Definition of Nursing project
Culminating in 2025, ICN embarked on a project to review and update its definition of nursing to better align with contemporary practice and the diverse needs of the global nursing community. Recognizing the challenges in crafting a unifying definition, the project developed separate definitions for 'nursing' and 'a nurse' and included a final document explaining the process, rationale, and reasoning behind the definitions. Led by a dedicated project team and supported by an expert committee with representatives from all ICN regions, the project also involved input from various stakeholder groups. Extensive consultations guided the development process. The new definitions were ratified at the ICN Council of Nursing Representatives (CNR) meeting in Helsinki in June 2025.
Photo credit: ©Nick Danziger
The need for a renewed definition was highlighted at the ICN Congress in Montreal, where it was suggested that the current definition neither aligns with contemporary practice nor represents nursing in many countries.
Acknowledging the significance of these definitions, their development will require extensive consultation and input from many perspectives.
The Project team is primarily responsible for the delivery of the project, ensuring both that the work stays on track, and key stakeholders are actively engaged and involved.