REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE OF NURSING ACTIVITIES IN GEORGIA – REALITY AND CHALLENGES

According to Georgian legislation, only doctors’ activities are regulated from healthcare professions. Although the Law of Georgia on Health Care includes the definition of ‘independent nursing practice’, its content (as well as the relevant professional responsibility) is not defined in the law or by-laws. Act of Georgian Law on Health Care establishes the obligation of the ministry to approve the list of nursing specialties and adjacent nursing specialties, which approved by the Order of the Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia on April 15, 2004 №80/N, however, the act has not been used. Bachelor nursing programs have been established in Georgia since 2011 and significant reforms have been carried out in vocational nursing education, but principles for regulating nursing activities have not been developed yet. The majority (97%) of the countries in the world have legislation for regulating / governing nursing activities with a relevant regulatory body. The most common function of the regulatory bodies is authorization of nursing activities / practices. Georgia is among the 6 jurisdictions where nurses are not authorized (including Armenia, Argentina, Cape Verde, Mauritius and Togo). At the same point in 72% of countries participation in a continuing professional development system is a prerequisite for continuing nursing practice. Considering the info written above, significant systemic changes are important for development of nursing practice, including: Defining nursing as a regulated profession; Establishment of nursing regulatory body with appropriate mandate; Activation of Nurses Authorization Mechanism; Establishment of postgraduate education systems for nurses with continuing professional development and responsibility.