DATELINE: AUGUST, 2026
“Not Me, But Us”: The Collective Power of Nursing Students in Türkiye
By Hakkı Barış Çimen — On behalf of the Board of Directors, Student Nurses Association of Türkiye - ÖHDER
“Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses… we must be learning all of our lives.” Florence Nightingale’s timeless wisdom continues to echo in the hearts of those stepping into the healthcare field today. In Türkiye, this devotion to continuous learning and care is not merely taught within the four walls of a classroom; it is actively practiced in the streets, community centers, and global forums by the next generation of healthcare leaders. The journey from a novice student to a competent public health advocate requires more than just textbooks and clinical rotations it demands active community engagement, relentless advocacy, and above all,  a unified voice.
                This profound realization forms the bedrock of the Student Nurses Association of Türkiye (Öğrenci Hemşireler Derneği - ÖHDER). Established in 2006 in the coastal city of Izmir by pioneering academicians and visionary students, ÖHDER was born from a simple yet powerful need: to empower nursing students early in their careers. What began as a local initiative has systematically transformed into a nationwide powerhouse over the past eighteen years. Today, we proudly stand as the sole official non-governmental organization representing undergraduate nursing students across the nation, encompassing over 15,000 registered members with dedicated representatives in 120 universities. Our entire existence and operational philosophy are summarized in three simple words that make up our motto: “Ben Yok Biz Varız”  — “Not Me, But Us.”
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A warm, family-like moment captured at the ÖHDER Summit, illustrating the strong bonds of solidarity, friendship, and collaboration that drive our nationwide network of members forward.
                            The Roots of Our Mission 
As the Board of Directors, our mission is clear and unwavering. We strive to unite the nursing community through scientific, social, and cultural activities, cultivating future nursing leaders who are deeply aware of their duties, authorities, and societal responsibilities. In a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, young professionals often feel overwhelmed by the transition from academia to the frontlines. We aim to bridge this gap, protecting student rights and supporting them in navigating current developments in the health sector. We firmly believe that standardizing nursing education and fostering a culture of lifelong, peer-to-peer learning is the fundamental key to improving global health outcomes.
Advancing UN SDG #3 — Good Health and Well-Being in Action 
​Health is not a destination — it is a continuous community effort. Our core activities are deeply intertwined with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3 (Good Health and Well-Being). We recognize that true community health requires proactive intervention before patients ever reach a hospital bed. Through our extensive network of university representatives and active commissions, we bring health education and preventive care directly to the public, particularly focusing on vulnerable and underserved populations.
                    Our students do not wait for graduation to make an impact. Across various cities, they independently organize and execute regular health screenings and basic health education sessions for children, teaching them foundational habits that prevent communicable diseases.
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Logo for UN Sustainable Development Goal 3. From Wikimedia Commons.
We conduct nationwide hygiene training programs, transforming abstract health concepts into practical daily routines. Recognizing the vital importance of leaving no one behind, our members frequently organize outreach visits to nursing homes, centers for people with disabilities, and community mental health centers to provide much-needed social support and combat isolation. 
 One of our most touching initiatives occurs during Oncology Awareness Week. Our students visit pediatric oncology wards, organizing special “mask-wearing” events. This simple act transforms a clinical necessity into a powerful symbol of solidarity, bringing smiles to young faces and raising crucial awareness within the broader community.
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A vibrant, crowded hall during the recent "ÖHDER Summit" in Istanbul, showcasing the immense power of youth networking and mass peer-to-peer education among future healthcare professionals.
Furthermore, ÖHDER takes an active, vocal stance on pressing public health issues. Addressing modern health crises requires breaking down deep-rooted stigmas through education. In collaboration with other medical student associations and non-governmental organizations, we recently organized a major HIV-AIDS Awareness Symposium and a comprehensive Diabetes Forum. By extensively training our students on these critical issues, we ensure they are fully prepared to educate the general public and provide stigma-free, evidence-based care in their future careers.
                  To broaden our impact and foster academic growth, we are constantly expanding our scientific and social platforms nationwide. Recently, the vibrant city of İzmir hosted our highly successful "Advanced Perspectives in Nursing 3" (İleri Bakış 3) Symposium, gathering hundreds of students to discuss the future of the profession. Shortly after, Istanbul became the focal point for the comprehensive "ÖHDER Summit," a massive gathering that strengthened our organizational bonds. To further empower our youth network and foster resilience, we are currently organizing the highly anticipated "ÖHDER Youth Camp" in Karaburun, 
İzmir. This unique initiative is designed to run in tandem with our upcoming "Advanced Perspectives in Nursing 4" Symposium in the capital city of Ankara. Through these dynamic national gatherings, we are building a more connected, highly educated and resilient generation of healthcare professionals ready to serve society.
