Nursing in Greece and Iran: A Narrative Comparison

Introduction: Nursing, being a humanistic profession, includes the promotion of health, the prevention of disease and the holistic care of patients, including those with disabilities and the terminally ill. Nursing education and training in Greece conforms to EU standards, thus providing mutual recognition of qualifications according to European Community directives. Moreover, nursing in Iran is heavily associated with the underlying socio-cultural forces that have affected the country, society and the profession per se in recent decades. Aim: The purpose of this self-reflective commentary is to narrate and describe nursing in two dissimilar countries and health care systems, i.e. Greece and Iran. Methods: This report was based on the lived experiences of an Erasmus+ student who has spent time studying and training as a nurse in both Iran and Greece. The self-narratives were complemented by a comprehensive computer-based search, which was conducted in various databases which revealed 16 relevant articles. Results: a number of similarities and differences are portrayed in this comparative narrative which shows that despite the vast geographical and geopolitical contrasts, nursing in both countries have made a determined and conscious effort to upgrade and improve standards of nursing education and practice. Discussion: Overall, there are distinct similarities and differences between Iranian and Greek nursing in terms of both education and practice. As expected, there are noticeable differences in the priorities in the nursing education of the two countries but moving this into universities has raised the standards of nursing students' clinical and theoretical preparation. Conclusions: Overall political and public policies play a pivotal role in shaping the image of nursing in both societies. Yet, the authors believe increasing motivation among Greek and Iranian nurses, and promoting the socio-cultural climate and the welfare of the profession would result in higher levels of quality of care as well as greater patient satisfaction.