We are pleased to announce that ODENNA LatAm has progressed to its next phase, with the application period now closed and submissions under evaluation. A total of 13 National Nursing Associations across the region applied to join the programme and we greatly appreciate the strong interest demonstrated and thank all applicants for their valuable time and dedication. 

The selected associations will be announced in due course. ICN remains committed to fostering leadership and organizational development through the ODENNA initiative. 

The Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI) is proud to announce the selection of its 2026 cohort. For this intake, 35 nurse leaders representing 29 countries have been chosen to participate in the programme, underscoring its ongoing global significance, appeal and impact. The cohort will be officially welcomed at a virtual opening ceremony scheduled for 18 June 2026. 

The programme continues to benefit from the valued support and generous contributions of the Burdett Trust for Nursing, GNLI’s official sponsor. 

For further information, please contact [email protected]. 

ICN's global network of ICNP Research and Development Centres now comprises 17 centres, following the formal accreditation of the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, United States.  

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this centre is one of two ICN-accredited centres in the country and specialises in leveraging artificial intelligence to extract and analyse ICNP terminology from electronic health record data. The resulting multisite evidence demonstrates the connection between nursing interventions, patient outcomes, and costs, thereby making the contributions of nursing to healthcare measurable, visible, and actionable worldwide.    

The Centre joins the Swedish ICN-Accredited Centre, which was accredited at the 2025 ICN Congress, marking one of two recent additions to the network within the past year.   

Meet the 17th Centre

CSW70 

Throughout the 2026 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) week, ICN actively hosted and contributed to high‑level discussions on women’s health, workplace safety, climate–health leadership, and global standards for the health workforce. 

The ICN President participated in the Parallel Event “Violence in the Workplace: A Gendered Crisis in Nursing and Women in the Workplace”, co‑hosted with our partners Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and SONSIEL: Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs & Leaders. Read about the session here. 

José Luis also took part in the NGO CSW70 Parallel Event hosted by our partners TruMerit (CGFNS) and SONSIEL, further supporting this vital and evolving global dialogue on gender equality and justice. Read more about our interventions here! 

Statement of Solidarity with Nurses and Health Workers in the Middle East 

On 5 March, we issued a statement of solidarity, supporting nurses and health workers in the middle east. We have been in contact with many National Nursing Associations across the region in recent weeks to offer support and hear directly from nurses about the challenges they are facing as the situation evolves. As part of our #NursesforPeace initiative, ICN is also launching a global photo action inviting nurses and nursing associations around the world to demonstrate our solidarity with colleagues affected by the crisis. Read our full statement here.  

ICN convenes nursing leaders across the Middle East as conflict deepens 

We also convened national nursing associations from across the Middle East and Gulf region as nurses continue to work under mounting pressure caused by escalating conflict, displacement and disruption to health services. In a meeting held to hear directly from nursing leaders in the region, participants described the fear and uncertainty facing both nurses and the communities they serve, while also underlining nurses’ continued commitment to caring for patients, sustaining services and supporting one another. ICN Board Member for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr Myrna Abi Abdallah Doumit, said the discussion reflected both the gravity of the situation and the strength of nurses across the region. Read our full story on the meeting here.  

Global nursing leaders issue urgent call for investment and action following International Workforce Forum in Japan 

Nursing leaders from eight countries have issued a strong call for urgent, sustained investment in the global nursing workforce following the International Workforce Forum (IWFF), held in Yokohama, Japan on 3-4 February 2026. 

Co-hosted by ICN and the Japanese Nursing Association, the Forum brought together national nursing leaders to confront a growing global workforce crisis that threatens access to care and progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Read more about the call for investment here.  

CNAI 80th anniversary 

On 1–3 March 2026, the ICN President and CEO were invited to participate in the 80th anniversary celebrations of the National Council of Nursing Associations of Italy (CNAI). They addressed attendees at both the opening and closing ceremonies, sharing key insights and providing an update on ICN’s global priorities and areas of influence. 

New report from the UK All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)                

On 18 March, ICN CEO Howard attended the launch of the new report from the UK All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Health and Security which highlights the financial benefits high‑income countries gain from recruiting overseas and the serious harms caused by unethical recruitment from fragile health systems. 

He also served as a panelist at a technical roundtable on health worker migration partnerships and “proportionate co‑investment”, co‑hosted by NHSE’s WHO Collaborating Centre, the WHO, Global Health Partnerships, and the Center for Global Development, an opportunity to reflect on the report’s findings and implications. 

