Founded in 1899, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) consists of more than 140 national nursing associations, including the American Nurses Association (ANA). “ICN’s mission is to represent nursing worldwide, advance the nursing profession, promote the wellbeing of nurses, and advocate for health in all policies” (ICN, n.d., para 1). In June, ICN issued a project report titled Renewing the Definitions of ‘Nursing’ and ‘a Nurse’ (ICN, 2025). Every NPD practitioner should become familiar with this document and its implications, along with Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA, 2020) and Code of Ethics for Nurses (ANA, 2025), for the NPD practice specialty.
Warning: These definitions are comprehensive and long!
ICN Definition of Nursing (ICN, 2025, p. 12):
“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.
ICN Definition of “A Nurse” (ICN, 2025, p. 12):
Note: The first paragraph is an approved abridged definition.
“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.
“Further, nurses play a unique role in health and care for populations of all ages, and in all settings, building trust with individuals, families and communities and gaining valuable insights into people’s experiences of health and illness. Building on a foundation of personalized direct and social care, nurses advance their capabilities through ongoing education, research and exploration of best practices.
“A nurse’s scope of practice is defined by their level of education, experience, competency, professional standards and lawful authority. They play a key role in the coordination, supervision of, and delegation to others who may assist in the provision of health care.
“Often at the front line, they respond to disasters, conflicts and emergencies, demonstrating courage, dedication, adaptability and commitment to the health of individuals, communities and the environment.”
Reflections
As I reflect on these definitions, I feel so proud to be a nurse—part of the nursing profession—and specifically an NPD practitioner. You see, I never intended to be a nurse. I was going to be a foreign language translator and travel the world! But I had a scholarship I had to use or lose, and nursing was available. True story! Little did I know that I would love patient care, savor the science, and develop a passion for professional development.
I’m delighted to see ICN’s definition of nursing identifies the various roles of nurses, including the management and leadership of health care organizations and systems. This definition also recognizes our unique scientific knowledge base and technical abilities. As collaborative partners with healthcare providers, not subordinates, we use our unique knowledge to provide person-centered care and lead in various capacities, including NPD!
Several components in the definition of a nurse resonate with me and cause me to reflect on the Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice (Harper & Maloney, 2022). In fact, I envisioned a funnel with ICN at the top (as shown in Figure 1). First, we are professionals who have scientific knowledge. Our practice is based on “established standards…and ethical codes” (ICN, 2025, p. 12). The ICN (2025) definition also states, “A nurse’s scope of practice is defined by their level of education, experience, competency, professional standards” (p. 12).
Our national association, ANA, falls in the middle of the funnel. Each of us is held to Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA ,2020) and Code of Ethics for Nurses.
Finally, at the narrow end of the funnel is our specialty organization, ANPD, along with other recognized specialties/specialty organizations. In addition to the Nursing: Scope and Standards and Code of Ethics for Nurses, we adhere to the NPD: Scope and Standards of Practice, which outline the competencies based on education and experience in alignment with ANA requirements. The alignment of our specialty with the new ICN definitions as well as the Nursing: Scope and Standards and Code of Ethics for Nurses is evident in the background portion of the NPD: Scope and Standards of Practice, which states:
“The ultimate goal of healthcare is population health. The goal of population health is to keep individuals within a given population healthy... Within the specialty practice of nursing professional development (NPD), the NPD practitioner contributes to this overall aim by improving the professional practice of nurses and other healthcare personnel by facilitating ongoing learning, change, and role competence and growth as demonstrated in the NPD Practice Model... The role of the NPD practitioner is multifaceted and includes serving as a leader, change agent, mentor, learning facilitator, champion for inquiry, advocate for the NPD specialty, and partner for practice transitions... The NPD practitioner has six primary responsibilities: orientation/onboarding, competency management, education, role development, collaborative partnerships, and inquiry. While fulfilling these responsibilities, the NPD practitioner is a strong advocate for cultural humility and social justice, as evidenced in the standards of professional practice and performance that follow (Harper & Maloney, 2022, p. 17).”
Finally, NPD practice is the narrow point of at the funnel. Who we are and what we do flows from the ICN definitions to our national association’s Nursing: Scope & Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for Nurses to our specialty’s NPD: Scope and Standards of Practice. It is this alignment that provides our specialty with recognition and credibility. On the first page of the NPD scope and standards, you’ll see these acknowledgments:
“The American Nurses Association has approved the Nursing Professional Development Scope of Practice as defined herein. Approval is valid for five (5) years from the first date of publication of this document or until a new scope of practice has been approved, whichever occurs first.
The American Nurses Association has acknowledged the Nursing Professional Development Standards of Practice as set forth herein. Acknowledgement is valid for five (5) years from the first date of publication of this document or until new standards of practice have been acknowledged, whichever occurs first (p. 1).”
We must never forget that the NPD specialty is part of an international profession. We are recognized, acknowledged, and approved by our national nursing organization. Our credibility flows from these facts.
References
American Nurses Association. (2020). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice. ANA.
American Nurses Association. (2025). Code of ethics for nurses. ANA.
Harper, M. G., & Maloney, P. (Eds). Nursing professional development: Scope and standards of practice, 4th ed. Association for Nursing Professional Development.
International Council of Nurses (ICN). (n.d.). Who we are. Retrieved 7/15/2024 from https://www.icn.ch/who-we-are
International Council of Nurses (ICN). (2025, June). Renewing the definitions of ‘Nursing” and ‘a Nurse.’ Retrieved from https://www.icn.ch/sites/default/files/2025-06/ICN_Definition-Nursing_Report_EN_Web_0.pdf
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ANPD.dc
Mary Harper, PhD, RN, NPDA-BC®
Director of Research and Inquiry, Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD)
Mary Harper, PhD, RN, NPDA-BC®, is the director of research and inquiry for the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD). She obtained her master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Florida and her PhD in nursing from the University of Central Florida. She is a former director on the board of directors of ANPD and has published widely on topics and research related to nursing professional development. She is the editor of the Leadership Column in the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development.
Dr. Harper led the workgroup that developed the advanced certification in NPD. She is co-editor of the 3rd and 4th (current) editions of the Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice and the editor of the upcoming 6th edition of the Core Curriculum for Nursing Professional Development.