Global Pinoy Nursing Congratulates New ICN CEO

We are pleased to know of the recent appointment of Dr. Frances Hughes, ONZM, DNurs, FANZCMHN FNZCMHN, RN, as the new Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses. She will take up the post as of February 2016.

Photo courtesy of UPPOTENTIAL http://uppotential.com.cn

Dr Hughes has had 30 years’ experience in the New Zealand and international health arena, working as a health clinician, manager and educator. She is a trained general and mental health nurse. In addition to her nursing qualifications, she has a BA, MA and a doctorate. Dr Hughes is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses and the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to Mental Health.

She has extensive knowledge of health policy development particularly in the field of nursing and mental health, research, and global health issues. Dr Hughes has played a major leadership role in nursing in New Zealand and was instrumental in the development of government policy around nurse prescribing, primary health care and rural scholarship schemes, nursing workforce, nurse practitioners and tele-nursing.

Dr Hughes is the former Chief Nurse for the Ministry of Health in New Zealand and prior to commencement with Queensland Health was Acting Deputy Director of Mental Health for New Zealand. Dr Hughes also held the position of Commandant-Colonel of the Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps for several years. Dr Hughes was the first nurse to be awarded the Harkness Fellowship in Health Care Policy in 2001, from Commonwealth Fund in New York, USA