FNF at ICN Congress: Nurses Together - A Force for Global Health
- July 3, 2023
The Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) is at the International Council of Nurses Congress event this week. A meeting up of over 7,000 other nurses and midwives from all around the world provides an opportunity for learning, sharing and taking forward FNF Global. The 2023 Congress theme is “Nurses together: a force for global health” and aims to bring together nurses’ renewed strength and energy to make a difference.
Read on to find out what our team are sharing, and look out for further updates on socials.
Professor Greta Westwood, FNF’s Chief Executive Officer, presented on: A Living Memorial to Florence Nightingale: A Vision at ICN Grand Council Montreal 1929, and Progress Since. Greta highlighted where has FNF has come from and our latest achievements and impact. From The Florence Nightingale International Foundation (FNIF) being established in 1934 following the ICN Grand Council in 1929 – to our latest five-year strategy setting out our plans to reach one million nurses and midwives, across the world, by 2027. See Greta’s presentation here.
Greta also, as pictured here, presented on FNF’s experience of Developing Digital Nurse and Midwife Leaders.
Jeni Caguioa, FNF’s Head of Global, presented on: Learning from UK’s Migrant Nursing History, Recognising the Leadership Development Needs and Potential of Internationally Educated Nurses and Midwives. In partnership with the Burdett Trust, FNF has successfully created and launched a bespoke online leadership programme for IENMs working in the UK. Running alongside this programme is a mixed methods research study evaluating the experiences of this transition intervention and its impact over time. The first cohort of IENMs have evaluated the programme positively, demonstrating initial impact through testimonials. In future, this programme could be delivered to global partners of FNF who also wish to develop their IENMs. See Jeni’s presentation here.
Jeni pictured here meeting in person WHO’s Chief Nursing Officer, Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu, after listening to her call for our 28 million nurses round the world to have a voice, speak up now. To never give up our passions and how we need a new nursing curriculum that meets global needs.
Lucy Brown, FNF’s Director of Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Development presented alongside Ben Davies from Nuffield Health on: Drive Forward the Sustainability Agenda within the UK Healthcare Sector Through Leadership Development and Nurse Led Scalable and Impactful Change Projects. The 18 quality improvement projects, in the joint pilot bespoke nurse leadership development programme, collectively reduced over 6000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in their respective organisations. These projects are available for all organisations to access, replicate and collaborate to further reduce carbon emissions. Through small incremental changes to practice and empowerment to frontline nurses, scalable SusQI change can be achieved rapidly. See Lucy’s presentation here.
Find out more about the impact of our Green Leadership Programme (co-designed with Nuffield Health and open for new applications now) in our recent ‘Star Alumni’ blog.
Jess Sainsbury, FNF’s Head of Engagement, presented on The Student Councils Programme: the Development of Shared Professional Decision-Making Councils (SPDMC) for Pre-registration Students. Students and their education and learning experience are crucial to maintaining the pipeline for the future workforce. With the increasing focus on education and training, the importance of ensuring a student voice within the system to consider the quality and impact of education and training decisions needs to be recognised and supported.
In 2021, a multi-professional student SPDMC in each of the six Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in the South-East region of England was established. The opportunity is for student nurses, midwives, trainee nursing associates and allied health professionals who undertake practice placements in the region. The aim of the SPDMCs is to enable a strategic student voice in transformation work while fostering a sense of belonging for students at an ICS and regional level. This project is funded by Health Education England South East (now NHS England South East). See Jess’ presentation here.
As part of FNF Global we are already working with partners to pilot leadership development support and Academy membership to nurses and midwives outside the UK. Global membership means that more nurses and midwives can come together and learn from each other, leading to more inclusive working cultures locally, and the spread of innovative practice globally. It also means that we can strengthen our offer to existing members.
Our time spent at the ICN Congress will further inform our learning and approach in moving forward with this work. There are huge challenges facing healthcare and the health workforce globally and nurses and midwives are critical to deliver on the response. We want do what we can, and build on our existing work, to be part of the solution.