New Strategic Directions for Nursing & Midwifery 2016 - 2020

At a joint International Council of Nurses (ICN) / World Health Organization (WHO) event held 18 May 2016 in Geneva, the WHO launched its new Strategic Directions for Nursing & Midwifery (SDNM) 2016 - 2020. 

The Strategic Directions which will guide the nursing practice from 2016 to 2020 addressed four key themes which include:

1. Ensuring an educated, competent and motivated nursing and midwifery workforce within effective and responsive health systems at all levels and in different settings

2.Optimizing policy development, effective leadership, management and governance

3.Working together to maximize the capacities and potentials of nurses and midwives through intra-and inter-professional collaborative partnerships,education and continuing professional development 
4.Mobilizing political will to invest in building effective evidence based nursing and midwifery workforce development

 The SDNM 2016 - 2020 aim to ensure that the nursing and midwifery workforce contributes to Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Agenda by ensuring equitable access to skilled and motivated nursing and midwifery workforce within performing and responsive health systems. “ The global impact of nursing and midwifery has never been more necessary in order to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals ” , said Dr Frances Hughes, ICN’s Chief Executive Officer . “ In many countries, the nursing and midwifery workforce is the largest health delivery personnel, making investment in this profession crucial. ”   Visit ICN press center for more details