In a remarkable national-level collaboration, over 190 countries came together to provide data for the first-ever State of the World’s Nursing report. Released on World Health Day (April 7), the report was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the International Council of Nurses and the global Nursing Now campaign, along with the support of governments and wider partners.
“The nursing workforce is expanding in size and professional scope. However, the expansion is not equitable, is insufficient to meet rising demand, and is leaving some populations behind,” according to the report. Further, the report offers evidence that nurses will be central to addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and to achieving national and global targets on health priorities including universal health coverage, mental health and noncommunicable diseases, emergency preparedness and response, patient safety, and the delivery of integrated, people-centered care.
You can download the full report at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003279.
Correspondingly, a week before the State of the World’s Nursing 2020 report was released, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) released its International Nurses Day 2020 resource and evidence report titled Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health. The 60-page IND 2020 report showcases the work of nurses across the world, providing case studies, articles from experts, and explorations of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the profession.
“It is critically important that we show the world who nurses are and what they do, and ensure that governments invest in this vital resource,” said Annette Kennedy, ICN’s president, announcing the report’s March 31 launch. “COVID-19 has put into even sharper focus the work of nurses.”
International Nurses Day takes place annually on May 12, on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Founded in 1899, ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations, representing the more than 20 million nurses worldwide. ICN’s report is available for download in six languages at https://2020.icnvoicetolead.com/resources.