International Women’s Day 

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we called for renewed commitment to women’s rights and concrete action to advance gender equality and improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls around the world. Women make up around 85% of the global nursing workforce, and nurses witness every day how gender inequality affects the health of women, families and communities. Despite progress in recent decades, women continue to experience disparities in access to education, economic opportunities, leadership roles and health services. Read our full article here.  

2nd Africa Nurses and Midwives Confederation (ANMC) Conference

At the beginning of March, José Luis travelled to Zambia for the 2nd Africa Nurses and Midwives Confederation (ANMC) Conference, where he delivered an address alongside leaders including the Zambian Minister of Health, Cornelius Mweetwa. ICN’s presence was further strengthened by the participation of its 3rd Vice-President and ANMC Treasurer, Ms Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo. During the conference, Dr Cobos met with representatives from numerous African NNAs to discuss their priorities, challenges, and future needs, while sharing ICN’s strategic direction and reaffirming its commitment to supporting nurses throughout Africa.  

In addition, the President had the opportunity to visit several hospitals and a nursing school in Zimbabwe due to the collaboration of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association. 

College of Nursing Hong Kong 

The ICN President also sent a video message on the occasion of the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the College of Nursing Hong Kong held on 21 March under the 2026 IND theme "Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives." 

ICN welcomes Kazakhstan as newest member 

We are pleased to announce that the Republican Public Association of Nursing Specialists of Kazakhstan - PARYZ - has joined ICN as its newest member. PARYZ brings together nursing professionals across Kazakhstan and is dedicated to advancing the status, competencies and leadership of the nursing workforce. The association represents the interests of nurses before governmental bodies, contributes to national health legislation and regulation, and provides support in cases of professional conflict or legal disputes. Read our full announcement here! 

All-Ireland Advancing Nursing Care Festival 

On 25 March, Howard took part in the All-Ireland Advancing Nursing Care Festival in Ireland, supported by the INMO, where he contributed to discussions on the future of health and care services and participated in the Safe Staffing Levels Debate alongside other leading nursing experts. 

ICN welcomes two new Specialist Affiliates 

We continue to grow in response to the challenges facing health systems across the globe and are pleased to welcome two new organizations to its network of Specialist Affiliates: The International Home Care Nurses Organization (IHCNO) and the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN). 

ICN’s Specialist Affiliate programme brings together international nursing organizations representing key areas of practice, education, research, and policy. The continued expansion of this network reflects the strong commitment of nursing organizations around the world to collaborate, strengthen the profession, and support improved health systems and patient care globally. Read about our Special Affiliates here! 

Strengthening Data Systems and Evidence for Protecting Healthcare and the Right to Health and Healthcare in Conflict 

On 25 March, ICN senior policy advisor, Hoi Shan Fokeladeh, attended a workshop on Strengthening Data Systems and Evidence for Protecting Healthcare and the Right to Health and Healthcare in Conflict organised by the collaboration between the Researching the Impact of A8acks on Healthcare (RIAH) Consortium, the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The meeting focused on strengthening data systems and evidence essential for protecting health care and the right to health in conflict situations.  

Antimicrobial Resistance Learning Programme at the WHO 

On 26-27 March, ICN senior policy advisor, Hoi Shan Fokeladeh, attended WHO Global consultation meeting 2026 on Antimicrobial Resistance Learning Programme at the WHO Academy in Lyon, France.  This consultation brought together key stakeholders to define the priorities, architecture and implementation roadmap for a multi-year learning programme to support health workers and health systems in strengthening infection management and responding to AMR. The consultation aims to move from evidence to a phased, implementable AMR learning programme. 

39th meeting of the Policy and Coordination Committee of the human reproduction programme (HRP) 

Professor Anne-Sylvie Ramelet, an ICN Advisory Expert for PMNCH, participated as an observer for the International Council of Nurses in the 39th meeting of the Policy and Coordination Committee of the HRP. The 2025 review highlights solid progress in advancing HRP’s work on sexual and reproductive health and rights. For health care professionals, this means improved access to evidence-based guidance through platforms like MAGICapp, supporting timely clinical decisions.  

Looking ahead to 2026–2027, HRP will deliver new research and guidelines on key areas including antenatal care, congenital syphilis prevention, transgender health, and intimate partner violence.  

UK report reflects ICN warnings on international recruitment ripoff  

We warmly welcomed a new report from the UK All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Health and Security that recognizes the huge sums saved by high-income countries who recruit abroad and acknowledges the severe harms caused by unethical recruitment from fragile source countries left without nurses. The report reflects key evidence submitted by ICN to the APPG inquiry, including firsthand testimony from countries losing their nurses. Read our full response to the report here! 

NP/APN 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! 

For information about becoming a sponsor or an exhibitor, follow this link!