War Again!

In July 1939, war was looming during the meetings of the Grand Council of ICN, in London, and the presentation of certificates to the 1938-39 International Group at Bedford College. The editorial of the Nursing Times of 1939 quoted ICN’s Vice President, Bella Alexander:

“It is the duty of every woman to work for peace and above all to pray for peace especially nurses, who can exert a profound influence on those whom they come into contact.” (Kilby M 1963)

Many of ICN’s projects were stalled in 1939 when World War II broke out. The consequence for ICN and its own displacement during the war years were significant. Its London office proved to be in a vulnerable position when war broke out resulting in the office being moved to Connecticut, USA. Further meetings were postponed and the London office was subsequently bombed in 1941. Bank accounts could not be accessed leading to little or no contact during the war years.

Kilby M. (1963) The Story of Florence Nightingale International Foundation. Part 1: Devising an International Memorial. Reprinted from International Nursing Review, November-December 10(6) 25-31.

Fourth ICN Congress, Cologne, Germany

The fourth ICN Congress was held in Cologne in 1912. Annie Warburton Goodrich (USA) (read more) was elected ICN President, a position she held until 1915. Goodrich spoke of the need for membership acceptance by institutions of learning and the need for them to open their doors to ICN members. This proposal was approved by Council. This decision proved to be momentous for nursing education and clinical practice through a Foundation that was subsequently formed to support scholarship.

‘Aspiration’ was selected as the Watchword for the new President, because according to Gordon Fenwick:-

“Aspiration expresses a desire to seek eagerly after that which is above us.
That was the inspiration of the Council Idea, and that is its goal.” (Boschma & Stuart 1999)

Fatigue was a cause for concern that was raised at the Congress. Delegates were focused on the health and welfare of nurses’ and on the nature and effect of fatigue on workers and particularly in recognising its effects on nurses and nursing care. Member associations requested that hospital authorities should give the same consideration to the problem of overwork among nurses that industrial leaders were giving to the question of overwork among workers in industry so that the present grievous destruction of the health of nurses may cease. The Congress also requested that ICN should use its influence to stimulate enquiries into the social conditions of nurses in its affiliated countries. This area was to become a topic of discussion and concern for ICN members and their associations during the next decades.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation and the Indian Nurses Association joined ICN in 1912.

Boschma G. and Stuart M. (1999) ICN during wartime:1912-1947. International Nursing Review, 46(2)41

Powell Kennedy H & Spoonster Schwartz L (2018). A Salute to Dean Annie W. Goodrich on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Yale School of Nursing. https://nursing.yale.edu/news/salute-dean-annie-w-goodrich-100th-anniversary-end-world-war-i