The global voice of nursing

icn.homepage.header.badge.alt

ICN around the world
(130+ members)

30° S 30° N 0° 60° S 60° N 30° S 0° 60° S 120° W 60° W 0° 60° E 90° E 30° W 30° E 90° W 150° W 180° 30° W 120° E 150° E

32 members

Representing the 8.4 millions of nurses

PAHO

30 members

Representing the 0.9 millions of nurses

AFRO

37 members

Representing the 7.3 millions of nurses

EURO

12 members

Representing the 1.1 millions of nurses

EMRO

8 members

Representing the 3.3 millions of nurses

SEARO

17 members

Representing the 6.9 millions of nurses

WPRO

Recommended publication

Guidelines on mental health nursing
Guidelines

Professional practice

Download the publication

ICN Congress 2023

The ICN Congress 2023 was held in person from 1-5 July 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal, Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). The theme of Congress 2023 was "Nurses Together: A Force for Global Health".

Closing ceremony - Congress 2023

Our fundamentals

Nursing definitions

Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings.

Position statements

As a federation of more than 130 national nursing associations and the voice of millions of nurses worldwide, ICN uses its position statements to address a variety of areas related to health, well-being and nursing professional advancement.

Global Health

ICN influences and informs the design and implementation of health, social, educational and economic policies at a global and regional level to promote health for all.

Educational Modules

Welcome to the ICN E-learning training and educational platform supporting nursing students and nurses worldwide.

Go to modules

Our actions

Projects

Caring with Courage

Produced for ICN by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, the films and articles in Caring with Courage reveal the power of care and dedication in the inspiring work of nurses.

Global Nursing Leadership Institute™ (GNLI)

The innovative and acclaimed Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI)™ is a strategic policy leadership programme focused on strengthening your political and policy understanding and influence.

Organizational Development of National Nursing Associations (ODENNA)

ODENNA is an International Council of Nurses (ICN) Project designed as a next-level assessment, leadership and mentorship programme for national nursing associations wanting to increase their influence, sustainability and advocacy to meet ever-escalating demands.

Campaigns

International Nurses Day

IND is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. ICN commemorates this important day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses' Day (IND) resources and evidence.

Universal Health Coverage

As the largest heath profession in the world, nurses are critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage. UHC is an overarching topic that is addressed in many ICN projects and policy initiatives.

#NursesforPeace

ICN stands in solidarity with nurses across the globe. We are immensely proud of their courage and strength to continue to provide much needed care despite the dangers. To show our solidarity with these nurses, ICN has launched #NursesforPeace campaign to call for peace, condemn attacks on healthcare, and support nurses on the frontlines.

Our partners

BD

BD Foundation

Becton, Dickinson and Company, also known as BD, is an American medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems, and reagents.

More
J&J Foundation logo

Johnson & Johnson Foundation

Johnson & Johnson Foundation is a registered charitable organization that reflects the commitment of Johnson & Johnson to support innovative partnerships and investments focused on closing the gap between communities and the care they need. 

More
history cover book

The history of ICN

"The Global Voice of Nursing: A history of the International Council of Nurses from 1899 to 2022" is now available, purchase it here!

Read more