Li Zheng

In recent decades, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases(NCDs) and ageing populations have increased dramatically. Emerging infectious diseases threaten health security, urging governments and health professionals to prioritize disease prevention and health promotion. A well-trained, adequately supported, highly motivated healthcare workforce, especially nurses, is vital in reducing healthcare burdens and advancing public health. According to the 2022 World Health Statistics, healthcare worker shortages, particularly among nurses, remain severe globally, especially in developing countries. Investing in nursing jobs, education, and leadership can enhance workforce productivity, health promotion, economic growth, job creation, and growth across sectors.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN), with its member societies, has been committed to advancing the nursing profession, influencing health policy, and improving nursing workforce density and conditions. However, ICN and nurses still face significant challenges. In underfunded healthcare systems, nurses may lack training and professional development, while poorly defined educational outcomes and a shortage of qualified nursing faculty hinder the preparation of clinically competent graduates. Although interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare aims to reduce errors and enhance patient care, few countries provide comprehensive interprofessional education(IPE) to prepare nurses for collaborative, practice-ready roles. Studies examining staffing improvements to reduce nurse workloads and improve patient outcomes are also limited.

Nursing scope and autonomy vary significantly across countries. Limited autonomy often results in poor nursing care, lower job satisfaction, and higher turnover. A united global nursing workforce is essential to enhance nursing care quality, raise nurses’ social standing, and leverage their influence.

In light of these challenges, I propose the next ICN Board focus on the following areas:

Investing in Nursing Education: Improve educational resources distribution and equity so that every nurse has access to quality education. Investing in large-scale accelerated nursing education - including faculty, infrastructure, and student support - is essential to meet global demands and adapt to evolving technologies and integrated social care models.

Addressing Global Ageing: Expand the scope of nursing practice and leverage nurses’ roles in promoting healthy ageing and universal health coverage, utilizing their skills to meet the unique needs of aging populations.

Strengthening Nurse Leadership: Empower nurses to assume leadership roles, influence health policy and decision-making, and improve the effectiveness of health and social care systems.

Expanding and Developing the Workforce: Create at least 6 million new nursing jobs by 2030, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to address anticipated shortages and promote health equity.

Valuing Advanced Practice Nurses: Enhance advanced practice nurses’(APN) educational and regulatory environment to ensure high-quality training and adherence to ethical standards.Encourage advanced practice nurses to use digital health and technological tools like electronic medical records and tele-monitoring to increase care efficiency and quality and expand service coverage for broader populations.

Enhancing Nurses’ Role in Mental Health: Enable primary healthcare nurses to deliver comprehensive mental health services within communities. By collaborating with other health professionals and social workers, nurses can help patients recognize and manage mental health issues early, reducing exacerbations and emergencies and enhancing overall mental health awareness.