Third ICN Congress, London, England

The third Congress (also titled the Second Quinquennial Meeting) held in London from 19-25 July 1909, at Westminster, demonstrated that ICN was spreading its message. In attendance were official delegates from associations already members of ICN: the Nurses Association of Great Britain and Ireland, the American Nurses Association, the German Nurses Association, the Nurses Association of the Netherlands, the Finnish Nurses Association, the Danish Nurses Organization and the Canadian Nurses Association, as well as fraternal delegates and visitors from other countries, including from the Australasian Trained Nurses’ Association and its Tasmanian Branch, the Bordeaux Schools including a representative officially appointed by the Minister of War to represent Army Nurses, the Red Cross Society of Japan, the Spanish American Nurses of New York and distinguished medical men from France and Belgium. (Breay & Gordon Fenwick 1931).

Delegates were occupied with professionalism in nursing, borne out by the first paper, titled An International Educational Standard for Nurses, that acknowledged that whilst basic nursing principles remained, the scope of activities had broadened. Aims were more clearly defined, particularly in relation to education and practice and to the health of the community. Lavinia Dock and Ethel Gordon Fenwick, two of the nursing leaders of the world at this time, clarified the purpose and functions of ICN more clearly. Dock confirming that:

“The essential idea for which the ICN stands is self-government of nurses in their associations with the aim of raising ever higher the standards of education and professional ethics, public usefulness, and civic spirit of the members. The ICN does not stand for a narrow professionalism but for that full development of the human being and citizen in every nurse, which shall but enable her to bring her professional knowledge and skill to the many sided services that modern society demands of her.” (Arnold 1974)

The newly elected president, Sister Agnes Karll (Germany) (read more), was presented with the Watchword Life, elaborated on by Gordon Fenwick by saying:

“…life in its depth, variety and majesty-a very sweet and precious gift” … and “the nurse of the future, inspired by a fine militant spirit, will make determined war upon fundamental wrongs which conduce to low vitality and physical deterioration… and “the life –giving elements are the common right of the community.” (Gordon Fenwick 1926, p.4)

Karll commenced the role by sending a message to Florence Nightingale with these words:

“Before I try to thank you for the great honour you have done me in electing me your President, I should like my first act to be one of grateful acknowledgement to that revered woman who came to our great Kaiserswerth and went back to England to alter the nursing system of all countries. I ask that this body send its greetings and assurances of grateful devotion to Florence Nightingale.”

The entire meeting voted to send this message to Nightingale. (Gordon Fenwick 1926, p.255)

Karll had spoken of social conscience portrayed by the fact that:

“People were beginning to recognise that prevention was better than cure and that the increasing demands being made on nurses could only be met by those who possessed an adequate, thorough and versatile training.” (ICN 1912)

The first paper of the Congress, titled An International Educational Standard for Nurses was presented by Isabelle Hampton Robb (read more), former Superintendent, John Hopkins Hospital Training School for Nurses, Baltimore, USA and Honorary Member of the Matron’s Council of Great Britain and Ireland. The cordial greetings of the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance were conveyed by Millicent Garrett Fawcett, who said that their aim was closely aligned with that of ICN as both desired: “the elevation of the status of nurses, the best training and professional status; and what was the Suffrage Alliance aiming at but at elevating the status of the whole of womanhood throughout the world…” (Gordon Fenwick 1926, p. 253).

Gordon Fenwick in speaking about the nurses’ curriculum advised that:

“The practice of nursing in the future will not be restricted to a few years mechanical training in hospitals and, subsequently, to a more or less narrow sphere of influence, but under a more comprehensive curriculum defined by state authority, it will attain a definite value to the community. So much of the moral welfare of the people depends on sanitary conditions that a nurse who grasps her opportunities should find herself in intimate touch with her fellow creatures. It is not sufficient that she should be the instrument for the relief of suffering; she must also be the harbinger of its prevention.’ (Arnold 1974)

Breay M. & Gordon Fenwick E (1931). History of the International Council of Nurses (1899-1925) Document in the possession of the ICN Archives in Geneva, Switzerland and accessed by Marie Carney in August 2018.

Arnold V. (1974) Way to the Future. International Nursing Review 21 (3-4): 68

Gordon Fenwick (1926) The International Idea-A Retrospect. I. C. N. January Vol 1 (1): 253-and 255 Accessed ICN Archives by M.Carney.

ICN (1912) ICN President Germany spoke at 3rd ICN Congress Cologne, Germany speaking “of social conscience” ICN Notes, p. 5 Archives ICN Headquarters, Geneva