The peak global body for nursing organisations has renewed the definitions of ‘nurse’ and ‘nursing’, for the first time in 23 years, marking a shift away from a professional identity based on tasks to one conceived as a sophisticated profession requiring scientific knowledge, ethical standards, and therapeutic relationships.
The new definitions were unanimously approved at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Council of National Nursing Association Representatives, held this week at the ICN 2025 Congress in Helsinki, Finland, where 7,000 nurses have gathered from more than 130 countries, including Australia.
The ICN’s new definition of ‘a nurse’ represents a shift in the professional identity, from one focused on education completion and regulation to a greater emphasis on scientific knowledge, ethical standards, and therapeutic relationships. The new definition also understands the nurse to play a role in shaping policy, and having comprehensive roles in innovation, disaster response, and population health – an evolution from the specific task-based role of the last definition.
The new definition of ‘nursing’ encompasses the commitment of the profession to uphold everyone’s right to enjoy the highest standard of health, rather than as a function of just individual patient responses.
Acting ACN CEO, Dr Zach Byfield, said the new definitions provide welcome support to nurses to be emboldened in their ability to not just contribute to individual patient health, but to lead in terms of policy development and innovation.
“For too long, nurses’ voices have been under-represented in policy discussions. This needs to change – and these definitions reflect that.”
The definitions, which can be found here, were formulated in a year-long process, led by Australian nursing leader, Professor Jill White FACN, with input from nursing organisations around the world, including the Australian College of Nursing and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF).
“ACN congratulates Professor White and her team on an incredible piece of work, which should prompt nurses, health professionals and health policymakers to pause and consider the deep breadth of wisdom and experience of our profession,” Dr Byfield said.
You can access the ICN document here.
