Dr Linda Aiken: "Our nursing staff is a national asset"

University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia today invested Linda H. Aiken as a Doctor Honoris Causa. With this honorary doctorate, the University has recognised one of the leading figures in the world of nursing, who with her research has contributed to enhancing the prestige of the profession worldwide, assessing nurses' contribution to patients' recovery and quality of life, and to gaining recognition for their role in the smooth running of hospitals.

In her acceptance speech, Dr Aiken said that "having the nursing staff needed to get good results in patients is cost effective because it avoids expensive complications." Aiken said that in general, managers and hospital officials replace qualified nurses with less highly trained professionals to cut costs, "whereas our research shows that this is not the outcome." The research carried out by Dr Aiken for more than three decades, which has been published in leading international scientific journals, shows that mortality 30 days after common surgical procedures increases by 7% for each additional patient added to a nurse's workload; and that for every 10% increase in graduate nurses, there is a fall in risk-adjusted mortality of 5-7%. That is why Aiken rounded off her speech by thanking UVic-UCC for its commitment to the profession, stating that "our nursing staff is a very important national asset, which we have to recruit wisely, and do everything we can to generate budget allocations so that our citizens can benefit from better health."

The sponsor of the new doctor was the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare, Paola Galbany, who emphasised Dr Aiken's tireless struggle to "give nurses an adequate workload for the good of their patients, as well as decent working conditions and treatment."

The Laudatio was given by Dr Mireia Subirana, the ex-dean of the Faculty, who gave extensive details of Dr Aiken's career and research. "The work done by Dr Aiken and her team shows that improving nurses' working conditions improves the quality of patients' health," said Subirana, who also highlighted the fact that Dr Aiken focuses on how to change the organisational environment of health institutions to achieve better results. Subirana ended her speech by saying that this doctorate honoris causa "is recognition by UVic-UCC for the entire profession'" and that it "shows its commitment to supporting the advancement of nursing knowledge."

In the institutional addresses, the first deputy mayor of Vic City Council and president of the Foundation for Advanced Health Sciences Studies, Dr Josep Arimany, highlighted the importance of nursing staff, saying that "these people are those who are closest to us at the most delicate times. They are by our side to help us, console us and to heal us." Finally, Jordi Montaña, rector of UVic-UCC, acknowledged Aiken's career and referred to the university community, noting that the distinction conferred on her today also aims to make "your knowledge and your drive to improve conditions in the nursing profession for the improved welfare of patients worldwide, reverberate among our students, our teaching staff and everyone who is part of this university."

"This is the best university ceremony that I have ever been given"

Around two hundred and fifty people attended Dr Aiken's investiture ceremony, which began promptly at 12 o'clock in the Aula Magna of the University. As tradition dictates, seventy UVic-UCC doctors entered the room in a procession, wearing the University's doctorate medal. During the ceremony, the Vic-born artist Marià Dinarès presented Dr Aiken with the original initium commemorating her doctorate honoris causa. Finally, the Emboirats of UVic castellers group completed a tower in honour of the new doctor. In her speech, Dr Aiken said "this is the best university ceremony that I have ever been given."