International Council of Nurses' Global Nursing Leadership Institute: Responding to the pandemic

Background In 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic forced the redesign of the International Council of Nurses' (ICN) Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI) that heretofore had included an intensive, week-long residential experience in Geneva, Switzerland. Aim This paper describes the development, implementation, challenges and preliminary outcomes of an approach that regionalized GNLI and delivered it online, while preserving some cross-regional connections among participants. Results A virtual approach to a global policy leadership programme cannot replace the richness of an intensive, concentrated residential one, but the redesign of GNLI has given ICN, its member national nursing associations and individual nurse leaders previously unexplored opportunities for networking and collaboration aligned with the six WHO regions, and for cross-region networking and discussions of global issues. Conclusion and implications for nursing and/or health policy The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the need for nursing leadership in policy and practice. A virtual approach to leadership development can increase the reach of programmes that seek to build nursing's capacity to advance health-promoting policies in workplaces, organizations and nations.

Automated summary

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to the redesign of the GNLI, transitioning it to an online format. While virtual programs cannot fully replace in-person experiences, they have provided new networking and collaboration opportunities aligned with WHO regions for ICN, national nursing associations, and nurse leaders.