Care at the heart of decision-making

On April 22, 23, and 24, Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) hosted the 8th International Congress on Nursing Research, Education, and Development: “Moving Toward New Horizons: Nursing 2060”, organized by the Bachelor's Degree Nursing program in the School of Health Sciences.

The event brought together nursing professionals, researchers, educators, and students with the aim of promoting research, innovation, and nursing leadership, as well as sharing experiences and new ideas in response to the profession’s current and future challenges.

Over the course of three days, the conference addressed some of the key themes that will shape the future of nursing in the coming years: advanced practice, school nursing, artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship, nursing leadership, clinical simulation, safe environments, and the profession’s response to the challenges of today’s world.

The opening address was delivered by Elena Fernández Cano, Director of Care for the Community of Madrid, who emphasized the need for nursing to be present not only in clinical practice but also in the forums where strategic decisions regarding the healthcare system are made. In this regard, she noted that the Care Management Office is “a governance structure that places care in the Community of Madrid at the strategic level, where decisions are made.”

Fernández Cano also advocated for a style of leadership that avoids imposition and is based on the ability to make decisions in complex situations without neglecting active listening. “Leadership is not about giving orders, it is not about imposing one’s will, nor is it about avoiding conflict; it is about bringing order to complexity,” he stated.

Attendees at the 8th International Congress on Nursing Research, Education, and Development: “Moving Toward New Horizons: Nursing 2060”

Artificial intelligence in the service of care

One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation by Dr. Frank Guido Sanz, associate dean of Education and Research at the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies, who reflected on the role of nursing in a healthcare environment increasingly shaped by technology.

During his presentation, Guido advocated for the critical, ethical, and safe integration of artificial intelligence into clinical practice, teaching, and healthcare management. “The real challenge with all these technologies lies in their application and how we will adapt them to the profession and to our needs,” he noted.

The speaker also cautioned that innovation only makes sense if it improves care and keeps the person at the center. In this regard, he stated that “the value lies in the ethical and safe integration of technology into human care processes.” He also noted that “technology will never replace care; it will simply redistribute tasks and redefine professional roles.”

Supporting, caring for, and leading through relationships

The conference also featured a presentation by Vicente Arráez of the Metta Foundation, who delivered a talk titled “Dying Is Not What It Seems: A Plea for Life, Hope, and Humanity.” In it, he offered a reflection on the process of dying from an anthropological perspective, moving away from an exclusively biological or clinical view. “A key element of accompaniment is knowing how to let go,” he stated during his presentation.

For her part, María José de Dios, a tenured professor at the University of Valladolid, discussed relational leadership as a driver of change in healthcare organizations. “The most important thing—and what truly transforms organizations—is not strategies, nor is it results, but rather the way we interact with one another,” she explained. The speaker also emphasized that “a position gives you authority, but it doesn’t earn you respect; respect is something you earn yourself.”

IMG_9982 Francisco de Vitoria University concludes the 8th International Nursing Congress with a call to lead the way in the future of care through science, technology, and humanization Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

María José de Dios, full professor at the University of Valladolid

A nursing profession poised to lead the future of care

The 8th International Congress on Nursing Research, Education, and Development has established Francisco de Vitoria University as a hub for gathering, reflection, and progress for a profession destined to play a strategic role in the future of the healthcare system.

This was highlighted by the dean of the School of Health Sciences, Nuria Mendoza, during the conference’s opening ceremony, describing it as an initiative aligned with the School’s mission and with UFV’s commitment to promoting rigorous, compassionate, and service-oriented healthcare education. In this regard, she emphasized that the conference allows us to “continue building a nursing profession prepared to respond to society’s present and future challenges through professional excellence and patient-centered care.”

From care governance to digital transformation, clinical simulation, end-of-life care, and relational leadership, the various presentations have highlighted the need to train nurses who can combine scientific excellence, technical competence, ethical judgment, and a deeply human perspective.

Almudena Crespo, director of Bachelor's Degree Nursing at UFV, emphasized that the conference aligns directly with the university’s educational mission: to train outstanding professionals who dedicate their expertise to the common good. “If there is one profession that embodies this, it is nursing,” she stated during the opening of the event.

Through this conference, UFV reinforces its commitment to nursing education that focuses not only on professional qualifications but also on developing individuals capable of caring for, supporting, and leading in increasingly complex healthcare settings, thereby contributing to care that is more humane, mindful, and centered on the dignity of each patient.