ICN Congress 2027 - Call for Abstracts & webinar 

We invite nurses, researchers, educators, students, and leaders worldwide to submit abstracts. This is a unique opportunity to share your work and contribute to advancing nursing practice worldwide. We are holding a webinar on How to Submit a Successful Abstract on 23 June 2026 at 13:30 – 14:30 CEST. You can register here. For more information on the abstract submission, please visit our congress webpage!

We look forward to convening once again in one of Asia’s most innovative and dynamic centres of health and technology. Join us in Taipei for the ICN Congress 2027! 

NAPN Conference Nashville 

Join thousands of advanced practice nurses representing more than 140 nations in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, September 14 – 17, 2026, for a stimulating 4-day international exchange of ideas and strategies in advanced practice nursing at the 14th ICN NP/APN Network Conference. Read more here! 

International Nurses Day 2026 

On International Nurses Day 2026, ICN brought a clear and urgent global message to governments, health leaders and the wider public: empowered nurses save lives. Through its flagship 2026 IND report, Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives, ICN made a compelling evidence-based case that structural empowerment of nursing is essential to stronger, safer and more equitable health systems. The report introduces a new model of seven core nursing powers, demonstrating the full, multidimensional impact of nurses on health, resilience, equity, and economies. Watch our video on the seven core nursing powers. 

To mark IND 2026, ICN held three global webinars presenting the report and its central messages to more than 1,000 nurses, journalists and researchers worldwide, placing nursing power at the centre of international health and policy discussions. You can rewatch the webinars on our IND webpage.  

To celebrate IND2026, the ICN President delivered interventions across a series of events. 

These included a contribution to a joint event organized by SATSE, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI), the Confederation’s Health Expert Committee, and the S&D Group in the European Parliament. 

He also served as a panelist in PAHO’s IND event, participating in the session Nursing workforce planning: pathways toward resilient health systems with a presentation titled Our Nurses, Our Future. 

Additional IND messages were shared with several national associations and institutions, including greetings for the Guatemalan Association of Professional Nurses (AGEP), the Morelos State College of Nursing (Mexico), and a written message for the souvenir programme of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) summer conference. 

On 13 May, he addressed the 3rd International Nursing Conference organized by the University of Évora in Portugal, and on 20 May he delivered a short intervention at the National Nursing Congress hosted by Fundación Universitaria Sanitas (Unisanitas) and Grupo Keralty in Colombia. 

Howard also participated in a series of events around IND, including the Singapore Nurses Association Leadership webinar, the Macedonian Nurses Association and the East Timor Nurses Association IND events, the Pan-African Network for Emergency, Critical and Operative Care (PAN-ECO) IND webinar and the Projust Project IND event in Bangladesh. 

He also delivered a keynote address on the ICN perspective for the Nurse Migration Panel at the 9th International & 20th National Nursing Congress, held on 15 May and co‑hosted by the Turkish Nurses Association. 
He also provided a recorded message for the Nurses Week event held at Ondokuz Mayıs University in Türkiye. 

IND 2026: EMRO E-Journal 

As part of International Nurses Day 2026, ICN also supported the publication of a special EMRO e-journal celebrating the extraordinary contribution of nurses across the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Created by National Nurses Associations from the region, with ICN’s support, the journal provided a platform to amplify and connect the voices of nurses who continue to deliver lifesaving care in exceptionally challenging circumstances, including in situations of conflict, crisis, recovery and rebuilding. The e-journal is a powerful tribute to their resilience, leadership and commitment and reflects ICN’s wider #NursesforPeace work and message that nurses are essential peacemakers as well as health makers, essential to health system response and recovery and community trust and stability. Read the e-journal here! 

79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) 

At the WHA79, ICN ensured that nursing’s voice was heard at the highest level of global health decision-making at a time of profound challenge, including Ebola outbreaks, conflict, funding cuts, workforce shortages and the restructuring of WHO. Across the week, ICN brought a clear and consistent message: empowered nurses save lives, and no global health priority, from emergency preparedness and primary health care to mental health, digital health and the economics of health for all, can be delivered without sustained investment in a structurally empowered nursing workforce. ICN’s in-person delegation was led by President José Luis Cobos Serrano, First Vice President Sineva Ribeiro and CEO Howard Catton, and included Senior Policy Advisors Erica Burton and Hoi Shan Fokeladeh, Alliance of Student and Early Career Nurses Chair Josephine Agyei, and Communications Advisor Gillian Moore, supported by a virtual delegation of more than 150 nurse leaders worldwide. 

