At the symposium titled Maintaining Humanity in Times of Social Change and Modern Healthcare organised by the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia and held on 14 May in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, experts and participants discussed the importance of safe, respectful and supportive working environments in healthcare, as well as the responsibility of society and the state to ensure appropriate conditions for the safe and high-quality work of nurses and midwives. Several speakers emphasised that caring for employees in nursing and midwifery is not solely the responsibility of individual institutions, but also a broader societal responsibility, highlighting that the state must ensure nurses and midwives are provided with safe, dignified and supportive working environments.
The symposium opened important reflections on how to preserve humanity within modern healthcare systems at a time when algorithms increasingly shape what we see, measure and value. Speakers stressed that compassion, dignity, empathy, courage and the ability to respond remain deeply human qualities that no technology can replace. Discussions also highlighted the societal underrecognition of care work, particularly the often-invisible work carried out by nurses and midwives, while drawing attention to the growing pressures faced by healthcare professionals, including absenteeism, chronic stress and pain, workplace conflicts, and challenges related to intergenerational collaboration.
Attention was devoted to psychological safety in the workplace and the importance of creating organisational cultures where employees feel safe to speak up, seek support and contribute openly. Speakers underlined that self-care should not be viewed as a luxury, but as a fundamental condition for health, resilience and sustainable healthcare systems. The symposium also addressed experiences with psychosocial support following crisis events and the need for more systematic support mechanisms for nurses and midwives.
A particularly important part of the discussions focused on workplace violence, cultures of fear and silence, and the role of bystanders in recognising violence and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. Speakers stressed that silence is never neutral, as it can perpetuate violence and harmful workplace cultures. Discussions explored the responsibility of individuals and organisations to act when witnessing bullying, while emphasising that effective responses require clear leadership support, established reporting and response procedures, psychosocial support for employees, and zero tolerance towards humiliation and violence. As part of the discussions on creating respectful and safe working environments, the BRAVE-WOW project was presented as one of the important steps towards achieving socially significant changes in the field of violence prevention and the strengthening of psychological safety in nursing and midwifery. The project brings together a wide range of Slovenian partners, from professional associations and educational institutions to healthcare organisations and policymakers, with the shared goal of creating safer, more supportive and respectful working environments for all healthcare workers.