The first nursing association leaders. Contemporary challenges facing the leaders

The first national nursing organizations in the world created in the nineteenth century. The turn of century favored the inclusion of nurses in
the world and the creation of the International Council of Nurses (1899). The emergence and development of international organization and
national associations has been possible thanks to the immense power of leadership, mission and vision of the organization and nursing
profession and strategies for their achievement clearly defined by the leaders, patience and courage to achieve the objectives. Describing
the contemporary challenges is the basis for their resolution, even in very difficult circumstances.
The aim is presentation of the women leaders of the international movement of nurses and our national association at the beginning of their
creation and also dissemination of contemporary trends of the International Council of Nurses. The analysis included reprints of material
from the International Council of Nurses from the period of celebration of the century and from Polish literature in the history of nursing, and
also studies of related terminology and concepts of leadership in management theory.
Analysis of the literature indicates that international integration of nurses at the turn of the century inspired to build a strong support of the national
associations. Charisma of leaders of the International Council of Nurses representing the value, which in modern management theories are contained
in the concept of transformer leader, and the power of national associations altered the status of nurses and created a profession emphasizing
its humanistic values. Addressing the new challenges posed by twenty-first century is the next stage in the development of profession.

Nursing Topics 2010; 18 (2): 220-225