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.

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.

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