Sixth Congress Montreal, Canada

ICN held its sixth Congress in Montreal, Canada, 8-13 June, 1929. Leonie Chaptal (France) was elected President with the Watchword “Concord”. Focus remained on education.

In 1929, the Education Committee under the chair of Isabel Stewart had met to discuss the plan to outline the basic essentials in the preparation of a trained nurse. Since the committee had not been established, only a preliminary meeting could be held at that time, which was composed of temporary representatives of member associations. Due to travel costs and logistical difficulties this work was done through correspondence. This report was then sent to the 15 committee members who conferred with their national organisations and a report was then prepared for discussion. The Education Committee met with other groups in the week preceding the Congress and following ICN’s Board approval, the 28-page pamphlet Report of the Committee on Education of the International Council for Nurses was published. This publication was later translated into seven different languages and would go on to become the most important ICN education publication of this decade Work continued on this report in outlining curriculum for presentation at the ICN Paris-Brussels Congress in 1933.

Stewart I. (1959) The past is inspiring International Nursing Review. July: 14-18)