Have You Heard of This International Organization for NPs?

Pack your bags! Networking for nurse practitioners is now a world-wide affair. While most of us are aware of our local and national NP organizations, the profession has also gained global recognition in recent years. Nurse practitioners from the U.S. and Finland to Australia and South Korea are connecting to learn and grow from one another’s experiences and ideas.

Since the early 1990’s NPs worldwide have recognized value in establishing relationships with one another. Nurse practitioners from the United Kingdom met with representatives from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in Colorado in 1992 to kick off the global relations movement. Here, they agreed to work together sharing knowledge and experiences to mutually benefit the profession as a whole. Fueled by enthusiasm for the newfound NP connection, the group organized the first ever international nurse practitioner conference in London in 1993.

This group of nurse practitioners has continued to meet and grow over the past several years with providers from countries like Scotland, Bahrain, South Africa, Canada, and Australia in attendance. The group became formally known as the International Council of Nurses (ICN) International Nurse Practitioner (INP) Advanced Practice Nursing Network (APNN) in 2000. Today, the INP/APNN holds an annual International Conference of Nurse Practitioners.

The next international nurse practitioner conference is scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea from June 19 -23, 2015. Conference topics include everything from “telenursing” to a “writing for professional journals workshop”. This conference differs from most continuing education conferences in that topics are focused on the healthcare system and healthcare delivery rather than clinical knowledge.

If you are interested in participating in the worldwide nurse practitioner community, consider joining the International Council of Nurses or even attending the ICN/APNN conference in Seoul this coming summer.

Happy National Nurse Practitioner Week!

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