Reconstructing a health system and a profession: Priorities of Iraqi nurses in the Kurdish Region

To evaluate nurses' priorities for health system reconstruction and professional development in Iraq, a survey of 744 Iraqi nurses was conducted, with the research process managed via the Internet. Seven definite priorities emerged along with significant differences in priorities related to years of experience, age, speciality area of nursing practice, gender, level of education, and geographic location of practice. Results indicate that nurses should be included in health system reconstruction processes and that support for the development of the nursing profession should be included in the plan for overall reconstruction.