Summary of the IV Educational Intensive for Nurses

From 5 to 7 February, Lviv hosted the fourth educational intensive for nurses as part of the pilot project “Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care.” Each event strengthens the autonomy of nurses and brings closer the time when independent patient reception will become a common practice.

Over the course of three days, participants improved their clinical skills and delved into communication and leadership topics. They attended various workshops led by experienced trainers:

• Ihor Zastavnyi, o-founder and family doctor at “svoi.ridni,” board member of the Academy of Family Medicine of Ukraine, conducted training on otoscopy and patient communication. He paid special attention to communication skills in emotionally charged situations and how to convey complex medical information.
• Anastasiia Khodan, co-founder of “svoi.ridni,” board member of the Academy of Family Medicine of Ukraine, focused on prevention and screening, specifically on quartile prevention. Participants learned to make informed decisions regarding diagnostic procedures and avoid unnecessary testing.
• Anastasiia Pylypak, head of communications at the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,” led a session on confident communication. Nurses practiced professional self-expression while maintaining sensitivity and fostering trust in interactions with patients and colleagues.
• Khrystyna Stroiich, family doctor and practical skills trainer, taught wound care. Under her guidance, participants learned to identify wound healing phases, recognize complications, and plan care based on patient needs.
• Ivan Kutchak, board member and trainer at the Academy of Family Medicine of Ukraine, medical director of the My Family Clinic medical center, conducted a training on dermatoscopy. Participants gained basic skills in using a dermatoscope, learned to identify “red flags” during skin examinations, and determine cases requiring medical consultation.
• Pavlo Khud, deputy dean of the Faculty of social sciences at the Ukrainian Catholic University, led a training on leadership and decision-making, helping participants realize how to lead in a medical setting, especially in crisis situations.
• Anna Sokhan, family doctor at “svoi.ridni,” mentor, and facilitator of peer groups, held a plenary session on how to effectively share knowledge with colleagues, create a space for collective learning, and foster professional growth within teams.
• Olha Kuzmenko, nurse, instructor at the Lviv Medical Academy, and consultant on care for people with mobility limitations, led a session on caring for people with reduced mobility and developing individual care programs for such patients. Additionally, Olha became an inspiration for participants, showing the real possibilities for professional growth and development in her role. This helped the participants believe in their own abilities and strengthen their understanding of the importance of their role in the healthcare system.

The three-day intensive was not only about learning but also about meeting colleagues, gaining new impressions, experiences, support, ideas, and opportunities for professional growth. And this is certainly not the last such meeting!