ICN puts wellbeing of nurses at centre of International Nurses Day 2025

ICN announces IND 2025 theme and logo

Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies is the theme selected by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) for International Nurses Day (IND) 2025.

Building on the success of the 2024 IND theme, The Economic Power of Care, which demonstrated how strategic investment in nursing can bring significant economic and societal benefits, the 2025 theme shifts focus to the health and wellbeing of nurses. This theme underscores the critical role a healthy nursing workforce plays in strengthening economies, improving health systems, and ensuring better outcomes for communities worldwide.

Dr Pamela Cipriano, ICN President, explained why the theme was chosen:

“For our 2025 IND theme we are highlighting the importance of supporting the health and wellbeing of nurses, who are vital to the functioning of health systems globally. Nurses face numerous challenges: physical, mental, emotional and ethical, and it is imperative that we address these challenges in a way that promotes their overall health. This theme provides an opportunity to bring actionable solutions to the forefront—solutions that can be implemented immediately to support nurses in their daily work and improve their long-term health. It reinforces the appeal from our Charter for Change calling for all organizations and governments to value, protect, respect and invest in our nurses for a sustainable future for nursing and health care.”

The upcoming IND report, which will be published on 12 May 2025, will focus on tangible, evidence-based solutions to enhance nurses' health and wellbeing, recognizing their crucial role in optimizing both health systems and economies. It will address key concerns such as mental health, physical wellness and workplace safety, offering actionable strategies to support nurses in these critical areas. Additionally, the report will advocate for the creation of safer, more supportive and positive work environments that foster high-performing cultures, ultimately ensuring improved access to and quality of patient care, higher workforce retention, and a stronger, more resilient health system that benefits society as a whole. Addressing the root causes that erode nurses’ wellbeing is essential for a healthy nursing workforce.

"Our goal with IND2025 is not only to highlight the challenges nurses face but also to provide a roadmap for enabling a healthier nursing workforce," Dr. Cipriano emphasized. "By prioritizing the wellbeing of nurses, we are ensuring that they can continue to provide the high-quality care that is critical to the health of our communities."

International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated around the world on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. ICN commemorates this important day each year with the production and distribution of the IND resources and evidence.

The new IND logo is available in English, French and Spanish on the ICN website here. To access past IND resources, click here.