WHO Director General joins ICN in welcoming new Global Nursing Leadership Institute scholars to Geneva

The 2024/25 cohort of ICN’s flagship Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI) met in person in Geneva last week, for the week of their year-long transformational leadership programme.

On completion of the GNLI programme next summer, this cohort’s scholars will have greater knowledge and broader skills to help them influence government policies, work better with stakeholders outside the nursing profession and have increased skills in strategic communication with political messages aimed at politicians, decision-makers and the general public.

The 31 scholars from 28 countries were joined by World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who praised the longstanding partnership and decades of collaboration between WHO and ICN.

Dr Tedros restated WHO’s commitment to lifelong leadership development for nurses and midwives through advanced education, mentorship and management training. ICN Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton spoke at the closing ceremony of the event, which was attended by dignitaries from 14 missions, including 10 ambassadors.

Mr Catton said that by prioritizing high-level leadership development ICN is helping to build the resilient and adaptable global nursing workforce that is needed to meet future health challenges.

“The significance of strong nursing leadership cannot be overstated, especially as we navigate through unprecedented health crises and strive to meet the evolving needs of populations. By participating in policy-making processes, nursing leaders ensure that the voices of nurses are heard and that their contributions are recognized at all levels of the health system.”

Programme Director for the GNLI Dr Diana Mason said: “The GNLI 2024 cohort of Scholars are magnificent leaders in their countries and regions. The intensive week in Geneva, including a day at the World Health Organization, has provided them with the tools to be global leaders in advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. They are ready, willing, and able to participate in decision-making to ensure that the health of people is a major consideration in all policies, not just those focused on nursing and health care. They are a precious resource for their nations and the world.”

Speaking by video link from the United States, ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano highlighted the important relationships ICN has with and the contributions it makes to WHO and the United Nations, including her co-chairing UHC2030, ICN’s contributions to talks at the Summit of the Future, and on pandemic preparedness and antimicrobial resistance, at the very highest level.

She spoke about Universal Health Coverage and the importance of nurses convincing governments to honour their commitment to invest in primary health care as the way forward.

Dr Cipriano told the scholars: “Advocacy is really number one. Every country, as part of the United Nations, has committed to this, so you should think about finding out what the commitments are, what are the areas that are ahead of schedule or really behind with in your own countries. And then create the opportunity to meet with decision makers, educate them about nursing, talk with them about the investments, not only in nursing, but in health and primary health care, and making sure [they know about] the difference between an investment and just looking at the negotiation around costs. Tell them your stories and why it's important to you as you look at the communities you serve.”

Another speaker at this year’s GNLI was Professor Dame Christine Beasley, who is a former United Kingdom Chief Nursing Officer and a Trustee of the Burdett Trust, which supports the GNLI.

Dame Christine spoke on the topic of leading during a crisis and preparing for the next one. She said important lessons to learn include: • In a crisis it is important that you also concentrate on your business as usual.

• Be somebody who scans the horizon as you go forward as a leader.
• Listen and care for your team.
• Try to be as prepared as you can be - assessing what you know and what you don’t know is critically important.
• Help your team not to panic, give yourself and your team thinking time.
• Nurse leaders need a compelling overarching story, and to have someone who can tell the story so that your people know what they are meant to be doing.
• As a crisis fades, make sure that your team is taken care of.

The Burdett Trust targets its grants at projects that are nurse-led and that empower nurses to make significant improvements to the patient care environment. ICN is extremely grateful to the Burdett Trust for its continuing support of the GNLI programme.

To find out more about the GNLI click here