Student nurses gather in Singapore at International Council of Nurses’ Congress

Singapore, Geneva, Switzerland, 26 June 2019 – More than 340 nursing students from around the world met today at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Student Nursing Assembly to discuss the future of nursing and how nursing students and novice nurses can influence it.

Howard Catton, ICN Chief Executive officer, said:

‘Students are the future of our profession. That’s why we must both support and listen to them and why they are such an important group within the ICN family.’

The Student Assembly is a unique opportunity for nursing students from around the world to discuss priorities that students themselves have identified. Key topics included social media and mental health, transition to practice, and early career leadership.

ICN is currently developing its student engagement framework and preliminary plans for this were presented to participants by ICN Student intern Julian Vadell Martinez.

In the afternoon roundtable session, the students took the opportunity to work through the priority issues in small groups, exchanging experiences, learning from one another, and working on a strategy to enable nursing students to effectively contribute to these issues. There was a lively discussion about how to best engage students at the global level.

ICN Senior Nursing and Health Policy Analyst Erica Burton said:

‘Nursing students and young nurses represent the new generation of healthcare professionals who have an extensive role in promoting health and wellbeing globally, strengthening health systems including achieving universal health coverage, and increasing the impact of the nursing profession.’

‘As the global voice of nursing, ICN must lead the way in supporting and enhancing the student and youth voice and influence and in the development of future leaders in policy and practice – the Student Assembly does just that.’

The Assembly closed with a Singapore Workout, a Thai dance performance and a pledge from the students “to promote health, prevent illness, restore health and alleviate suffering” and to “strive to achieve the highest standards of practice, management, research and education.”

The outcomes of the Student Assembly will be presented to the ICN’s governing body, the Council of National Nursing Association Representatives (CNR) on 27 June. The ICN Student Nursing Assembly is part of the ICN biennial Congress which will be held 27 June to 1 July in Singapore.

Note for Editors

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses’ associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses and leading nursing internationally, ICN works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.

For further information please contact

Gyorgy Madarasz, Press Officer, International Council of Nurses, Tel: +41 22 908 01 16

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