ICN Calls for Stronger Nursing Workforce as Global Population Ages 

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has called for ageing to be given a stronger place in health policy and workforce planning, as the number of older people continues to rise worldwide. The organisation says nurses need to be part of the planning for this change, both because of their role in caring for older people and because experienced nurses themselves are an important part of the workforce.  

The call came during a side event co-hosted by ICN and NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on 24 September. More than 100 nurses and representatives from other professions and sectors took part in discussions on healthy ageing, the changing needs of older people and how health systems can prepare for future pandemics.  

The population of older people is expected to double over the next three decades. WHO estimates that the global population aged 60 and above will reach 2.1 billion by 2050, up from 1 billion in 2020. By then, around two-thirds of the world’s older population is expected to live in low- and middle-income countries. WHO also says countries will need to adapt health and social systems as this change continues. 

For nursing, this means preparing for a population that will need care over longer periods of life. Nurses already work across hospitals, primary care, community services and long-term care, where they support older people with ongoing health needs. As this population increases, nurses will need the skills and knowledge to provide care that reflects the needs of people at different stages of ageing. 

ICN also wants countries to look at the nurses they already have. ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano highlighted the knowledge, skills and experience of older nurses, describing them as valuable caregivers, leaders, mentors and educators. The organisation called for fair and inclusive working conditions that can help these nurses remain in the profession. 

This comes at a time when many health systems are already working with stretched nursing workforces. ICN also pointed to conflicts, pandemics and other crises that place additional demands on healthcare. An ageing population adds another long-term challenge, making it important for countries to consider not only how many nurses they have, but whether the workforce is equipped for the care people will need in the years ahead. 

The focus on older nurses also brings retention into the discussion. Keeping experienced professionals in practice allows health services to continue using their clinical experience while giving younger nurses opportunities to learn from them. This can become increasingly valuable as the profession prepares to care for a much larger older population. 

ICN’s message is ultimately about preparing early. Population ageing is already underway, and the demands placed on nurses will continue to change with it. Building the skills of the workforce, keeping experienced nurses in practice and planning services around the needs of older people will be important parts of how health systems respond. 

Source 

https://www.icn.ch/news/icn-urges-action-healthy-ageing-un-general-assembly