International Council of Nurses facts for kids
_logo.png){kind=logo} |
|
| Founded | 1899 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Location |
|
|
Members
|
135 |
|
Key people
|
Dr. Jose Luis Cobos Serrano, President & Howard Catton, CEO |
| Website | www.icn.ch |
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is like a big club for nurses' groups from over 130 countries. It started in 1899. It was the very first international group for people working in healthcare. Its main office is in Geneva, Switzerland.
The ICN helps nurses' groups work together globally. It also tries to make nursing a respected job everywhere. And it helps shape health rules around the world. Only one nursing group from each country can join. Usually, this is the main national nurses' association. Examples include the American Nurses Association. In 2001, ICN allowed members to team up with other local nursing groups. But not many have done this.
Contents
The ICN Story: How it Started
The idea for the ICN came up in 1899. Ethel Bedford Fenwick suggested it at a meeting of the International Council of Women. The goal was to connect nursing groups from different countries. This would help improve nurse training and professional rules for everyone's benefit.
Early Days and First Steps
A group of nurses from several countries formed a committee. These countries included Great Britain, the United States, and Canada. In 1900, they chose their first leaders. Mrs. Bedford Fenwick from Great Britain became the president.
In 1901, the ICN decided that nurses should be officially registered. This meant nurses would need to meet certain standards. The first big meeting of the ICN happened in 1904 in Berlin. By then, nursing groups from Great Britain, the United States, and Germany had joined.
Important Meetings and Leaders
Over the years, the ICN held many conferences. These meetings brought nurses from around the world together. They discussed important topics in nursing. For example, conferences were held in London in 1937 and Rome in 1957.
Daisy Bridges was a very important leader for the ICN. She was the General Secretary until 1961. Later, she wrote a book about the ICN's history. It covered the first 65 years of the organization.
How the ICN is Run
The ICN is managed by a group called the Council of National Representatives (CNR). This council is the main decision-making body. It sets the rules, accepts new members, and chooses the board of directors. As of 2013, there were 135 National Representatives. Each member country chooses its own representative. The CNR meets every two years.
The Board of Directors
When the CNR is not meeting, a 16-member board of directors runs the ICN. This board includes the ICN president and 13 directors. These directors are chosen from seven different regions around the world. Directors can serve up to two four-year terms. The board usually meets three or four times a year.
The ICN Officers
The ICN has four main officers. These include the president and three vice presidents. These officers act as a small executive team for the board. They also handle the budget and finances. The CNR elects the president. The president serves one four-year term. The vice presidents are chosen from the board members. The person with the most votes becomes the First Vice President.
A chief executive officer (CEO) manages the daily work of the ICN. The CEO works closely with the ICN President. Frances Hughes is one notable former CEO.
What the ICN Does
The ICN holds a big meeting called a Congress every two years. This happens at the same time as the CNR meeting. The Congress offers many workshops for nurses. It also has speaking events and large group sessions.
Other Conferences and Special Days
The ICN also hosts other conferences when needed. Recent topics have included rules for the nursing profession. They also cover issues like nurses' well-being and leadership.
The ICN sponsors International Nurses' Day every year on May 12. This date is special because it is Florence Nightingale's birthday.
The International Nursing Review
The official journal of the ICN is called the International Nursing Review (INR). This is a respected science journal. It is read in about 135 countries. It has been published since 1953.
Dr. Sue Turale is the Editor in Chief of the journal. The INR is a major voice for the ICN. It publishes articles about nursing policy and health policy. It comes out four times a year online and in print. It is also translated into Spanish and Chinese. In 2016, the INR was added to the Nursing Journal Hall of Fame.
Presidents of ICN
Country represented in brackets.
- 1899 - 1904 Ethel Bedford Fenwick (UK)
- 1904 - 1909 Susan McGahey (Australia)
- 1909 - 1912 Agnes Karll (Germany)
- 1912 - 1915 Annie Warburton Goodrich (USA)
- 1915 - 1922 Henny Tscherning (Denmark)
- 1922 - 1925 Sophie Mannerheim (Finland)
- 1925 - 1929 Nina Gage (China)
- 1929 - 1933 Leonie Chaptal (France)
- 1933 - 1937 Alicia Still (UK)
- 1937 - 1947 Effie J. Taylor (USA)
- 1947 - 1953 Gerda Höjer (Sweden)
- 1953 - 1957 Marie Bihet (Belgium)
- 1957 - 1961 Agnes Ohlson (USA)
- 1961 - 1965 Alice Clamageran (France)
- 1965 - 1969 Alice Girard (Canada)
- 1969 - 1973 Margarethe Kruse (Denmark)
- 1973 - 1977 Dorothy Cornelius (USA)
- 1977 - 1981 Olive Anstey (Australia)
- 1981 - 1985 Eunice Muringo Kiereini (Kenya)
- 1985 - 1989 Nelly Garzón Alarcón (Colombia)
- 1989 - 1993 Mo-Im Kim (South Korea)
- 1993 - 1997 Margretta Styles (USA)
- 1997 - 2001 Kirsten Stallknecht (Denmark)
- 2001 - 2005 Christine Hancock (UK)
- 2005 - 2009 Hiroko Minami (Japan)
- 2009 - 2013 Rosemary Bryant (Australia)
- 2013 - 2017 Judith Shamian (Canada)
- 2017 - 2021 Annette Kennedy (Ireland)
- 2021 - 2025 Pamela Cipriano (USA)
- 2025 - 2029 Jose Luis Cobos Serrano (Spain)
See also
In Spanish: Consejo Internacional de Enfermeras para niños
- List of nursing organizations
