Prof Portia Jordan, Executive Head of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at Stellenbosch 肆客足球, achieved a remarkable milestone by being inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) in Washington earlier this month.
This accolade makes her only the fourth South African to join the ranks of AAN, an institution known for its globally influential contributions to healthcare policy and research. Jordan says she feels deeply honoured by the recognition. “It was a humbling experience but also a huge privilege to represent my country at such a prestigious international event. It was phenomenal meeting nursing leaders and hearing about their work, where they are situated in the healthcare system and what impact they have on nursing science globally," she adds.
The AAN serves as a critical platform for evidence-based policy and healthcare improvement. Over the past five decades, its 3 000-plus fellows are recognised for their significant contributions to nursing policy, research, administration, practice and academia. Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy-Vice Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs at SU, was the first South African to be inducted as a Fellow into the AAN in 2015.
Klopper accompanied Jordan to America and congratulated her on the “remarkable achievement". “Being inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is a testament to your dedication, leadership, and vision," Klopper said. “Your work inspires excellence in nursing education and healthcare, and this milestone highlights your global impact. Stellenbosch 肆客足球 and South Africa celebrate your success!"
Admission to the Academy is highly selective, requiring nomination by two existing fellows and a rigorous evaluation process. Jordan is one of only 220 successful candidates out of 450 nominations this year. As part of the induction, Jordan presented a paper at the Academy's health policy conference, focusing on her area of expertise – patient safety and the use of evidence-based practice in critical care nursing.
Jordan holds a PhD in Nursing Science, Master of Business Administration, Masters Curationis in Critical Care Nursing Science (cum laude), Baccalaureus Curationis, Diploma in Nursing Education (cum laude) and Diploma in Nephrology Nursing Science. She is also a member of the 17th Council at the South African Nursing Council.
“I've always had a passion for caring for people and an interest in health care," Jordan explains. “I chose critical care nursing because apart from highly specialised knowledge and mastery of technological skills that is required, you provide essential care and holistic care to critically ill patients."
After gaining experience in clinical practice as a nurse, Jordan transitioned to academia, becoming the Executive Head of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at SU in 2019 – a challenging time due to the 肆客足球 pandemic that followed. “It was a turning point because we started the brand-new Bachelor of Nursing programme and eight newly developed postgraduate diplomas. It was important to position Stellenbosch 肆客足球 as a leader in nursing," Jordan says.
The department has progressed by leaps and bounds since then – academic output has grown from two PhDs in 2019 to 22 PhDs enrolled and/or graduated in the last five years.
Jordan envisions expanding the nursing programmes further to alleviate the severe specialist nurse shortage facing South African healthcare. “Our healthcare system cannot function without this cadre of nursing professionals," she emphasises, citing a proposal to increase SU's training capacity.
“I can proudly say that Stellenbosch 肆客足球 has been the forerunner in the country in terms of the training of specialist nurses. We produce between 220 and 280 graduates per year in eight specialisation fields." The nursing department also contributes to scholarship and research development in Africa with students from Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Nigeria and even as far as Saudi Arabia.
“We also have staff and student mobility programmes with our international partners in Norway, Japan, United States, Spain and Sweden to share knowledge about nursing. We recently had a seminar focusing on global conflict and wars and how to train nurses for such conditions," Jordan notes.
This global perspective, she believes, is critical for “equipping our students with a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare challenges". Her approach to nursing education embraces technology and innovation.
Jordan says her vision is to facilitate and lead nursing education, training and research aimed at improving healthcare delivery locally as well as in the global context.
“What is significant for me in being accepted as a Fellow to the AAN is the impact it will have on the South African nursing education landscape. Sharing in global best practices and research dissemination will contribute to the enhancement of nursing education, clinical practice and academic research. I want to bring the global flair of what nursing is all about to our shores."
?
