ICN continues BBC StoryWorks Caring with Courage film collaboration as part of its mission to shift public perceptions of nursing

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is continuing its mission to improve the public’s knowledge and perceptions of the profession in the media through its collaboration with BBC StoryWorks Commercials Productions, which has released a second compelling series of its Caring with Courage films about nursing.

In a plenary session at ICN Congress 2025 in Helsinki, Finland, delegates also heard from film maker Carolyn Jones, whose film The American Nurse, explored some of the most important issues facing the US, including ageing, war, poverty and prisons, through the work and lives of nurses.

ICN chief Executive Officer Howard Catton, who moderated the session, echoed ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano’s call to move nursing from’ invisible to invaluable.’

Mr Catton spoke about the importance of using the Caring with Courage and other media to enhance the public’s knowledge and understanding of the incredible contribution that nurses make to the well-being of people, and the communities and societies they live in.

Mr Catton said: “The most powerful way to change how we think about things is the power of emotion. Once you change the way that somebody thinks, once you move their heart, it's easier to move their heads. These films are not just about us feeling good about nursing, not just to show the reality of day-to-day nursing, but as a part of our power to change how people think and feel about nurses, so that they support the profession even more strongly.”

Alexandra Cockburn, Executive Producer at BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, said communicating gaps in health care is difficult, but showing these stories brings the nurses’ innovative work to life.

“Often the most memorable moments in our films are not the scripted parts - they are the parts when we just let the camera role, sit with the nurse, and have a cup of tea: that’s where the magical moments happen, when they really tell us how they feel deep inside. Because if the audience engages with them emotionally, they are much more likely to understand the innovation.”

The short BBC StoryWorks films have been incredibly successful online, reaching 24 million people in the first month since their publication, 4 million of whom engaged with the films by ‘liking’ or commenting on them.

Finnish nurse and paramedic Iiro Nahkamäki paramedic supervisor, who has a large social media following and featured in one of the StoryWorks films, said it is important for nurses to engage with social media because most nursing is hidden from view, and therefore, largely misunderstood.

“Usually nursing happens behind the scenes. Now we make these films and we are able to showcase and highlight the things we do at work and how we do them. Working with BBC StoryWorks has been a great pleasure because it made me renew my thoughts about why I am a nurse, my inspiration and appreciation of us as a profession.”

Film maker Carolyn Jones said that her experience of working with nurses for many years, showed her that nurses “represent the best of who we can be.”

“I have travelled all over the world, and I've had a chance to meet people from all walks of life, but I promise you, I have never encountered a group of people, or a profession, that actually has the capability to foster in us the qualities to make us better human beings. But that's extraordinary - that's what you do.”

Ms Jones’s advice to nurses is to use the media to: “stand taller and be louder, and use your voices more. And when people like us call you and ask you to be part of our projects, please don't just sit down and say, "Oh, there's probably somebody else that you should talk to.”

Mr Catton ended the session by introducing a music video of the song Zombie by the English singer-songwriter Yungblud, which depicts the struggles that nurses face every day and the effects they can have on nurses’ well-being.