International Council of Nurses warmly welcomes vote by RCN membership in favour of re-joining ICN

Commenting on the vote by members of the UK Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in favour of re-joining the International Council of Nurses (ICN), ICN CEO Howard Catton said:

“We warmly welcome the news that the RCN’s membership has voted to re-join ICN and we are extremely grateful for the open and transparent conversation we have had with the RCN leadership and its members about the importance of global nursing, in the lead up to the vote. The pandemic has shown that no nation can tackle global health issues alone, and that we must work together to create sustainable health systems for all, where no-one is left behind.

‘We wish to put on record our sincere and heartfelt thanks to those who have taken part in the discussions about the importance of RCN re-joining ICN. UK nurses and the RCN have played an integral role in the development and the history of ICN for more than a century, and I am absolutely certain that this news will be hugely well received by nurses and our associations around the world.

‘We look forward to working with the RCN leadership on the next steps. We will continue to be transparent and member-led, aiming to ensure that nurses’ voices are heard and that they are at the centre of decision-making as we tackle the pandemic and its aftermath, and all the other burning international health issues that can only be solved through global solidarity in action.”