Across WHA79, ICN delivered formal interventions on mental health, communicable diseases and immunization, universal health coverage, the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, and health emergencies, while also contributing to constituency statements on the economics of health for all, health in the 2030 Agenda, digital health and AI, and reform of the global health architecture. ICN hosted and co-hosted major side events, participated in over 50 meetings and bilateral engagements, and met with Member States, ministers, WHO leaders and global partners to advance nursing priorities. WHA79 delivered outcomes closely linked to ICN’s advocacy, including the first update in 16 years to the WHO Global Code, a landmark strategy on the Economics of Health for All, and important resolutions on emergency care and digital health. In advance of WHA79, ICN published a detailed briefing document that publicized our evidence-based messaging and strategic priorities ahead of the Assembly, supporting informed engagement throughout the WHA79 week and  strengthening our advocacy impact.   

Read the full WHA write up here, as well as our press release here. Our statements around the WHA79 are also available on our website here, along with our key messages document here.  

ICN input to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

ICN submitted detailed input to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for its report on the human rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations. ICN made amplified nurses’ voices and experiences with firsthand testimony from nursing leaders in conflict-affected countries, ICN highlighted the devastating and disproportionate impact of attacks on health care on the largely female nursing workforce and on the women and children they serve. The submission showed how violence against health services and health personnel strips communities of essential care, deepens vulnerability and compounds the harms experienced by women and children in conflict and recovery settings. ICN called for stronger enforcement of international humanitarian law, full accountability for violations, recognition of nurses as frontline defenders of human rights, and the meaningful inclusion of nursing voices in protection, reparation, recovery and rebuilding processes. Read ICN's input on the OHCHR webpage here 

ICN letter to WHO Member States on the Global Code and ethical international recruitment 
Ahead of WHA79, ICN wrote to WHO Member States to urge stronger action on ethical international recruitment and to call for a strengthened WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. The letter warned that rapidly increasing inequitable nurse migration and recruitment is worsening workforce shortages and weakening health systems in countries that can least afford to lose their nurses, while many destination countries are benefitting from major training cost savings without proportionate reinvestment. During WHA79, ICN reinforced these messages through formal statements and advocacy, as well as during a Ministerial Dialogue on health worker mobility, hosted at ICN Headquarters and convened by Global Health Partnerships together with the Philippines and representatives from the Global South. Read the full letter here.  

SHCC report 

Following publication of the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition’s annual report, ICN, as a member of SHCC who contributed to the report’s content and its endorsement, condemned the continued normalization of attacks on health care and warned that violence and impunity are escalating at an intolerable scale, with the report documenting 2,546 horrific attacks on health care across 33 countries and territories in 2025, including 455 health workers tragically killed, 218 kidnapped, 263 arrested or detained, and 790 incidents of damage or destruction of health facilities. As a founding member of SHCC, ICN contributed to the report and used its publication to renew calls for full accountability, enforcement of international humanitarian law, and urgent protection for nurses and other health workers. Read the full press release here.  

Vatican WASH Event 

On 23 April, ICN President brought the voice of the world’s nurses to the Vatican, addressing a high-level NGO event focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities. ICN’s participation in the event signals a clear commitment to elevating the role of nurses in the global WASH agenda. Taking place alongside broader discussions engaging faith-based and international partners, the meeting highlighted the urgent need to ensure that all health facilities are equipped with the basic conditions required to deliver care safely. Read about the full interventions here! 

Skoll World Forum 

Howard Catton attended the Skoll World Forum in Oxford from 22–24 April, engaging with numerous NGOs and health-sector funders participating in the event. He also connected with nurses leading sustainability and climate‑action initiatives, underscoring the influence of nursing in global discussions on education, gender equity, crisis response, and innovation. 

World Health Worker Week 

From 1-7 April, World Health Worker Week emphasizes a clear and urgent message: investing specifically in health professionals means stronger health systems, healthier populations, and more resilient economies. Investing in health professionals is not a cost—it is one of the highest-return and most critical public investments governments can make. At a time when some narratives risk grouping all health workers together in ways that obscure these critical differences, the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) is using this week to make a bold and unified statement: the unique value of health professionals must be recognized, protected, and strengthened. Learn more about WHPA and World Health Worker Week here! 

World Health Day 2026 

On 7 April, ICN celebrated World Health Day 2026, supporting the World Health Organization’s theme, “Together for health. Stand with science”., and the launch of a year-long campaign highlighting the importance of scientific collaboration and the One Health approach. 

We thank and celebrate nurses and all health workers worldwide who provide the science-based care that saves and changes lives, often under extremely challenging conditions. Their expertise, commitment and leadership are essential to the health and wellbeing of populations everywhere. Read more about World Health Day here! 

Nurses on front lines of Ebola outbreak  

In response to the escalating Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, ICN issued an urgent warning that nurses and other frontline health workers are being placed at grave risk and left fearful for their safety due to a lack of the protective equipment, screening supplies and support needed to work safely. ICN raised alarm over reports from nurses on the ground describing shortages of PPE, testing and screening materials, and continuing workforce pressures, and warned that the world risks repeating the deadly failures seen during COVID-19 if frontline responders are not properly protected. Read our full story here.  

