https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/03/20/partie-1-de-3-sylvain-brousseau-candidature-cii
Part 1 of 3: Sylvain Brousseau answers our questions on his ICN bid
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“As a new ICN board member, my top priority would be to address the global nursing shortage and ensure safe and healthy working environments for nurses,” Sylvain Brousseau says.
Editor’s note: Former CNA president Sylvain Brousseau is a candidate for the North America and Caribbean seat on the board of directors of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). We sent him a series of questions to learn more about his vision for ICN and global health. Visit ICN’s website to learn more about his candidacy and watch his video.
I am running for the board of directors of ICN because I am deeply committed to advancing ICN’s mission to represent nursing worldwide, to promote the well-being of nurses, and to advocate for health in all policies. My extensive experience in nursing leadership, education, and policy, combined with my leadership roles in various nursing organizations, has prepared me to contribute effectively to ICN.
My vision for ICN is closely aligned with its mission and strategic goals. I strongly believe that by strengthening the global voice of nursing, empowering nurses, and enhancing the vitality of ICN membership, we can significantly advance the nursing profession and improve global health outcomes. I want to ensure that nurses are recognized as key decision-makers and influencers in all aspects of health policy and economic care delivery. If I am elected, I will bring my commitment to collaboration, innovation, and strategic leadership to ensure ICN remains a powerful advocate for the nursing profession, advancing health for all through the empowerment of nurses worldwide.
What would your biggest priority be as an ICN board member?
As a new ICN board member, my top priority would be to address the global nursing shortage and ensure safe and healthy working environments for nurses. These issues are critical as they directly impact the quality of health care and the well-being of nurses worldwide.
To address these issues, I would advocate for initiatives that promote fair pay, gender equity, mental health support, and respect for nurses. Ensuring that nurses are adequately compensated and valued for their work is essential to retaining and attracting talent to the profession. In addition, I would work to develop modernized nursing regulations that allow for advanced practice and nurse-led models of care, which can help reduce the burden on health-care systems and improve patient outcomes.
Another key aspect of my priority would be to support the implementation of ICN’s Charter for Change, which aims to maximize investment in the nursing workforce, education, leadership, and well-being. By focusing on these areas, we can create a more sustainable and empowered nursing workforce capable of meeting the challenges of today’s rapidly changing health-care landscape.
I will also propose to the newly elected ICN board of directors to consider the creation of a Francophone and Hispanophone action committee to bring their voice to the table and ensure that we address issues in their reality. For example, I would suggest that the Global Nursing Leadership Institute could be offered in French and Spanish to reach a wider range of nurses who want to take the program in one of the other two languages recognized by ICN.
Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that ICN adheres to its mission, vision and strategic plan, and that it works to ensure that all nurses are recognized as key decision-makers and influencers in all aspects of health policy and care delivery. This will advance the nursing profession and improve global health outcomes.
How is ICN relevant to nurses in North America and the Caribbean?
ICN is crucial to the development of nurses in the Americas (North America and the Caribbean) because it provides a unified platform to address regional and global nursing challenges. Through ICN, nurses’ voices in these regions must engage in international collaboration, share best practices, and advocate for policies that improve health outcomes.
ICN’s advocacy efforts are critical to addressing issues such as the nursing shortage, workplace safety, and professional development. By promoting fair pay, gender equity, and mental health support, ICN helps to ensure that nurses in North America and the Caribbean are valued and supported in their role. This is particularly important in regions where health systems are under significant strain and resources are often limited.
In addition, ICN initiatives such as the Charter for Change aim to maximize investment in the nursing workforce, education, leadership, and well-being. ICN’s work directly benefits nurses in North America and the Caribbean by providing opportunities for professional growth and leadership development. ICN also plays a vital role in influencing health policy at the highest levels, ensuring that the voices of nurses from these regions are heard and considered in global health discussions.
Overall, ICN's efforts help to elevate the status of nurses in North America and the Caribbean and advocate for their recognition as key decision-makers in health policy and care delivery, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the nursing profession and the improvement of health outcomes in these regions.
Sylvain Brousseau, PhD, RN, FFNMRCSI, FAAN, is the former president of the Canadian Nurses Association and member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. The ICN board election will occur at the ICN Congress in June 2025.
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