Information
- INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES (ICN)
- Purpose: to provide a medium through which national nursing associations can work together and share common interests; formed in 1899
- Functions
- Serves as representatives of and spokespersons for nurses at international level.
- Promotes organization of national nurses' associations.
- Assists national organizations to develop and improve services for public health practice of nursing and social/economic welfare of nurses.
- WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)—special intergovernmental agency of the United Nations, formed in 1948
- Purpose: to bring all people to the highest possible level of health
- Functions: provides assistance in the form of education, training, improving health standards, fighting disease, and reducing water pollution in member countries
- AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION (ANA)—national professional association in the United States, composed of the nurses' associations of the 50 states, Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC
- Purpose: to foster high standards of nursing practice and promote the education and welfare of nurses
- Functions: officially represents professional nurses in the United States and internationally; defines practice of nursing; lobbies and promotes legislation affecting nurses' welfare and practice
- NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING (NLN)—composed of both individuals and agencies
- Purpose: to foster the development and improvement of all nursing services and nursing education
- Functions
- Provides educational workshops.
- Assists in recruitment for nursing programs.
- Provides testing services for both RN and LPN (LVN) nursing programs.