Redefining Nursing: ICN Unveils New Global Standards at 2025 Congress
- enaeditor
- Jun 9
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 30
Themed “Nursing Power to Change the World”
At the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress held in Helsinki, Finland, from 9 to 13 June 2025 — directly following the meeting of the Council of National Nursing Representatives (CNR) — ICN officially introduced updated definitions of both “nursing” and “nurse.”
This significant announcement marked the formal conclusion of a two-year global initiative known as the Definition of Nursing Project. The effort involved a broad and inclusive consultation process, drawing on feedback from national nursing associations, education and regulatory experts, ICN networks such as the GNLI alumni and the NP/APN Network, as well as stakeholders outside the nursing profession.
The revised definitions — available in both concise and extended formats — aim to reflect the contemporary realities of nursing practice and the profession's evolving role in health systems worldwide. Developed using a structured methodology, including the modified Delphi approach and international surveys, the definitions emphasize the complexity, autonomy, and holistic nature of modern nursing care.
Their release at the Helsinki Congress, themed “Nursing Power to Change the World,” underscores a broader commitment to recognizing nurses’ critical contributions to global health and advancing the profession through clarity and shared understanding.
(Sources: ICN Definition of Nursing Project, ICN Congress 2025)
