ICN unveils ‘new way to think about nursing’ on International Nurses Day
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has marked International Nurses Day 2026 (12 May) with the release of a report highlighting the nursing workforce’s potential to drive health and economic resilience on a global scale – provided that gaps in recruitment and investment are urgently addressed.
The report, Empowered Nurses Save Lives, introduces a new framework to understand the full contribution of nursing through seven ‘core powers’ (see box).
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It also sets out the world’s biggest health challenges, including an ageing population, growing mental health needs, declining immunisation, lack of access to universal health coverage and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for 71% of global deaths.
Addressing these challenges is a worldwide nursing workforce of 29.8 million. However, according to the report, this represents a shortage of 5.8 million, and 56-63% of national nursing associations have reported an increased gap between workforce demands and supply since 2021.
In addition, the ICN argues that nurses continue to be undervalued and underprotected.
The report cites McKinsey research that found $1.1 trillion could be added to the global economy by addressing health workforce gaps, and that every $1 invested in health brings $2-4 returns – and even more for preventative health interventions.
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The ICN calls for multi-level action to structurally empower nurses, including investment in workforce planning, working conditions, safety, compensation, education, and resourced nurse leadership and decision-making.
Seven powers of nursing
The report also highlights seven powers of nursing that, according to the ICN, can transform the view of the profession from ‘monochrome to multicolour’. Those listed are:
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- The power of trust – the report highlights that nurses are consistently voted the public’s most trusted profession, resulting in better health outcomes and improved care experiences.
- The power of the professional – according to the report, every 10% increase in bachelor’s-degree-prepared nurses in hospitals reduces patient deaths by 7%.
- The power of numbers – with a global workforce of nearly 30 million, nursing represents the world’s largest health profession, but filling the shortage of 5.8 million could save 189 million years of life lost to early death and disability, the ICN states.
- The power of practice – according to the report, up to 77% of preventative care and 47% of chronic care could be provided by nurses and other non-physician roles.
- The power of care – scaling up primary health care could save 60 million lives by 2030 in low- and middle-income countries, the report states, while investing in NCD prevention and management would save more than 12 million lives globally.
- The power of proximity – the ICN highlights that nursing proximity prevents care-related harm, which costs the world economy $606bn each year.
- The power of peace – nurses’ care in conflict settings protects global health security by identifying and treating infectious diseases, with 80% of major epidemics occurring in fragile or conflict-affected countries.
According to Howard Catton, chief executive of the ICN, the report conveys ‘a new way to think about the nursing profession’.
He said: ‘We have identified what we believe are seven very distinct powers of the nursing profession and what we want to try and do is move from a unilateral and monochrome view of the profession to see it in full, glorious technicolour, to recognise the full range of powers that nurses have.’
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