The International Council of Nurses, the NLN, and you and I.(FROM the Editor)(National League for Nursing)

AS OF JULY 2 2009, a new International Council of Nurses (ICN) network will be established to promote excellence in nursing education and prepare a diverse, 21st century nursing workforce. The ICN Education Network will be officially launched at the council's 24th Quadrennial Congress, which opens June 27 in Durban, South Africa. According to the announcement posted on the ICN website, this network is directly related to the critical priority of preparation of a diverse nursing workforce (www.icn.ch/nursingedu_network.htm).

The good news is that this new network, coordinated in its early development by the NLN, offers many opportunities for addressing nursing education issues. According to NLN CEO Dr. Beverly Malone, "We are pleased to stimulate an interest and marshal commitment to the establishment of this network. We look forward to working and supporting ICN toward a successful launch in Durban."

With this new network, we no longer need to travel to share our expertise. Nor need we expect our colleagues to travel to us. Much of the work of the network can be done virtually, and members can have input and influence through Internet connections.

With NLN leadership, the involvement of faculty is guaranteed. The steering committee has representation from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Finland, E1 Salvador, Japan, Australia, as well as the United States. Representatives are expected to identify three to five nursing education priorities in their regions and begin the international dialogue regarding strategies to address them. But participation is also ...