The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI) has celebrated International Nurses Day by acknowledging nurses for their courage and leadership work while sending messages of hope world-wide.

Posting an online video and poster the GNLI scholars 2017 highlighted the unity of the global nursing community and shared their lived experience during COVID-19.

GNLI scholars are selected world nursing leaders who are mentored in professional, political and policy leadership skills to operate effectively in tough policy arenas to ensure nurses’ voices are heard on policy.

Run by the ICN and supported by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, the program is based on the philosophy that policy and politics determine the health of populations and the future of the nursing profession at local, regional, national and international levels.

Sending messages of hope, the online video was introduced by Director of Nursing in the Queensland Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Michelle Gunn.

Other scholars, such as the president of the Guyna Nurses’ Association Cleopatra Barkoye, explained how she was leading, guiding and facilitating nurses how best to get through this time of COVID-19 in her country.

Ms Barkoye urged the nursing community around the world to practice good infection control practises for their own safety and that of the community.

“My message to the global community is stay safe,” she said.

From Canada, Patrick Chiu who works in nursing regulation, said despite significant challenges including lack of PPE, the global nursing community could be proud how they had stepped up to the plate.

“Whether working on the frontline, engaged in research to advance science in COVID-19 or working in public health response teams, nurses have shown remarkable leadership and compassion and is why investing in nurses is critical.”

The head of a nursing department at a UK university Laura Serrant explained the challenges of continuing students’ education throughout COVID-19. This ment ensuring students were prepared for their new working environment during this time, including those on placement or those asked to commence work as third year students to support the health system.

Also working to support black women in the UK over the past months Ms Serrant said the COVID-19 crisis had revealed many inequalities in society and many inequalities across the world.

“It is a challenge to us as nurses, a challenge to our colleagues in midwifery and a challenge to the whole healthcare system. Pandemics aren’t new but what we do find if you look back in history the work of good dedicated healthcare professionals, particularly nurses in this case that has not only helped to spearhead us to recover and move on from this pandemic, but also to ensure that we have learnt things for the future,” she said.

“Individual patients, families, and communities rely on effective clear nursing practice and good effective nursing and healthcare leadership to give them hope and the help when and where they need it.

To listen to other messages from nursing global scholars click here.