Bringing the ICN Code of Ethics and Definition to Ukrainian nursing

ICN CEO Howard Catton presented the ICN Code of Ethics and ICN's Definitions of nursing to an audience of 200 Ukrainian nurse leaders and Ministry of Health officials this week, as part of shared efforts to bring these foundational professional documents to Ukrainian nursing policy and practice. The presentation emphasized the importance of shared ethical standards and a strong and unified professional identity in times of conflict and emergency. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and its Centre for Nursing Development, included key speakers Kateryna Komar, Director of the Centre for Nursing Development; Serhii Ubohov, of the Ministry of Health; and several regional nursing leaders. They highlighted the important work underway to adapt and apply these resources and use them to inform the revision and strengthening of Ukraine’s National Nursing Code.

Since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, ICN has continually supported Ukrainian nurses through its #NursesforPeace campaign and Humanitarian Fund, including equipment, supplies, mental health resources, and leadership and education development, including a full-scale Nursing Leadership for Crisis Response and Recovery (NLCRR) programme launched in 2025.

Mr Catton visited Kyiv last year to support the NLCRR programme and engage in high-level discussions with Ukrainian health and nursing leaders and organizations. During these meetings, Ukrainian leaders requested ICN’s support with foundational professional resources, recognizing that nurses working in the most difficult conditions require strong ethical foundations and a recognized professional identity to sustain their work and well-being.

ICN is now working with its Ukrainian partners to finalize translations of the ICN Code of Ethics and Definition of Nursing into Ukrainian and to support their important efforts to embed them in Ukrainian nursing education, professional assessment, and daily practice across the country. This week’s event demonstrated the leadership shown by Ukrainian nurses in adapting the Code and Definitions, and advanced discussions on creating a national professional nursing body that will support their adoption, implementation and future development.

Mr Catton’s speech connected the history and purpose of the Code of Ethics with the reality Ukraine’s nurses face today:

“Many people think the Code of Ethics was developed as a peacetime document, but it was not. It was created in 1953 by nurses who had worked through and witnessed the devastating impact of the Second World War and the direct experiences of nurses working in these deeply challenging circumstances. It is during times like this that the importance of having clear and unambiguous standards for nurses everywhere becomes even more important, standards that require real courage to live and practice by. This is where trust in our profession is rooted and that is why the Code is especially relevant for nurses in Ukraine and for nurses working in conflict and crisis all around the world.”

Mr Catton discussed the four critical domains of the Code, emphasizing its focus on the wider role of nursing in global health and defending social justice and human rights.

In the context of continued attacks on health facilities and workers in Ukraine and other conflicts, Mr Catton emphasized the Code's recognition that nurses have rights as well as responsibilities:

"People have the right to safe healthcare. But nurses have rights as well — the right to safe working conditions and protection under International Humanitarian Law. And when those rights are not upheld, ICN is very clear that there needs to be accountability”.

Mr Catton concluded by reminding the audience of the collective power of a profession united by shared principles and thanking Ukraine’s nurses for their extraordinary courage, dedication, and service to their communities and their country under the most demanding conditions.

"We have thirty million nurses worldwide," he said. "Every single one of us, working in accordance with these principles collectively, represents a massive force for public good. The work nurses do is humanity in action, humanity in motion."

ICN will continue to work closely with Ukrainian partners to provide resources and practical support to strengthen nursing practice, education, and leadership across the country.