ICN - International Council of Nurses

Operated by nurses and leading nursing internationally, ICN works to ensure quality nursing care for all and sound health policies globally.

What's New

ICN launches the Wellness Tree & second wave of the NCD nursing initiative to lead the fight against noncommunicable diseases. Read more...

May 15 2012: International Family Day. The theme for International Family Day 2012, "Ensuring work family balance", is a key concern for many nurses. Nursing is a profession often chosen for its flexibility and adaptability. However, the downside of this can also be low pay, night shifts, and overtime. ICN believes that nurses must take control of their careers and futures in their quest for self-determination as professionals. Read more...

ICN stresses critical need for evidence-based approach to nursing service. Read more...

65^th World Health Assembly 21–26 May 2012. Through ICN, member nursing associations have a seat at many of the highest policy tables; one of the most important of which is the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of WHO. Read more...

Where is nursing in WHO? Going, Going, Gone! ICN is deeply concerned by the decreasing numbers of nurses at the country, regional and headquarter levels of WHO. The absence of nursing expertise is evident within WHO’s technical and professional positions, and in the composition of its technical advisory bodies and expert committees. Read more…

Triad meeting 18-19 May 2012. The fourth Triad meeting of the International Council of Nurses, the World Health Organization and the International Conferedation of Midwives will be held on 18-19 May 2012. Participants will include government chief nursing and midwifery officers, representatives of national nursing and midwifery associations and regulatory bodies Topics covered will include nurses and midwives contribution to the prevention and control of NCDs; nursing and midwifery educational competencies, curriculum and scopes of practice to effectively address NCDs; and nursing and midwifery engagement in policy setting and health system strengthening.

Focus on an ICN Member

This month ICN highlights a few of the ways in which nurses around the world are celebrating International Nurses Day. Send us your event and we’ll add it to the list!

The Belgian Nurses Association will be holding a Congress on 10 May 2012 on professioanl News and Rules of Good Practice”.

The Danish Nurses Organisation is planning a range of professional features and surprises on 12 May 2012 at the Tivoli Concert Hall with guest speakers Patricia Benner and Marit Kirkevold.

The Emirates Nursing Association will celebrate IND under the partonage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak with Jean Watson of Watson Caring Science Institute USA as the keynote speaker.

The Malaysian Nurses Association is organising an event at the Shah Alam Convention Centre on the IND theme: Closing The Gap: From Evidence To Action"

Members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation are planning regional events to celebrate IND. These include showcases of nursing practice with an open invitation to all nurses in the region, a quiz night or film evening, and a dinner to celebrate nursing featuring a keynote speaker.

The Philippine Nurses Association is inviting everyone to join an IND Fun Run with distances ranging from 3-12 kilometres.

The Royal College of Nursing Australia will link nurses together across this vast country by organising a National Nurses Breakfast. Breakfasts will be held across Australia ranging from casual get-togethers with friends and colleagues to department organised gourmet spreads.

The Swiss Nurses Association is highlighting the parliamentary initiative « Legal recognition of nursing responsibility » through the distribution of postcards and flyers on 12 May 2012. .

Project Highlight

This month at the World Health Assembly, ICN will be working closely with other health professions to ensure that nursing is part of policy making at a global level. As a founding member of the World Health Professions Alliance, ICN will join the world’s dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists and physicians to make interventions on: WHO reform; prevention and treatment of NCDs and substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/counterfeit medical products. WHPA works to improve global health and the quality of patient care and facilitates collaboration among the health professions and major stakeholders. WHPA members have already collaborated on campaigns for non-communicable disease reduction, positive practice envirnoments and the fight against counterfeit medicines.