Introducing ICN's International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP): a unifying framework

Seven years ago, ICN had a vision: To establish a common language about nursing practice to describe nursing care that could be compared across borders, populations, settings and time. Today part of this vision has become a reality: the Alpha Version and a database for an International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP), described on the following pages, for which ICN is eliciting feedback, critique and recommendations from nurses in all settings everywhere. Below, a historical review.