International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Subject: Leadership and Management (Theory)

Overview

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a union of more than 130 national nurses associations (NNAs) representing more than 16 million nurses worldwide. ICN was founded in 1899 and is the world's first and largest international association for health professionals. ICN is an international organization run by nurses and leading nurses that works to ensure quality nursing care for all, sound health policies around the world, the advancement of nursing knowledge, and the presence of a respected nursing profession and a competent and satisfied nursing workforce around the world. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) originally adopted an international code of ethics for nurses in 1953. It has been changed and confirmed several times since then, most recently in 2012 with this study and revision.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of over 130 national nurse organizations (NNAs) that represent over 16 million nurses worldwide. ICN was founded in 1899 and is the world's first and largest international association for health professionals. ICN, which is run by nurses and leading nurses around the world, works to ensure quality nursing care for all, sound health policies around the world, the advancement of nursing knowledge, and the presence of a respected nursing profession and a competent and satisfied nursing workforce around the world.

The necessity of strong links with national, regional, and worldwide nursing and non-nursing organizations is reinforced by the ICN's ever-expanding networks and connections to people. Building excellent international partnerships benefit ICN, nurses, and nursing now and in the future. Our collaboration with the United Nations system's specialized organizations, particularly the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the World Bank, is critical for nurses worldwide. Furthermore, we collaborate closely with a number of foreign non-governmental organizations.

Goals of ICN

  • To represent nursing around the world by advancing the profession and influencing health policy.

The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) was the first to develop an international code of ethics for nurses in 1953. It has been changed and confirmed several times since then, with the most recent review and revision conducted in 2012.

Preamble

Nurses have four primary responsibilities: to promote health, prevent sickness, recover health, and alleviate suffering. Nursing is in high demand worldwide. Respect for human rights, especially cultural rights, the right to life and choice, dignity, and to be treated with respect, is inherent in nursing. Nursing care is unaffected by age, color, creed, culture, handicap or sickness, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, politics, race, or social status. Nurses provide health care to individuals, families, and communities, as well as coordinate services with other groups.

Elements of the Code

  1. Nurses and People:
    The primary professional obligation of a nurse is to those who require nursing care. In delivering care, the nurse fosters an environment in which the individual's, family's, and community's human rights, values, customs, and spiritual beliefs are honored. The nurse ensures that the individual receives accurate, sufficient, and timely information in a culturally acceptable manner in order to agree to care and related treatment. The nurse keeps personal information confidential and utilizes discretion while providing it. The nurse shares societal responsibility for initiating and supporting action to satisfy the public's health and social needs, particularly those of vulnerable populations. In resource distribution, access to health care, and other social and economic services, the nurse campaigns for fairness and social justice. Professional qualities such as respect, responsiveness, compassion, trustworthiness, and integrity are demonstrated by the nurse.
     
  2. Nurses and Practice:
    The nurse is personally responsible and accountable for nursing practice, as well as for retaining competence via continuous learning. The nurse maintains a level of personal health that does not jeopardize her ability to deliver care. When accepting and allocating responsibilities, the nurse applies her professional judgment regarding individual capability. The nurse always maintains personal standards of behavior that reflect well on the profession and increase its image and public confidence. In providing care, the nurse ensures that the use of technology and scientific advances is compatible with people's safety, dignity, and rights. The nurse works hard to create and maintain a practice culture that encourages ethical behavior and open communication.
     
  3. Nurses and the Profession:
    The nurse has a key role in establishing and executing accepted clinical nursing practice, management, research, and education standards. The nurse is actively involved in the development of a foundation of research-based professional knowledge that supports evidence-based practice. The nurse is involved in the development and maintenance of a core set of professional values. Through the professional organization, the nurse contributes to the creation of a pleasant practice environment and the maintenance of safe, equitable social and economic working conditions in nursing. The nurse practices environmental sustainability and protection and is aware of the implications for health. The nurse helps to create an ethical workplace climate by challenging unethical practices and circumstances.
     
  4. Nurses and Co-workers:
    The nurse maintains a collaborative and courteous relationship with nursing and other coworkers. When the health of a coworker or another person is jeopardized, the nurse takes necessary action to protect individuals, families, and communities. The nurse takes appropriate steps to assist and guide coworkers in advancing ethical behavior.

References
Things to remember
  • The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of over 130 national nurse organizations (NNAs) that represent over 16 million nurses worldwide.
    ICN, founded in 1899, is the world's first and largest international organization for health professionals.
  • ICN, which is run by nurses and leading nurses around the world, works to ensure quality nursing care for all, sound health policies around the world, the advancement of nursing knowledge, and the presence of a respected nursing profession and a competent and satisfied nursing workforce around the world.
  • The International Council of Nurses (ICN) was the first to develop an international code of ethics for nurses in 1953.
  • It has been changed and confirmed several times since then, with the most recent review and revision conducted in 2012.
Questions and Answers

In order to represent the more than 16 million nurses globally, the International Council of Nursing (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations (NNAs). ICN, the first and largest international organization for healthcare professionals, was established in 1899. ICN, which is run by nurses and prominent nurses from around the world, aims to guarantee high-quality nursing care for all, sound global health policies, the advancement of nursing knowledge, and the presence of a respected nursing profession and a skilled and contented nursing workforce everywhere.

Elements of The Code

  • Nurses and People
    • The persons who need nursing care are the nurse's main focus of care. When delivering care, the nurse works to foster a culture in which the individual's human rights, values, customs, and spiritual beliefs are respected. The nurse makes sure the patient is given accurate, sufficient, and timely information in a culturally acceptable manner so that they may make an informed decision about receiving care and other treatments. Personal information is held in strict trust by the nurse, who exercises discretion when disclosing it. The nurse is jointly responsible with society for launching and promoting initiatives to address the public's health and social needs, particularly those of disadvantaged groups. In terms of resource allocation, access to healthcare, and other social and economic services, the nurse fights for equality and social justice. The nurse exemplifies professional virtues including decency, attentiveness, compassion, reliability, and honesty.
  • Nurses and Practice
    • The nurse is personally responsible and answerable for nursing practice as well as for upholding competence through ongoing education. The nurse keeps their personal health up to par so that their capacity to offer care is not jeopardized. When accepting and assigning responsibility, the nurse exercises judgment regarding each patient's level of competence. The nurse always upholds moral standards that are positive for the industry and improve the public's perception of and trust in the nursing profession. When providing care, the nurse makes ensuring that technological and scientific advancements respect people's rights to safety and dignity. The nurse works to create and uphold a practice culture that encourages moral behavior and open communication.
  • Nurses and The Profession
    • The primary responsibility for establishing and upholding accepted standards for clinical nursing practice, management, research, and education rests with the nurse. The nurse actively contributes to building a foundation of professional knowledge based on research that underpins evidence-based practice. The nurse takes an active role in creating and upholding a foundation of professional principles. Through the professional organization, the nurse takes part in fostering a supportive work environment and upholding secure, fair social and financial working conditions for nurses. The nurse is conscious of the effects that the environment has on health and works to preserve and safeguard it. The nurse supports an ethical workplace culture and opposes unethical situations and activities.
  • Nurses and Co-Workers
    • The nurse maintains cooperative and respectful working relationships with colleagues in the nursing industry and other professions. When a coworker or any other person endangers the health of an individual, a family, or a community, the nurse takes the necessary precautions to protect everyone involved. The nurse takes the necessary steps to assist and mentor coworkers in advancing moral behavior.

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