Meeting Welcome and Introductions
Anna-Karin welcomed the participants and announced the opening of the meeting. All the co-chairs gave a brief self introduction. Anna-Karin welcomed the participants and announced the opening of the meeting. All the co-chairs gave a brief self introduction.

Meeting Report – 13^th International Congress – Osaka, Japan
Anna-Karin invited Gabriella Golea, the co-chair of the Nurses’ Shared Interest Group (SIG) at Osaka, Japan to give a brief report on issues that had been discussed in the last meeting on 16 October 2007. Gabriella reiterated the aim of the Nurses' SIG was to provide an international forum for nurses and to offer an opportunity to share perspectives and challenges regarding mental health and aging related issues. Gabriella gave a summary of the issues raised in the Osaka meeting:
     -IPA still perceived as an Association mainly for physicians; concerns raised on how nurses could connect with IPA and how to increase nursing membership in IPA. Issue of discounted IPA membership fee was discussed.
     -Concern for the educational preparation of future Psychogeriatric nurses; are current curriculums across countries addressing needs appropriately?
     -World-wide nursing shortage further impacts on preparation of Psychogeriatric nurses.
     -More nursing research needed related to nursing interventions in old age psychiatry; increase research focus of Nurses' SIG within IPA especially related to psychosocial approaches to patient/resident/client care.

Nurses in IPA
Members raised the issue of whether IPA needed nurses or whether nurses needed IPA? After discussion, members agreed that the needs were mutual. IPA was the only multidisciplinary Psychogeriatric organization; it could provide a platform for exchange of experience, ideas, knowledge, and research among different disciplines. Nurses could use IPA as a base for networking. Nurses could exert more influence on the promotion of quality of Psychogeriatric care and quality of life of clients through IPA.

Increase Nurses Membership in IPA
Members supported the need to increase nurses’ voices in IPA. To achieve this, there was a need to increase the number of nursing members in IPA. Wendy informed members that there were only 43 nurses out of 1100 members in the IPA membership database. Wendy explained that the low number of nurse members might be related to the fact that some nurses might not accurately identify themselves as nurses in the membership application form. Issues raised on the difficulty of getting accurate nursing membership data from the IPA and the need to update the IPA membership list. The following strategies were suggested by members on promoting nurses’ interest and membership in IPA:
     - IPA could have links with international nursing organization, such as the International Council of Nurses.
     - The Nurses' SIG could have one contact person in each country and the contact person could help in bringing new nursing members to IPA. Anna-Karin invited members to leave their names or if they were willing to be the contact person or members could give recommendations.
     - The target for IPA members could be nurse academics, nurse practitioners or Advanced Practice Nurses.
     - Nurses' SIG should have more frequent meetings to move things forward.

New Nursing Column in IPA Bulletin
Wendy raised the issue of making nurses visible. She informed members that the IPA published a newsletter, IPA Bulletin, four times a year which could be accessed through the IPA website. Wendy suggested nurses could have a regular column to share research or experience in the bulletin and it was agreed unanimously. Wendy would be responsible for the coming bulletin in December. She would report some of her studies and also other members’ studies. She also invited members to contribute, for example, share their research in the Bulletin.

Wendy Moyle

Greater Visibility at IPA Congresses and Meetings
Sally raised the issue of making nurses more visible in the IPA congress. Sally proposed that nursing input in the future IPA meetings could be enhanced by more nurses participating in multidisciplinary symposium. Members agreed unanimously. There were some suggestions made by members:
     - Nurses could contribute to multidisciplinary panels such as such as quality of care, quality of life or care of family caregivers. 
     - Lunch symposium could be organized for Nurses' SIG meeting.
     - The IPA could be asked to limit the number of papers that one participant can present at symposia so that presentation opportunities could be available to more people. This may also increase the opportunity for nurses to present in key forums.
     - Strategic planning for symposia in relation to theme of the congress. Nurses could be more proactive in proposing symposia to the congress organizing committee.

IPA Website – Nurses' SIG page
Anna-Karin informed members that there was a Nurses' SIG link in the IPA website and at present there was not much information in that site. It was also found that very few members had accessed this link. Anna-Karin asked members’ opinion on how the site could be improved. The following were suggested:
     - The name of the contact person in each country/area.
     - Articles that have been published in the IPA Bulletin.
     - Members’ e-mail list which is only accessible to members.
     - Members’ brief information such as research interest, or practice areas  to facilitate information sharing and networking.
     - Form discussion group on current issues or research topics.

 Anna-Karin asked participants of the meeting to leave their e-mail address if they would like to be included in the mailing list.

Anna-Karin Edberg

2010 International Meeting – Spain
Wendy reminded members about the coming IPA International Meeting in 26-29 September 2010 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain and encouraged members to think about potential symposia for presentation in the conference. Members who had an interest in preparing for a symposium could contact Sally.

Meeting Adjournment – The chairs concluded by thanking everyone for coming and encouraging everyone to become involved in IPA.