The International Council of Nurses (ICN) strongly supports the extension of the
Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021-2025 (GSDNM) but calls
for its update based on the recently released State of the World’s Nursing Report 2
(SOWN2). SOWN2 provides essential data on workforce shortages, unequal
distribution, and unethical migration, informing future policy decisions. ICN is
concerned about the slow implementation of GSDNM, with insufficient resources
and clear deliverables to improve retention, expand the workforce, create decent
jobs, strengthen education, optimize roles for advanced practice, empower nurse
leaders, and enhance regulation. Without concrete action, UHC and the SDGs will
remain out of reach. ICN urges WHO and Member States to prioritize actionable
commitments, ensuring that these strategies are supported with the necessary
resources and policies to strengthen the nursing workforce and meet global health
demands.