The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has welcomed and endorsed the International Council of Nurses’ (ICN) newly released definitions of nursing and the nurse – a landmark update that formally reflects the profession’s contemporary scope, identity, and contribution to global health.
Unveiled at the ICN 2025 Congress in Helsinki, where more than 7,000 nurses from over 130 countries gathered, the new definitions represent the most comprehensive articulation of nursing in nearly four decades. They were unanimously approved by the Council of National Nursing Association Representatives, including the ANMF delegation, and are the culmination of an extensive global consultation led by Australian nursing leader Professor Jill White.
Grounded in disciplinary knowledge, ethical values, scientific evidence, and human connection, the updated definitions affirm nursing as a science-based, people-centred, and socially just profession. They replace ICN’s earlier descriptions published in 1987 and 2002, capturing the dramatic evolution of nursing shaped by technological change, shifting models of care, an increasingly health-literate public, and rapidly rising healthcare demands.
ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said the Federation strongly supports the new definition, noting its importance not only for global nursing but for Australia’s future workforce, policy frameworks, and public understanding.
“This definition captures the true breadth, depth and impact of nursing,” Ms Butler said.
“For too long, nurses’ roles have been narrowly described. The ICN’s updated definition makes our profession visible as clinicians, leaders, advocates and innovators. It provides the clarity we need to shape education, workforce planning, and reform in a way that reflects the real work nurses do every day.”
The ANMF says the definition will help support ongoing national reforms, including the expansion of scope of practice, by strengthening how nursing is represented in legislation, regulation, and policy.
“As our profession continues to grow and evolve, ensuring that nurses are properly recognised and understood is essential,” Ms Butler said. “This definition gives us the language to do exactly that.”
Definition of ‘nursing’
Nursing is a profession dedicated to upholding everyone’s right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health, through a shared commitment to providing collaborative, culturally safe, people-centred care and services. Nursing acts and advocates for people’s equitable access to health and health care, and safe, sustainable environments. The practice of nursing embodies the philosophy and values of the profession in providing professional care in the most personal health-related aspects of people’s lives. Nursing promotes health, protects safety and continuity in care, and manages and leads health care organizations and systems. Nursing’s practice is underpinned by a unique combination of science-based disciplinary knowledge, technical capability, ethical standards, and therapeutic relationships. Nursing is committed to compassion, social justice and a better future for humanity.
Abridged definition of ‘a nurse’
A nurse is a professional who is educated in the scientific knowledge, skills and philosophy of nursing, and regulated to practice nursing based on established standards of practice and ethical codes. Nurses enhance health literacy, promote health, prevent illness, protect patient safety, alleviate suffering, facilitate recovery and adaptation, and uphold dignity throughout life and at end of life. They work autonomously and collaboratively across settings to improve health, through advocacy, evidence informed decision-making, and culturally safe, therapeutic relationships. Nurses provide people-centred, compassionate clinical and social care, manage services, enhance health systems, advance public and population health, and foster safe and sustainable environments. Nurses lead, educate, research, advocate, innovate and shape policy to improve health outcomes.
For more information of the definitions visit the ICN website www.icn.ch/resources/nursing-definitions/current-nursing-definitions
