Bartın University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing organized a scientific event as part of the 12–18 May Nursing Week celebrations. The event, held on May 15, 2026, at Ağdacı Conference Hall, was attended by 250 participants, including academics, nurses, and nursing students. Organized within the framework of the ICN 2026 theme, “Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” the event addressed the multidimensional structure of nursing extending from education to clinical practice, management, and academia. In the opening speeches, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Elif Karahan, emphasized the importance of accreditation in nursing education and stated that the full accreditation achievement of Bartın University’s Nursing Department is a significant indicator of educational quality. Head of the Department of Nursing, Prof. Dr. Ayfer Bayındır Çevik, highlighted the ICN 2026 theme and underlined that nurses with strong leadership skills play a critical role in the future of healthcare services.

The panel was moderated by Dr. Fatma Dinç, a faculty member in the Department of Child Health and Diseases Nursing at Bartın University Faculty of Health Sciences. During the program, expert academicians, training nurses, and students shared their knowledge and experiences with the participants. The first presentation was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Betül Sönmez, Vice President of the Istanbul Branch of the Turkish Nurses Association and faculty member at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing. In her presentation titled “Empowerment in Nursing,” she emphasized professional awareness, leadership, professional solidarity, and the importance of increasing the visibility of the nursing profession. Following this, Gülşah Engin, Training Nurse at Bartın State Hospital, evaluated the effects of patient safety, interprofessional communication, and continuous education on quality of care in her presentation titled “The Role of the Training Nurse in Creating a Safe Care Culture.” As part of the program, Nihal Kalıncı, Training Nurse at Zonguldak Maternity and Children’s Hospital, drew attention to the importance of leadership and team management in educational processes with her presentation titled “Leadership in Training Nursing.” Dr. Olga İncesu, a faculty member at Bartın University Faculty of Health Sciences, discussed the contribution of clinical experience to academic development and the role of scientific production in professional growth in her presentation titled “Leadership from Clinic to Academia.” In the final part of the panel, fourth-year nursing student Tülin Göktaş shared her perspectives on the professional development process of future nurses in her speech titled “A Strong Start from Student Life to Professionalism.”

At the conclusion of the program, emphasis was placed on the multidimensional nature of nursing extending from education to management, from clinical practice to academia, and from student life to professionalism. It was stated that strong, well-equipped nurses with developed leadership skills will play a significant role in the future of healthcare services.