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Global nurse leaders gather in Japan to address urgent workforce crisis
Nursing leaders from Japan and around the world are gathering in Yokohama this week for two major nursing events that are advancing the global conversation on how countries can protect, retain and invest in their nursing workforce as pressures mount across health systems worldwide. The International Workforce Forum (IWFF) on 3–4 February, co-hosted by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and Japanese Nursing Association (JNA), brings together national nurses’ associations from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom to discuss common challenges facing health systems across continents — including workforce shortages, unsafe workloads, inflexible shift patterns, low pay, and rising levels of violence and harassment — and to identify solutions. It is followed by the Japan Nursing Summit on 5 February, an international meeting focused on work-style reform, workforce sustainability and the future of nursing in an era of rapid demographic changes and growing health demands.
4 February 2026
ICN’s advocacy at WHO Executive Board: Investing in the nursing and health workforce for economic security
As the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board (EB) meetings (2–7 February) get underway, the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), of which the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a member, has written to the WHO calling for health workforce investment to be placed at the heart of the draft WHO Strategy on the Economics of Health for All (2026–2030).
2 February 2026
ICN Statement on the Death of American ICU Nurse Alex Pretti
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is deeply saddened by the death of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse in Minneapolis, United States. Nurses around the world are expressing grief, solidarity, and profound concern as details of this tragic incident continue to emerge.
26 January 2026
ICN President raises concerns with Spain’s Minister of Health and WHO Representative: global nurse shortages, unethical recruitment, and attacks on health care
The President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), Dr. José Luis Cobos Serrano, met in Madrid with Spain’s Minister of Health and European representative on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), Mónica García. During the meeting, they addressed the major challenges threatening the sector: the severe shortage of nurses, inequalities in international recruitment processes, and the rise in attacks against health services, especially in conflict zones.
22 January 2026
ICN expresses solidarity with Venezuelan nurses and calls for protection of rights in crises
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has been in direct contact with the Venezuelan Nursing Association (Federación de Colegios de Profesionales de Enfermería de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela/Federation of Nursing Professionals of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) in response to recent political developments and the ongoing crisis affecting the country.
9 January 2026
ICN President José Luis Cobos Serrano shares end-of-year greetings
We send our warmest wishes for a peaceful holiday season and a healthy, hopeful and fulfilling start to 2026.
17 December 2025
Honouring the life and work of Professor Nick Hardiker
It is with profound sorrow that the International Council of Nurses (ICN) announces the passing of Professor Nick Hardiker, RN, PhD, Director of ICN’s International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) Programme, a pioneering figure in global nursing informatics, and a true friend to many at ICN.
17 December 2025
ICN Monthly Update October & November 2025
Welcome to the October & November 2025 ICN Monthly Update!
16 December 2025
The legacy of Fadwa Affara, RGN, MA, MSc, MEd
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) was greatly saddened to learn of the recent passing of Fadwa Ahmed Affara, who died peacefully in Edinburgh last week.
5 December 2025
ICN brings strong nursing voice with WHO Climate Report recognition to a challenging COP30
As the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), 10–21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, fell short on delivering essential climate and health protections, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) made the nursing voice heard loud and clear and rallied for change. ICN’s Americas-based Policy Analyst Dr Gill Adynski attended and advocated for the central role of nursing in climate action alongside a strong cohort of global nurse leaders.
28 November 2025
ICN supports American Nurses Association in warning against limiting graduate nursing education funding
The Board of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), meeting this week in Geneva, expressed its deep concern around proposals from the U.S. Department of Education to remove nursing from the list of recognised professional degrees eligible for full federal loan support.
27 November 2025
Bridging Global Health Agendas: NCDs, AMR, and Interprofessional Collaboration
WHPA’s latest interprofessional webinar tackled the often overlooked connections between NCDs and AMR.
26 November 2025