International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®)
now included as a Related Classification in the
WHO Family of International Classifications

Geneva, Switzerland, 26 January 2009 – The International Council of Nurses is pleased to announce that the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®) was approved for inclusion in the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC). ICNP® , a programme of the International Council of Nurses, is a standardized terminology representing nursing practice and unifying nursing globally.

The WHO -FIC (http://www.who.int/classifications/en/) is a suite of classification products that may be used in an integrated fashion to compare health information internationally as well as nationally.  The purpose of the WHO-FIC is to assist the development of reliable health statistical systems at local, national and international levels, with the aim of improving health status and health care (WHO, 2008).

ICNP® (http://www.icn.ch/icnp.htm) brings to the WHO-FIC a unified nursing language that facilitates cross-mapping of local terms and existing terminologies.  As a related classification, ICNP® represents the domain of nursing practice, an essential and complementary part of professional health services, necessary for decision-making and policy development aimed at improving health status and health care.  The ICNP® will extend WHO-FIC to the nursing domain, with the opportunity to improve communication and statistical reporting practices.

Classifications capture snapshot views of population health using such parameters as disease, functionality, disability, and health interventions, which inform management and decision-making processes in the health system. Over time they also provide insight on trends, informing the planning and decision-making processes by health authorities. The multiplicity of possible perspectives on health results in a variety of classifications.

David Benton Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), praised the ICN-WHO collaboration, noting, “ICN is excited about our new partnership with the WHO-FIC.  As a member of the WHO-FIC suite of classifications, ICNP® can be used in an integrated fashion.  ICNP® can contribute to improvements in quality and continuity of health care through shared information to enhance communication and decision making.”

The inclusion of ICNP® as a related classification was determined at the Annual Meeting of the WHO-FIC Network in Manesar Gurgaon, India, October 2008.  Efforts to harmonize ICNP® so as to work together with other family members of the WHO-FIC, are underway.

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Editor’s note

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of 133 national nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.

For further information contact Tel : (+41 22) 908 0100; fax : (+41 22) 908 0101; Web site http://www.icn.ch

ICN/PR09 #03

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