QNI becomes member of the International Council of Nurses 

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has become a new member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). 

Commenting on the Institute’s ICN membership Professor John Unsworth, Chair of QNI Council said, “I am delighted that the QNI’s application for membership of the ICN has been successful. The Institute has a proud tradition of working internationally to develop community nursing services and were instrumental in founding the ICN as one of the only formally organised groups of nurses at that time.” 

He added, “The impact of climate change and emerging infections will present a range of future challenges to health systems across the world. We can only ensure that the needs of people and communities are met in the future through strong collaboration with other nursing organisations.” 

Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, the QNI’s Chief Executive commented, “I look forward to the Queen’s Nursing Institute being an active participant in the ICN. Attending sessions of the ICN’s Congress recently has only reinforced the need for nursing organisations to work across borders in order to improve nursing practice and support individual and population health.” 

Dr Oldman added, “Healthcare policy, nursing education, research and workforce challenges are experienced differently in different countries, but the underlying needs and principles are the same, and the solutions will be more effective if we share our collective expertise and collaborate internationally.” 

Howard Catton, ICN Chief Executive responded, “We are delighted to welcome QNI into membership as part of the ICN family. ICN is working closely with all its National Nurses Associations and the World Health Organization to make universal healthcare a reality, and the expertise that QNI will bring, particularly on community nursing, will be a significant contribution. The pandemic has underlined that we are stronger together and we look forward to working with QNI in the future.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors: 

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses’ associations, representing more than 27 million nurses worldwide. Visit their website for more information: https://www.icn.ch/  

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) is based in London, United Kingdom. It awards the title of Queen’s Nurse to nurses who have worked in the community for at least five years and who complete its rigorous assessment process. For more information about the wide range of work the organisation carries out, visit our website: www.qni.org.uk .  

The QNI was founded in 1887 under the guidance of Florence Nightingale and William Rathbone, and funded with support of the Women’s Jubilee Fund, collected for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in that year.  

As one of few formally constituted nursing organisations at that time, the QNI was involved in the early years of the ICN. The first meeting of the proposed ICN took place in London in 1899, attended by Louisa Stephenson, from the Scottish Branch of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Institute for Nurses (later renamed the QNI). QNI Superintendents attended the subsequent meeting (the first ICN Congress) held in 1901 in Buffalo, New York State, USA.