Portugal joined several European governments in signing the Munich Declaration of 2000 with a commitment to address the needs of families in community, namely through the role of Family Health Nursing. Portugal has actively participated in the World Health Organization (WHO) Family Health Nursing initiative.
Nurses in Portugal were already strong supporters of family care in community settings with the creation of new units such as the Family Health Unit, where nurses offered a holistic approach to the care of families and individuals. Changes in the education of all nurses in Higher Education Institutions at the 3 cycles of Bologna Process (BSc, MSc and PhD), lead to the reorientation of the discipline of nursing in Portugal with family nursing gaining greater visibility. Courses with a focus in family nursing at the undergraduate and post graduate levels have grown exponentially and family issues have been privileged as a research topic in doctoral theses.
Since 2004, the Family Nursing Research Group (Núcleo de Investigação de Enfermagem de Família) of Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, has been a driving force in advancing family nursing with the dissemination of research studies through conferences and publications, as well as developing international collaborative partnerships in both family nursing research and education. For more information contact IFNA member, Maria do Céu Barbieri Figueiredo: [email protected]