Monika Ažman was elected to the National Council as a representative of healthcare.
In the National Council, she is:
- member of the Interest Group of Non-Commercial Fields,
- vice-president of the Commission for Social Care, Labour, Health and the Disabled,
- member of the Commission for Local Self-Government and Regional Development.
About the member of the National Council
In 1989, Monika Ažman graduated from the College for Health Workers in Ljubljana with a degree in healthcare and passed the professional certification for the profession of a registered nurse. In the 1993/1994 academic year, she underwent training for educational work in secondary education and obtained a pedagogic-andragogic education. In 1995, she obtained the title of mentor in the field of education. She obtained the professional qualification of a university-educated nurse from the Faculty of Health Science in Ljubljana. In 2005, she began her cooperation with the Faculty of Health Science in Ljubljana as an associate professional in the field of healthcare. She also underwent training “Mediator in healthcare” under the aegis of the Association of Health Institutions of Slovenia (2011) and training for internal auditors of the quality management system “Bureaus Veritas” (2015). Since March 2016, she has been the President of the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia – the Federation of Professional Associations of Nurses, Midwives and Healthcare Technicians of Slovenia. During the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 and 2021, she became the voice of all nurses, midwives, and healthcare technicians in Slovenia.
She started her professional path as a trainee in the central intensive therapy unit of Jesenice Hospital (1988-1989) and continued as a registered nurse at the haemodialysis department. From 1993 until 2001, she was a lecturer of professional-theoretical subjects and practice for the health programme of Jesenice High School. She had a special relationship with young future healthcare workers, which strengthened her professional identity. She participated in the preparation of expert subject matter for secondary schools and colleges for healthcare. In 2001, she returned to Jesenice Hospital as a nurse responsible for surgical intensive care. From 2004 until 2008, she was the head nurse for specialist outpatient activities and the emergency room. From 2008 until 2016, she continued her professional path as an executive director of the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia – the Federation of Professional Associations of Nurses, Midwives and Healthcare Technicians of Slovenia. After leading the professional organisation for four years, her professional colleagues again elected her as president in September 2020.
She cooperates intensively with all professional segments, regional professional associations, and working groups under the aegis of professional organisations, especially with the anti-violence working group which she initiated and co-founded.
Her leadership of the professional organisation, which includes more than 16,000 volunteer members, involves the organisation of professional congresses and symposiums and participation in the preparation of expert subject matter, protocols, standards, and other important documents, all with the purpose of developing two important professional fields of healthcare. Monika Ažman is also a member of the managing bodies of various health institutions, a member of the managing board of the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN), a representative of Slovene nurses and midwives in international organisations, a lecturer at expert events at home and abroad, a member of the directive and working groups operating within the framework of the Ministry of Health, and a congress ambassador of Slovenia for 2019. Her expert bibliography includes approximately 50 items. Additionally, she is a member of the Municipal Council for the Municipality of Radovljica for a third term (2022 – 2026). Due to her work, she was awarded the Golden Sign by the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia – the Federation of Professional Associations of Nurses, Midwives and Healthcare Technicians of Slovenia.