ICN Calls for Worldwide #NursesforPeace Action 

We issued a renewed global call for nurses, National Nursing Associations, and the entire ICN community to stand together for peace by joining and amplifying the #NursesforPeace initiative. 

ICN has already received a strong and inspiring response, with many nurses and organizations from around the world sharing photos in solidarity. ICN warmly thanks all those who have taken part so far. This growing wave of support is making a difference, and now ICN is calling for even more nurses to join in to amplify the message and create a truly global impact. Learn more about our work on #NursesforPeace here! 

Palestinian International Nursing and Midwifery Conference 

On 6 May, the ICN President and CEO were invited to speak at the first Palestinian International Nursing and Midwifery Conference, a historic milestone for the nursing profession in Palestine. Their messages conveyed strong global solidarity with Palestinian nurses and underscored the importance of empowering the profession worldwide. 

College of Nursing of Costa Rica Congress 

The ICN President also addressed the 29th National Congress and 13th International Congress of Nursing 2026 of the College of Nursing of Costa Rica, delivering a keynote on the strategic influence of nursing in contemporary global contexts. ICN Board member for Central and South America, Dr Nora Barahona de Peñate, also participated in the conference. During his visit, Dr Cobos met with key public institutions and held discussions with private hospitals and universities, praising Costa Rica’s leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing the profession. He was also honoured as the first distinguished guest received by the newly appointed Minister of Health, Dr Alexander Sánchez Cabo. 

BD Event on IND

On 7 May, Howard and Jody Temple White participated in an event hosted by BD, ICN partner on the ODENNA project, held at BD’s Winnersh office to mark IND. 

The programme followed a reception at the Florence Nightingale Museum on 6 May and included a visit to the BD Safety and Innovation Hub and a panel discussion with ICN. Howard took this opportunity to underscore the importance of nurses developing transferable skills that enable them to work across diverse settings, including hospitals, clinics, agencies, and industry roles. 

ICN warmly welcomes Cofen back to the global nursing family 

We are pleased to welcome the Federal Nursing Council of Brazil (Cofen) back into membership, marking a positive moment of renewed collaboration for nursing in Brazil and across the world. 

Cofen’s return brings one of the largest nursing communities globally back into the ICN family, strengthening the collective voice of nurses at a critical time for health systems everywhere. It also reinforces the growing influence of nursing leadership across Latin America and enhances ICN’s global reach and engagement. Read our full story here! 

One Health Summit 

On 9 April, Howard met with Dr Michele Rumsey, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centres, and her team while they were in Lyon for the One Health Summit organised by WHO. He has also remained in close contact with WHO leaders on several ongoing issues and has kept the ICN Board informed by sharing updates on recent developments within the organisation. 

Student & Early Career Nurses Alliance 

Josephine Agyei, ICN SECN Alliance Chair, attended the ECOSOC Youth Forum April 14-16 in New York City. The forum aims to strengthen youth participation in policy development and intergovernmental processes and showcase youth-led innovations and solutions advancing the SDGs. Josephine represented the perspectives of SECNs in high-level discussions and interactive dialogues with Member States, UN representatives, and youth leaders, contributing to conversations on workforce development, emphasizing the need to invest in SECNs as key drivers of health system transformation. 

Embedding the New ICN Definitions in Global Regulation 

On 21 April, ICN hosted a webinar on the new definitions of Nursing and the Nurse. This webinar brought together nearly 1,000 participants from across the globe to explore the new ICN Definitions of Nursing and their implications for regulation. The session highlighted how a clear, shared definition provides a foundation for aligning education, practice, and regulatory systems. Read about the webinar and watch it on our website! 

Protecting nurses in conflict and emergencies 

ICN released a web story documenting recent advocacy to protect nurses and health workers in conflict, confront the normalization of attacks on health care, and promote the profession’s essential role in peacebuilding. Through formal advocacy, public statements, high-level meetings and ongoing humanitarian support, ICN continues to call for an immediate end to attacks on health care, full accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, and stronger protection and support for nurses working in the most dangerous settings. Read the full story here. 

Swiss Nursing Congress

On 27 May, Howard Catton addressed the Swiss Nursing Congress in Bern on “The role of nurses in peacebuilding”, bringing a powerful message about the ethical, humanitarian and human rights role of nursing in times of conflict and crisis. He emphasized that peace is not only the absence of war, but the active protection of rights, justice, and human dignity. He also warned that the growing number of attacks, kidnappings and detentions of health workers reflects a dangerous violation of nursing neutrality and international humanitarian law, and that a decade after UN Security Council Resolution 2286, the world is still failing to protect health personnel and health care in conflict.  

