Scientific Programme
The International Council of Nurses 2023 Congress has been an in-person event in Montreal, Canada, harnessing the full force of the world’s 28 million nurses. For four days, 1-5 July 2023, we have come together in unity to learn, share and network with each other to build a better future for nursing and healthcare.
ICN 2023 has been our most influential Congress, showcasing nurses’ renewed strength and energy, and our ability to make a difference to health and healthcare everywhere. It included a huge timetable of content, including plenary sessions, main, regional and concurrent sessions, e-poster displays, symposia and interactive policy cafés.
Multidisciplinary plenary sessions and symposia catered to an international audience and brought together nurses from all regions of the world. With its theme, “Nurses Together: A Force for Global Health”, we have gathered the global nursing community looking at how we can build on the lessons of the past few years, continue influencing and reinforcing inclusive health systems and advancing the nursing profession.
Session Types
Plenary Sessions
In our Plenary Sessions, you could hear from leading experts changing the world of healthcare. World-renowned healthcare leaders and experts from the field who shared their thoughts on the future of healthcare and covered timely topics spanning the breadth of healthcare and nursing.
Regional Sessions
Regional Sessions shed light on the progress of the nursing profession in different countries around the world. They examined and outlined recent innovations, advancement of practice and potential challenges to healthcare. The six regional sessions brought together nurse experts from the regions of Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific. As a result of attending these sessions, participants have had a chance to appreciate healthcare and nursing in different parts of world, ultimately fostering innovations and new ideas.
Main Sessions
Our Main Sessions featured highly esteemed international and local speakers who dived deep into their presentations to uncover some of the most important issues facing nurses today. The sessions provided opportunities for in-depth exchange of experiences and expertise within and beyond the international nursing community. Stakeholders across the health sector─ including nursing experts, other health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and patients ─ came together to bring us their insight into making health for all a reality.
Sessions focused on the latest developments in nursing contributions to improving health and wellness for individuals, families, communities and the entire world. Big topics affecting nursing were covered, including health emergency preparedness and response, global health priorities, health and wellbeing of the health workforce, workforce planning, ethics, leadership, nursing regulation, advanced practice, and many more.
Concurrent Sessions
Our Concurrent Sessions were composed of oral abstract presentations (10 minutes presentation + Q&A), selected among the best abstracts submitted to the ICN 2023 Congress. Concurrent sessions provided great opportunities for participants to share scientific knowledge and practice of clinical care, to engage in stimulating discussions and to gain insight into the eight abstract sub-themes. Concurrent sessions allowed participants to ask questions and meet the experts and researchers in the field.
Click here for a breakdown of concurrent session subthemes.
NNA Symposia
Each NNA Symposium was led by an ICN national nurses association (NNA). These symposia focused on one specific theme with 3-4 international speakers working together thoughtfully to highlight the latest nursing practice, research, education and professional issues. Cutting-edge nursing and health topics were explored from a global perspective. The format of these symposia was highly interactive and thought-provoking.
Policy Cafés
The ICN Policy Cafés have always been highly popular. Located in the exhibition hall, the two Cafés gave the opportunity for small group discussion with a panel of experts on a key ICN policy or priority topic. Arranged in an informal setting, the Cafés allowed delegates to ask in-depth questions and interact with keynote speakers.
Master Classes
A Master Class provides a valuable and hands-on learning experience on a particular nursing skill. These classes were led by recognised authorities in their fields and were carried out in a simulated environment.
Interpretation
Simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish was provided for the Opening and Closing Ceremony, in all plenary sessions, regional sessions and main sessions.