggest initiatives to improve the lives of vulnerable people and make progress through research,” pointed out Alexandra Fernández, a nurse at Parc Sanitari SJD.