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.
