About INGID
The International Nursing Group for Immunodeficiencies (INGID) was formed in 1994 by nurses who were working with children and adults diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency disorders.
INGID is run by members, for members. It is managed by a Board of experienced nurses in immunology who are volunteers and who are elected at the INGID conference that is held every 2 years in a different country. The General Meeting, open to all members and held during each Conference is the forum where major decisions are made by the members.
The Board of INGID consists of a:
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Communications Director
- Website Manager
In addition there is usually an affiliated Board member from the country where the next INGID conference will be held.
Aims of INGID
The aims of INGID are to improve and extend the quality of nursing care of patients with primary immune deficiencies, and to increase the awareness and understanding of primary immunodeficiencies amongst nurses.
This is being achieved by:
- Forming international networks of nurses working with patients who have immune deficiencies in order to share knowledge, experience, information, and research.
- Creating a base within the specialty for international collaboration between nurses in research/quality assurance projects.
- Working closely with ESID (the European Society for Immunodeficiencies), IPOPI (the International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies), EFIS (the European Federation of Immunology Societies), and with others who have an interest in primary immunodeficiency disorders.
- Organising biennial INGID meetings. These are held at the same time and in the same place as the ESID and IPOPI meetings.
What has INGID meant to us?
- A place to exchange experiences with nurses from other countries
- Get new knowledge and new ideas considering the treatment and the observation of patients with PID
- Relevant lessons and education
- Useful professional discussions
- Social benefit, meeting old and new friends
- INGID gave us the idea to establish a Norwegian group of nurses working in immunology
- Heidi Sandersen, (Pediatric nurse), still working at our unit, participated at the first INGID board
Kathleen Halvorsen RN, Oslo, Norway