Shared Challenges, Common Strength: Nordic Nursing for the Future

At the ICN Congress in Helsinki, the Nordic Nurses’ Federation brought the region’s voice to the global stage – with one clear message: Together, we are stronger.

June 2025

Nurses from around the world filled the auditorium as representatives from Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands shared Nordic perspectives on the future of nursing and nurses. The session was titled Nursing in Rural and Arctic Areas.

Nurses Are There

Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, President of the Nordic collaboration, opened the session:

The Nordic model is built on a belief: that health is not a privilege, but a right. Our systems are universal, publicly funded, and based on deep societal trust. And in this model, the nurse is not a background figure.We are clinical experts. Health promoters. Community builders. From the first days of life to the final days of life — in hospitals, nursing homes, homes, schools, and communities — nurses are there.

Resilient Healthcare Systems

Despite pressures on the Nordic welfare model, Sverresdatter Larsen emphasised the need to safeguard it:

The world is changing.Climate change, conflict, and crisis all demand new kinds of preparedness — and that includes civil healthcare systems that can respond in demanding times. For us in the Nordic countries, that means investing in advanced nurse practitioners. It means ensuring care reaches everyone — including those in rural and Arctic areas. These are not impossible challenges. But they require action — now.

Together We Can Find Solutions

Kaisa Juuso, Finland’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health, emphasised the indispensable role of nurses:

In Finland, nurses are highly educated professionals. They work independently and have important responsibilities in different roles and under a variety of job descriptions.

Juuso highlighted the significance of collaboration between Nordic countries — both politically and across nursing associations:

Cooperation between the Nordic countries is essential. Together we can find solutions to the challenges that affect all of us.

Presenters at the Nordic Session

The following speakers presented Nordic perspectives on nursing during the Nordic session at the ICN Congress:

  • Danish Tech Bridges: Connecting Nursing to Island Communities
    Dorthe Boe Danbjorg, President, Danish Nurses’ Organisation – Denmark

  • The Nordic Nurse of the Future: Leader, Innovator and Humanitarian
    Christine Gustafsson, Professor in Health Care Science,Sophiahemmet University and Mälardalen University – Sweden

  • A New Dawn in Nursing Education
    Thorsteinn Jonsson, CNS and director of simulation education – Iceland

  • The APN FO Project: Building Advanced Practice Nursing in a Small-Scale Society
    Tordis Tróndarson, PhD Candidate, University of the Faroe Islands – Faroe Islands

  • Attending to Arctic Rural Experiences: Nursing, Democracy and Social Change
    Bodil Blix, Professor, UiT The Arctic University of Norway – Norway

The Nordic session concluded with a greeting from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA. The audience erupted into full singing and dancing as “Waterloo” played.

View highlights from the Nordic session

At the ICN Congress, the Nordic Nurses’ Federation brought the region’s voice to the global stage – with one clear message: Together, we are stronger. Photo by: Kristin Henriksen.

Opening remarks from the president of The Nordic Nurses’ Federation, Lill Sverresdatter Larsen
The Nordic hour concluded with a greeting from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA. The audience erupted into full singing and dancing as “Waterloo” played.
Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Social Affairs and Health in Finland and Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, President of The Nordic Nurses’ Federation.
Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Finland
Dorthe Boe Danbjorg, President of Danish Nurses’ Organization.
Christine Gustafsson, Professor in Health Care Science,Sophiahemmet University and Mälardalen University in Sweden.
Thorsteinn Jonsson. CNS and director of simulation education in Iceland.
Tordis Tróndarson, PhD Student, University of the Faroe Islands, Faroe Islands.
Bodil Blix, Professor, UiT The Arctic university of Norway, Norway.
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The Nordic hour concluded with a greeting from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA. The audience erupted into full singing and dancing as “Waterloo” played.
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The Nordic hour concluded with a greeting from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA. The audience erupted into full singing and dancing as “Waterloo” played.
The Nordic hour concluded with a greeting from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA. The audience erupted into full singing and dancing as “Waterloo” played.
The Nordic hour concluded with a greeting from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA. The audience erupted into full singing and dancing as “Waterloo” played.