ICN Policy Cafés

The ICN Policy Cafés, led by the experienced ICN Nursing and Health Policy team, are dynamic sessions designed to foster insightful discussions and deepen your understanding of key nursing and health policy topics. These sessions take place over lunch and provide an opportunity to explore ICN’s latest policy work and gain valuable insights into pressing issues affecting the nursing profession and global health care.

Each Policy Café is crafted to address current challenges, innovative solutions, and strategies to advance nursing leadership and practice. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their perspectives, and engage with experts and peers in a collaborative environment.

Expect thought-provoking conversations, actionable takeaways, and opportunities to network with professionals who are shaping the future of nursing and health care.

Tuesday, 10 June 1315 – 1415hrs
Policy Café 1: Championing Mental Health: Advancing ICN's Guidelines for Mental Health Nursing

This one-hour Policy Café session will focus on the ICN Guidelines on mental health nursing, which provide essential frameworks for enhancing mental health care worldwide. The guidelines emphasize the critical role of mental health nurses in addressing the increasing global burden of mental health disorders, combating stigma, and advocating for human rights. The session will also highlight the importance of investing in the mental health nursing workforce, including specialized education and advanced practice roles. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) will be launching its mental health competencies for preservice education for nurses and doctors, further promoting the integration of mental health care into primary services. This session will offer valuable insights into how ICN's guidelines and WHO's competencies can inform policies to support mental health nurses and improve care delivery globally.

Wednesday, 11 June 1315 – 1415hrs
Policy Café 2: A Vision for Primary Health Care: Paving the Path Towards Universal Health Coverage

This Policy Café will focus on the ICN report outlining a transformative vision for Primary Health Care (PHC) as a cornerstone for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The session will explore the critical role of nurses in delivering accessible, affordable, and safe care across the continuum of health needs—from health promotion and disease prevention to palliative care. Participants will engage in discussions on the integration of nurse-led care coordination, team-based approaches, and the investment in advanced practice nurses (APNs) to address the workforce shortages and resource gaps in PHC. The session will also highlight the importance of digital health, community engagement, sustainable funding models, and research to ensure the resilience and effectiveness of PHC systems globally. Join us for a conversation on how ICN's vision can guide policy changes that enhance the role of nurses and drive progress toward UHC.

Join us and be part of the engaging discussions that empower nurses and advance health policy worldwide!