Professor Abel Avelino de Paiva e Silva of Portugal receives ICN’s Kim Mo-Im Policy Innovation and Impact Award for 2021 for pioneering work integrating nursing documentation with health information systems

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Portuguese Nurses Order) are delighted to announce that Professor Abel Avelino de Paiva e Silva is the recipient of the 2021 ICN Kim Mo-Im Policy Innovation and Impact Award, in recognition of his influence on nursing science and documentation in Portugal. The Award will be presented at ICN’s virtual Congress in November.

Professor Abel Paiva has worked on the design and specification of a data model for the integration of nursing documentation into electronic health information systems since 1996.

Because of his work, which incorporates ICN’s International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®), all clinical nursing records in Portugal are integrated into the Portuguese Health Data Center, giving prominence to and increasing the visibility of nursing and its contribution to the health of the nation.

Professor Abel Paiva was nominated for the Award by the Ordem dos Enfermeiros. The Order’s Vice-President Luís Filipe Barreira said:

“This is a historical moment for Portuguese nursing, not only for the distinction awarded to Abel Paiva, but also for the work that has been developed by the Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, in collaboration with the Ordem dos Enfermeiros, on the development and use of a nursing ontology. It is with great pride that the Ordem dos Enfermeiros was at the genesis of this award to Abel Paiva and sees the effort and dedication of its professionals being recognised for their excellence at an international level."

In 2002, Professor de Paiva e Silva became the first Portuguese nurse to obtain a PhD degree in nursing at a Portuguese university (University of Porto), presenting an explanatory theory of change in nursing information systems. Over the years he has mentored more than 30 nurses in doctoral nursing programmes, contributing to a significant advance in post-graduate education in nursing.

The Kim Mo-Im Award is granted every two years to a nurse who has demonstrated policy innovation and impact. It focuses on a key global issue of the time and ICN established strategy.

As the award recipient, Professor de Paiva e Silva will be invited to speak on his work at the ICN’s virtual Congress in November. He will also receive a US$10,000 grant (in two instalments), which he can use to advance and support his innovative work.

The Kim Mo-Im Policy Innovation and Impact Award marks the achievements of Dr Kim Mo-Im, who was ICN President from 1989 to 1993. She is a pioneer and evolutionary leader in various areas of social and health development. She was the first nurse in South Korea appointed as Minister of Health and Welfare and was a member of the World Health Organization Expert Panel of Nursing for 20 years.

Previous winners

The first award was granted at the ICN Congress in Barcelona in 2017 to Dr Miaofen Yen for her work to establish an International Advanced Programme in Nursing at the National Cheung Kung University in Taiwan. In 2019 Mr Elias Al Aaraj was given the Award for introducing harm reduction services in Lebanon and other Middle East and North African countries.

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