I thought this would be of interest: http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZA...0Middle%20East

Qatar Health 2010, the premier healthcare congress and exhibition in Qatar, will for the first time be featuring a special healthcare track focusing on Nursing.

The two day workshop involves international experts, local nurse leaders and nurses in sharing expertise on knowledge translation into nursing practice, research and education. The conference is an important milestone in the continuing professionalization of nursing in Qatar and the region.

"This is the first of what we hope will become a regular feature of this vibrant international event. The chosen theme of knowledge translation reflects our commitment to providing world-class health care to the people of Qatar and the region," said Dr. Nabila Al-Meer, Executive Director of Nursing at HMC and Chairperson of the Nursing Track for Qatar Health.

"Nurses in Qatar are performing increasingly complex clinical and non-clinical functions in the delivery of health care I the home, in primary health care clinics as well as in hospitals. The trend is toward more advanced nursing practice, involvement of nurses in independent as well as collaborative research, and more Qatari and local nurses in senior leadership positions in health care.

"The program of workshops, facilitated sessions, and presentations focus on how we can use evidence-based knowledge in practice. We have taken great strides on the road to excellence and I am delighted that we have this opportunity to share our collective experiences. The program has been arranged to achieve a balance between the input of our respected overseas visitors, and acknowledgment of the work we do every day to improve health and wellbeing."

The two day workshop involves international experts, local nurse leaders and nurses in sharing expertise on knowledge translation into nursing practice, research and education. The Nursing Track's main focus will be Knowledge Translation (KT) and how, through leadership practice and educational research, this can be strengthened in Qatar.

The conference is structured into four main areas: clinical practice, leadership/management, education and research. Each of these professional streams will discuss current trends and innovations that support their efforts in knowledge transfer within the nursing field towards improving patient care.

From emergency wards and surgery rooms to intensive care units and general clinics to community health clinics, nurses often make up the largest group of healthcare providers in any healthcare organization. Qatar is developing a world-class nursing workforce to better support the country's ambitions plans for health care reform aimed at improving the health and well-being of the people of Qatar.

Nurses perform a wide range of clinical and non-clinical functions necessary to the delivery of health care either within hospitals and clinics or in specialist skilled nursing facilities or within the community inside patients' homes. The conference is an important milestone in the continuing professionalization of nursing in Qatar and the region