Brief History

There are many European, International and Global Nursing Organizations. However, when it came to psychiatric nursing, unlike so many others e.g. Diabetes, Nephrology, Oncology, Education and Research it is clear we lacked not just an Organization but a representative voice.

In the Spring 2004 two psychiatric nurses from Malta and the Netherlands took the initiative to seek the interest of other national organizations on Psychiatric Nursing to start a network. This resulted in a group called the PNWG, the Psychiatric Nursing Work Group which in turn led to preparations for a meeting which took place in October 2005 in Amsterdam.

At that meeting the decision was taken to transform the group into an association and with the name ‘Horatio’. In April 2006 the Association was formally established and in May 2006 the second meeting took place in Prague. Between these meetings the network increased rapidly and at the present time there are contacts in the majority of European countries.

Some as individuals, some as Representative of an International Organization within the field of Mental Health nursing, others as National Organizations for Psychiatric Nursing or Psychiatric Sections in their National Nursing Associations. We liaise with Organizations beyond Europe and others like patient/ family organizations. We are an affiliate of EFN and ESNO. Read more about this on our networkpage.