Welcome to the ICN Website

The International Council of Nurses is a federation of over 130 national nurses associations representing the more than 13 million nurses worldwide.

Over the years, ICN’s leaders have understood that if nurses from around the world joined together and worked toward common goals, they could create political and social change.  This continues to be true today.

Nurses are the principal providers of primary health care in most nations of the world and without them the health of communities everywhere would be severely compromised. 

• Nurses can and must work together to address global problems by:
• helping to create a strong, united voice for nursing nationally and internationally;
• developing the leadership skills to make our voice heard; and
• working with governments and other partners to shape healthy policy.

Today, nursing’s voice is needed more than ever. The strength of that voice comes from ICN’s strong international presence and from nurses working together nationally.

I encourage you to learn more about the work we do and the issues of importance to nurses globally by exploring the ICN website.  As the largest health care profession in the world, nurses are key to improving access and equity to quality health care around the world.

David Benton
Chief Executive Officer
International Council of Nurses