The Departments of Nursing, and their Lectorate Ethics of Care Research Institute,  

of the   Christian University for Higher Professional Education,

Ede, The Netherlands and Reformed University for Higher Professional Education, Zwolle, The Netherlands

In cooperation with the

Prof.dr. G.A. Lindeboom Institute,

Christian center for medical ethics,

Ethics and spirituality: the heart and soul of Christian nursing

The European Region of Nurses Christian Fellowship International invites Christian nurses and nursing students to the 7^th European NCFI conference, to be held in Ede, the Netherlands, from August 22 – 26, 2006. The conference will be hosted by the nursing departments of the Christian University Ede, and the Reformed University of Zwolle, in cooperation with the Prof.dr. G.A. Lindeboom Institute, a Christian centre for medical ethics, in Ede, The Netherlands.

Aim

This four-day conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other Christian nurses and international speakers, and explore the heart and soul of the nursing profession: ethics and spirituality. It will enable nurses to share the relevance of biblical teaching to nursing practice so that they can be a Christian presence in health care.

Theme

God’s people, including nurses in Europe, often wonder what is required of their moral and spiritual life, including their professional life. In today’s health care, many complicated issues face nurses on a daily basis. Issues surrounding life and death, responsibility and power, religious diversity and personal commitment, quality and facilities of care – the list goes on. Through his prophet Zechariah, the Lord God reminds his people what he has told them: “Judge fairly and honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another” (7:9) and again: “Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace” (8:16). The conference explores the key themes of ethics, spirituality, and their context in nursing from the perspective of these scriptures. The importance of Truth, Justice, Peace, and Care for ethics and spirituality in nursing will be addressed.

Program

In bible expositions, plenary addresses, elective sessions, and ample “corridor time”, participants will challenge and strengthen their Christian commitment as well as their professional knowledge base. Christian speakers (and writers) in the field of nursing contribute to this nourishing and stimulating event. Sessions in personal, clinical, academic and policy tracks, will develop the main themes. Supported by the departments of nursing at the Christian University Ede and the Reformed University Zwolle, a wider audience of nurses and nursing students will be invited to join the conference delegates in an open conference day session.

Speakers

Language

During the conference, presentations and interactions will be in English. Limited facilities for translation in other languages are available.

Professional visits

Upon early arrival, professional visits will be arranged on Tuesday afternoon, to local health care facilities or nursing schools in the area.

Call for abstracts

Participants are invited to submit abstracts of presentations they may do in concurrent elective sessions, addressing some aspect of the conference theme. Presenters are expected to promote the cause of Christian nurses.

Please refer to the conference website for further details: www.ncfieurope.org. Please submit your abstract no later than March 1, 2006.

Support

Limited funds are available in support of nursing students and nurses from countries with lower income. If you feel in need of support, please contact the chair of the European Committee of NCFI, Dr Barbara Parfitt ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Others are kindly suggested to help support participation of nursing students and nurses from countries with lower income. Please consider a highly appreciated gift to the community of Christian nurses as early as possible. Please use the Lindeboom Instituut account, mentioning “support Euro2006”.

Conference center

The location of the conference center Belmont, is just outside of Ede. The address is Goorsteeg 66, NL-6718 TB Ede, www.hcc-belmont.nl.

Booking

The booking fee includes all accommodation, meals and conference costs from Tuesday afternoon, August 22, to Sunday morning August 26, 2006. It should be paid before June 1, 2006. After June 1, € 99 is added to all booking fees.

The booking fee should be paid to the ‘Stichting Prof.dr. G.A. Lindeboom Instituut’, Postbus 224, 6710 BE Ede, The Netherlands, Postbank account number 38.05.745. The booking fee is non-returnable after June 1^st, 2006.

For booking fees see booking form.

Travel to Ede

From Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam), travellers are suggested to use the train to Ede-Wageningen railway station (about 1 hour, 13 euro). Transportation to the conference centre will be provided (see www.ns.nl). Make sure to  look for budget airlines and book well ahead.

Travellers by car find Ede just off the A12 motorway between the cities of Arnhem and Utrecht (see e.g. www.anwb.nl).

Further travel assistance will be provided upon request and after booking.

Information

Conference coordinator:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it