Bringing the ICN Code of Ethics and Definition to Ukrainian nursing 

As well as the Definitions webinar, 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, 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. Read the full story here!  

ICN Podcast Episode 2 – Definitions of Nursing 

The second episode of the ICN Podcast is now available! In this episode, ICN CEO Howard Catton is joined by Adjunct Professor Alison McMillan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Australian Government and Dr Michelle Gunn, Head of Nursing Practice and Regulations at ICN, for an in-depth discussion on the new Definitions. Together, they unpack why definitions matter, how they shape policy, education, workforce planning, and public understanding. Listen on YouTube or on Spotify!  

CEFIEC Congress 

On 20 May, ICN President delivered a keynote speech at the Congress of the French Association of Nursing Educators (CEFIEC), focusing on the contribution of initial nursing education to achieving the strategic guidelines defined for nursing by ICN and WHO. 

He was invited to participate in the 12th Canary Islands Nursing Congress and the 14th Nursing Innovation Conference, where he delivered a powerful keynote outlining a clear and inspiring vision for the future of nursing in Spain and globally. 

He also attended the virtual International Forum hosted by COFEN on Leadership and Nursing: Challenges for a Technical, Ethical and Political Practice. He shared greetings on behalf of ICN for the Opening Ceremonies of the RNAO Annual General Meeting. 

Georgian NNA National Framework Proposal – “International Nurses & Midwives Week 2026: Georgia National Professional Development Platform”

The N(N)LE Union of Nurses – Georgia has launched a nationwide, multi‑regional professional development platform implemented across four regions of Georgia. This initiative brings together nursing and midwifery education, clinical practice, health policy dialogue, regional healthcare experiences, and international collaboration. ICN is pleased to share and endorse this framework as part of the global #IND2026 campaign.

Official Launch of the “National Nursing Plan 2026–2031: Building the Future of Nursing in Guatemala”

Guatemala marked a major milestone with the official launch of its National Nursing Plan, developed collaboratively by all nursing sectors in the country with the support and guidance of PAHO. Dr. Nora Barahona, ICN Board Member for Central and South America, was invited to participate in the event, where the nursing community expressed its appreciation for ICN’s support and engagement. The Acting Minister of Health was also in attendance, underscoring the national significance of this achievement.

ODENNATM LatAm Cohort 2 Launching  

Momentum is growing for ODENNATM LatAm, with eight National Nursing Associations selected for Cohort 2. The teams, mentors and facilitators will be introduced at a special online event on 1 July. Participants will learn more about ODENNA, hear about the teams’ planned work, and gain insight into how the programme strengthens nursing leadership and organizational development. Invitations will be shared soon. 

The ODENNA programme has introduced several important enhancements, including the launch of the new ICN Digital Assessment Portal. Integrated within the ODENNA curriculum, the Organizational Assessment tool enables teams to systematically identify opportunities for growth and development, while the Leadership Assessment tool assists participants in gaining insight into their leadership capabilities and provides guidance for further improvement. It is also beginning a collaboration with the Project Management Institute through its Project Managers Without Borders initiative.  

Please contact [email protected] to learn more. 

June is a busy month for the Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI), with three live sessions scheduled. On 15th June, two sessions will feature the final presentations of the GNLI 2025 regional projects, showcasing work by scholars from all six WHO regions. ICN will then officially welcome the GNLI 2026 cohort at the programme’s opening ceremony on 16 June.  

The GNLI Alumni Annual Meeting will be held online on 14 July 2026. Invitations and meeting details will be shared this week.  

Please contact [email protected] to learn more. 

On 15 May, ICN Director of Nursing Policy and Practice David Stewart presented at a symposium on ICNP's use, development, and future directions, hosted by the Italian ICNP Research and Development Centre at the University of Milano-Bicocca. His address connected ICN's SNOMED CT partnership to EU Regulation 2025/327, the European Health Data Space, which mandates SNOMED CT as the required clinical standard across all EU member states. Centres working with the SNOMED CT-based ICNP reference set are already aligned with this regulatory direction. ICN is deepening how it works with accredited centres and the broader ICNP community as this work enters its next phase.  

Humanitarian work 

Humanitarian programmes supported by ICN continue to strengthen frontline care across several countries. In Madagascar, emergency food and hygiene kits were delivered to nurses affected by Cyclone Gezani, helping sustain health services during recovery. In South Sudan, pediatric insulin training at Al‑Sabah Children’s Hospital is improving diabetes care and preparing the facility to join Direct Relief’s Diabetes programme. The National Association of Nurses of Mozambique (ANEMO) advanced steps to receive donated medical equipment for underserved communities, while Mauritania strengthened coordination with health authorities to support supplies and emergency response. In Somaliland, maternal and child health kits were distributed to rural facilities, improving care for mothers and newborns.