Dear Nurses, Colleagues, Partners, and Friends,

I am honored to address you as the Founder and Executive Director of the UNG –Union of Nurses and the Executive Director of the HC&PS SSO – Healthcare and Personal Services Sector Skills Agency.

I would like to formally announce a change in my professional role, effective March 2025:

It is with great pride that I share, both nationally and internationally, that I will be stepping down from my position as the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at the American Hospital Tbilisi (AHT). Moving forward, I will be serving as an independent expert in the healthcare sector. This transition represents a significant milestone in my career and reflects my continued commitment to advancing the nursing profession on a global scale. It is a true privilege for me to contribute as a member of the Professional Regulatory Council for Nursing and Midwifery Nurses, as well as a representative of the Higher Education Sector Accreditation Council.

I look forward to continuing my work in both national and international capacities, spanning across 25 countries, and to further advancing the regulatory frameworks that govern our vital sector.

I would like to express my profound gratitude to Dr. Ercan Ayyildiz, CEO of the American Hospital Tbilisi (AHT), for his exceptional professionalism and for establishing a modern management system. His significant contribution to the development of the healthcare system has been invaluable. It has been an immense honor to work alongside you, and I wish you continued success in all your professional endeavors!

I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the entire hospital team, including my dedicated nursing team, for their outstanding hard work and remarkable achievements during the five years of technical operation and three years of clinical operation. From 2020 to 2024, American Hospital Tbilisi (AHT) became a model project and a leading brand in the Caucasus region, renowned for providing the highest quality medical services. The hospital’s performance and accreditation with JCI Gold standards in 2024, along with expert evaluations and assessments, are irrefutable evidence of this success. Additionally, AHT was nominated twice as a finalist for the national award for best business partner in professional education and continuous human capital development, securing 2nd place in 2023 and being a finalist again in 2024. I remain hopeful that AHT will take the top honor in the 2024 award ceremony on March 13, 2025.

It has been a privilege for me to represent the hospital in the capacity of Director of the Nursing Service, within the framework of the new, innovative, and independent nursing organizational management structure, which upholds the highest standards. However, at this juncture, the strategy and new vision of the project no longer align with the implementation of nursing practice and the standards required for nursing processes, especially within an independent management structure. This includes both national regulations on nursing as an independent profession and international safety practice standards.

In line with my professional values and my commitment to the broader field, I have made the decision to step down from my role as Director of the Nursing Service. I sincerely hope that the current processes within the AHT Nursing Service will continue to be supported by the dedicated nursing team, and that effective cooperation will persist within the framework of our organizational partnership.

Through this partnership, we unite specialists from 15 multidisciplinary clinics and support up to 5,000 member nurses and obstetricians. As we face significant challenges ahead, our responsibilities have grown, and our expert representation in the healthcare and personal services sectors remains ready to offer support and collaboration.

The development of the nursing and midwifery professions on a global scale is a paramount priority for the healthcare system, and every individual’s contribution to this endeavor is of utmost importance. In Georgia, the nursing and midwifery professions have been officially recognized as independent practices since March 2024. It is the responsibility of professionals in these fields, within the scope of their roles and competencies, to address emerging challenges and contribute to the continued advancement of the profession.

Nursing is both a science and an art, requiring the acquisition and application of specialized knowledge and skills. It is grounded in the achievements of humanity across physical, social, medical, and biological sciences.

Nursing assists individuals, families, and communities in recognizing and demonstrating their physical, mental, and social potential. It enables them to act in accordance with their needs in a constantly changing environment.

A nurse’s role is to develop and implement strategies to promote health and prevent illness, as well as to plan and provide care throughout the course of illness or rehabilitation. This includes considering the physical, mental, and social factors that influence health, disease, disability, and mortality.

Nursing fosters the active participation of individuals, families, friends, social groups, and communities in all aspects of healthcare. This collaborative approach helps create a healthier environment by enhancing personal responsibility and promoting informed decision-making.

The primary responsibility of the nurse is to continuously pursue professional development in order to deliver safe patient care. Nurses are also tasked with advancing the integration of best nursing practices in clinical settings and contributing to the planning and execution of the profession’s policies. Ensuring the quality of medical services is unattainable without enhancing the quality of nursing practices. Therefore, every professional effort directed towards progress creates significant opportunities for the advancement of the nursing profession in our country, even under conditions where the working environment for nurses is substandard, and labor remuneration and motivation are exceedingly low. Insufficient motivation, inadequate working conditions, and low wages are factors that contribute to reduced demand for the profession and exacerbate the shortage of nurses in the country.

This issue is global in nature and necessitates large-scale, multifaceted solutions. In this regard, our organization actively collaborates with international bodies, sharing knowledge and experiences to identify and implement effective strategies for the development of the profession.

Founded on December 18, 2018, our organization brings together specialists, experts, clinical instructors, professional educators, and leading nurses. We work in partnership with both local and international organizations, as well as governmental agencies.

Our services are designed to address key challenges within the sector and are aligned with national and international standards. Our primary goal is to improve the quality of nursing activities, advocate for healthcare service providers, and support the implementation of independent management structures within medical institutions and quality systems in sectoral practices. Additionally, we focus on providing continuing education, both in primary healthcare settings and in multidisciplinary or specialized clinics.

Our key priorities include: increasing investment opportunities for nursing and midwifery professionals, representing the sector in the quality development processes of vocational and higher education, fostering cooperation with public associations and regulatory bodies, promoting career development through transformational leadership, and advancing the visibility and appeal of the profession.

The migration of nursing personnel for employment abroad continues to be a significant issue, exacerbating the shortage of nurses within our country. Efforts are being made, and several initiatives have already been implemented—with the support of the Skills Agency, regulatory institutions, and through public-private partnerships—focusing on the professional development of human capital and the creation and implementation of qualifications in high demand. Our team remains actively engaged with business partners in the continuous professional development of human capital and is open to collaborating with you on addressing new challenges.

Promoting the advancement of the nursing profession is one of the primary objectives of our organization. As such, each of our services is developed in alignment with both national and international standards and is guided by the core recommendations of best practices. It is important to note that the organizational structure is designed to provide every nurse with the opportunity for professional growth and is dedicated to addressing key challenges within the field.

Our goal is to elevate the nursing profession, develop and implement professional standards, advocate for policy changes with state agencies, and take strategic actions toward the advancement of the profession through collaborative efforts. We aim to enhance the quality of nursing activities within medical institutions by offering continuous nursing education, introducing innovative and tailored postgraduate programs, and fostering international integration and development of the profession. Additionally, we are committed to promoting nursing research and the adoption of best practices in clinics to ensure a modern, high-quality healthcare system. We also work closely with state agencies and employers to improve the nursing work environment and contribute to the creation of an effective strategic development plan for the nursing profession.

We are eager to listen to your ideas, support your professional growth, and encourage your active participation in the organization’s activities—such as professional discussions, conferences, working forums, open discussions, and webinars—as part of our continuous educational processes. Together, we are shaping the future of nursing practice and fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals in Georgia. We wish you every success in your endeavors.

Founder/CEO: Ia Gelenidze