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Logo for UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. From Wikimedia Commons.
Building Capacity: The Intersection of Health and Education — SDG #4.  To achieve global health goals, we must invest heavily in the quality education of healthcare providers, aligning our efforts with UN SDG #4 (Quality Education). ÖHDER serves as a driving force behind the National Nursing Students Congress (UHOK), actively contributing to both its scientific and social programming since 2011. We organize continuous, capacity-building training programs tailored to modern needs. This includes our "Scientific Research School" to boost health literacy, sign language courses to ensure inclusive healthcare communication for the deaf community, and various symposiums focusing on the professionalization and ethical standards of nursing. Through outreach projects like "Sevgi Eli" (Hand of Love) and the publication of our policy reports such as our recent collaborative analysis on the physical and mental health impacts of long working hours on healthcare workers we advocate fiercely for safer, healthier environments for both patients and providers.

Forging Global Partnerships for the Goals — UN SDG #17. We understand that global health challenges from pandemics to health workforce shortages require global partnerships. ÖHDER has actively expanded its reach beyond national borders to integrate Turkish nursing students into the global health dialogue. We are proud and active members of the European Early Career Nurses and Nursing Students' Association (ENSA), serving as the only student organization representing Türkiye in the European region and holding a crucial seat on the ENSA Council.
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Logo for UN Sustainable Development Goal 17. From Wikimedia Commons.
A monumental milestone in our international outreach occurred when ÖHDER was officially accepted into the World Health Organization (WHO) Civil Society Commission. Through this platform, we proudly represent nursing students at high-level events, including the WHO Symposium on Empowering Nursing and Midwifery, and the Health and Care Workforce High-Level European Region Meeting. By participating in these global forums, we ensure that the fresh perspectives and voices of young nurses are heard exactly where international health policies are being shaped.
Upside Down & Forward Again: Looking to the Future 
​Our journey from a small group of passionate individuals in 2006 to today proves that when nursing students unite, they become a formidable, transformative force for public health. The relentless dedication of our 15,000 members fuels our determination to keep pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, and reaching those in need. As the Board of Directors of ÖHDER, we remain steadfast in our vision — guided by science, universal ethics and the unstoppable power of youth, we will continue to advocate for good health and well-being locally, nationally and globally.
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The ÖHDER İzmir team proudly gathered in front of Anıtkabir in Ankara, reflecting our deep respect for the foundational values of modern Türkiye and our unwavering dedication to public service.
About the Author
Hakkı Barış Çimen is a passionate advocate for global health and nursing education, currently serving as the Vice President of the Student Nurses Association (ÖHDER) in Türkiye. As a fourth-year nursing student completing intensive clinical practice rotations at institutions such as the Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital, he has witnessed firsthand the critical intersection of clinical care and community health needs. Representing a dynamic Board of Directors and a nationwide network of over 15,000 nursing students, Hakkı Barış is dedicated to empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals.
His leadership journey is driven by a profound commitment to public health initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Beyond his administrative and clinical duties, he serves as a translation editor for Hemşireussapiensmagazine, blending his passion for nursing science with his keen interest in publication layout, graphic design, and accessible peer-to-peer education. His work extensively involves coordinating national symposiums, structuring community health outreach programs, and representing Turkish nursing students on global platforms, including formal engagements with the WHO Civil Society Commission and the European Early Career Nurses and Nursing Students' Association (ENSA). He has also recently contributed to organizational outreach with various international entities to foster bilateral partnerships. Hakkı Barış firmly believes that early professional organization, youth leadership, and innovative communication are essential catalysts for achieving global health equity.

For more Turkish content on this website, see:
• Turkish Sub-titled version of the NIGH-WHO music video ’Hemşireler ve Ebeler! Şimdi Her Zamankinden Çok Daha Önemliler!” >>>
• Downloadable Turkish language version of the Nightingale Declaration for A Healthy World >>>
​• Turkish participation in NIGH's 2023-2024 Nurses’ Voices Speaker Series Session — Nurses’ Voices from Europe >>>
• Turkish participation in NIGH's 2024-2025 Student Nurses’ Speaker Series Session — Student Nurses Voice from Southern Europe >>>