Our story
How international collaboration led to a global coalition for respiratory nursing.
The International Coalition for Respiratory Nursing (ICRN) was born out of a shared recognition that respiratory nursing plays a vital role in healthcare systems worldwide, yet remains highly variable in terms of education, scope of practice, and professional recognition across countries.
Our story is one of collaboration, evidence, and a collective commitment to strengthening respiratory nursing for the benefit of patients, families, and health systems globally.
THE BEGINNING
Recognising a global need
Work that would later lead to the formation of ICRN began within the European Respiratory Society (ERS) nursing community. Through professional dialogue, education sessions, and international congresses, respiratory nurses from different countries began to highlight common challenges.
Despite differences in healthcare systems and regulation, nurses shared similar concerns. These included inconsistency in education and training, a lack of clarity around the scope of respiratory nursing practice, and limited opportunities for structured professional development in many regions.
It became increasingly clear that these challenges could not be addressed in isolation.
FROM DISCUSSION TO ACTION
Building a coalition
To move beyond discussion, an international working group of respiratory nurses was formed with the aim of exploring respiratory nursing practice on a global scale. This group brought together academic and clinical leaders, respiratory technologists, and researchers from a wide range of countries.
Through collaboration and consultation, the group worked to:
- Explore existing education and training pathways
- Identify similarities and differences in scope of practice
- Understand the needs of respiratory nurses working in diverse healthcare settings
This collective approach laid the foundations for a coordinated international response.
Learning from global data
A key step in the development of ICRN was the collection of international data to better understand respiratory nursing education and certification worldwide.
Survey work confirmed significant variation in formal education, access to specialist training, and professional recognition across countries. At the same time, it highlighted strong alignment in the core values, responsibilities, and aspirations of respiratory nurses globally.
This evidence reinforced the need for an international coalition and a shared framework that could support national systems while respecting local context.
FORMING ICRN
Becoming an international organisation
As collaboration expanded and the visibility of this work grew, respiratory nursing leaders from around the world came together to formally establish the International Coalition for Respiratory Nursing as a registered non-profit organisation.
ICRN was created with a clear purpose. To empower respiratory nurses to take an active role within healthcare systems, strengthen education and professional standards, and improve care for people living with respiratory conditions worldwide.
ICRN continues to grow as an international community of respiratory nurses, educators, researchers, and professional organisations. Our work evolves in response to emerging evidence, healthcare innovation, and the changing needs of respiratory patients and professionals.
Through collaboration, education, advocacy, and research, we remain committed to advancing respiratory nursing as a recognised and valued specialty across the globe.
