The European Common Market – Implications for Nursing

The formation of the economic welfare committee by ICN was timely. The European Common Market and the European Economic Community, the treaty establishing it, came into force on 1 January 1958 and had key aims “to establish the foundations of an even greater closer union among the European peoples and to ‘ensure economic and social progress by common action in eliminating the barriers which divide Europe.” (ICN 1962) This treaty would go on to have major implications for nurses and nursing in Europe, particularly, and in later years would influence nursing worldwide through its guidelines. Dame Sheila Quinn, writing in 1993, concurred with this view in stating:

“In the long and frequently troubled history of Europe a span of 20 years seems insignificant, but placed in context of a century and a half of modern nursing the last two decades have been rich in growth and significance for the profession. As a nurse privileged to work with colleagues from the EC member states over this period, I have witnessed a great 'sea change' brought about by nurses' own efforts through close cooperation and trust.”

She went on to say that even though these nurses came from 12 very different countries they had a common link which was membership with ICN and, even though nursing in Europe faced many challenges, they had more opportunities to grow and unite rather than to divide them.(Quinn 1993)

Mabel G. Lawson, President of the National Council of Nurses of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, discussed the repercussions on nursing, particularly pertaining to the second of the three general principles “to abolish obstacles to the free movement of persons, services and capital between members” (ICN 1962, p. 27), requires nursing to consider this principle in relation to professional effects of nurses who may be fully trained in their own countries but the regulation, requirements, training, curricula content, specialised preparation and the laws governing the title of the nurse and the practice of nursing differed considerably at that time between countries, and difficulties would arise.

This matter was considered during a conference held in Brussels, attended by representatives, mainly Presidents, of the national nurses’ associations of eight of the countries forming the West European Group within ICN. This group was committed to accepting the definition of the professional nurse; proposed in the Revised Constitution and By-Laws of ICN that had been adopted at the ICN Melbourne Congress in 1961. The group questioned equivalence and asked if the standards of training for the highest level of professional nursing in this small group of countries was unlikely to be reached without major obstacles, education and training. Shortage of nurses in almost all countries gave an added impetus to resolving any difficulties arising from implementation of the Treaty (ICN 1962).

ICN (1962). “The European Common Market – and its implications for nursing” International Nursing Review 9(4)27-30

Quinn DS (1993) “Nursing in Europe”. International Nursing Review Mar/Apr; 40(2): 47

Bringing in the Voice of African Nurses

In January 1962, Helen Nussbaum, ICN General Secretary undertook an extensive tour to Nigeria and South Africa on the invitation of their national nurses’ associations. Her visit was fully covered by the press, including radio television coverage in some instances. She visited the Western Territories, Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leona and Nigeria, each of which presented different stages of evolution and economic challenges. During her four-week tour she visited 32 hospitals and health centres, 15 nurse training schools and colleges and spoke to 1,380 members of national nurses associations. She discussed the projects being progressed and the trends evident in professional organisations as well as the special problems confronting ICN. Nussbaum then travelled to 11 towns in the Republic of South Africa where she met with 27 groups and 2,500 nurses and midwives in many domiciliary and community centres and hospitals. She was pleased to meet with aspiring nurse tutors taking post-graduate diploma university studies. Her visit ended in Northern and Southern Rhodesia, where she met the Federal Minister of Health, the Principal Matron of the Federation and the President of the Nurses Association of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Her enduring message that would prove to be a source of encouragement to all was that ICN was a living reality, ready to help and give advice when necessary. (ICN 1962)

In 1967, a field tour of Africa was undertaken by Martha G. Shout, Nurse Advisor. During an 11- week tour to Africa, commencing in September, and involving over 16,000 miles, she met with members of the South African Nurses’ Association. Shout continued on to Bulawayo, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) where the Rhodesian Nurses’ Association was celebrating its 21st anniversary and from where she travelled to out-lying areas to meet with nurses working there. Travelling north to Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) she visited Kitwe, the headquarters of the Zambia Nurses Association and again visited mission and out-lying hospitals. Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia and finally Morocco were also visited.

ICN (1962) News from ICN: Visit to Nigeria and South Africa by Helen Nussbaum International Nursing Review 9(2):3