Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Health Sciences Faculty, Nursing Department academic staff member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hülya Fırat Kılıç served as a guest speaker at the 8th National and 4th International Basic Nursing Care Congress organized on 1-3 October 2026 by Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMU), with the support of TUBITAK.
Held at the Troya Cultural Center under the main theme of “Care for Sustainable Health,” the congress was chaired by Prof. Dr. Selma Atay, a faculty member of the Department of Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMU). Bringing together nurses, academics, researchers, and healthcare professionals, the congress aimed to contribute to improving the quality of nursing care, promoting the exchange of scientific knowledge and professional experience, and strengthening the role of the nursing profession in achieving sustainable health goals.
Participating in the congress as an invited speaker, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hülya Fırat Kılıç delivered a presentation entitled “Environmentally Conscious Nursing.” In her presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kılıç drew attention to the impacts of climate change on human health and well-being, emphasizing the vital role of healthcare professionals in developing protective and preventive approaches aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
Highlighting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) projection that climate change could result in approximately 250,000 additional deaths annually between 2030 and 2050 due to factors such as malnutrition, malaria, diarrheal diseases, and extreme heat stress, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kılıç emphasized that nurses bear a significant responsibility in developing practices aimed at safeguarding both human health and the future of the planet.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kılıç stated that environmental awareness is not a concept subsequently incorporated into the nursing profession, but rather an integral component of Florence Nightingale’s foundational philosophy of nursing. Underscoring that human health cannot be considered independently of environmental factors, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kılıç emphasized the importance of nurses adopting a holistic approach to care that recognizes the interconnectedness of individuals, society, and the environment.
The congress brought together a total of 522 attendees, including 42 session chairs and invited speakers, as well as 480 participants. The event contributed to strengthening scientific exchange and collaboration in the field of fundamental nursing care while also providing a valuable platform for integrating the principles of sustainable healthcare into nursing practices.
