International Council of Nurses at PMU
Nursing Shapes the Future of Healthcare
This was the key message delivered by DDr. (h.c.) Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), in his lecture at the Department of Nursing Science and Practice of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU). His presentation made it clear: the challenges facing our healthcare systems are similar worldwide. Demographic change, chronic diseases, a shortage of skilled professionals, and growing health inequalities demand new solutions. However, these solutions do not lie solely in expanding healthcare services, but in a fundamental reorientation—one that is more preventive, interprofessional, and consistently focused on the needs of people. This requires nursing professionals who can fully utilize their competencies, whether in direct patient care, research, teaching, or leadership and decision-making roles.
Catton’s message was unequivocal: Investing in nursing is not a cost, but an investment in the future of high-performing healthcare systems. It takes courage to recognize nursing as a shaping profession and to create the necessary framework conditions for it.
The exchange with Howard Catton made it clear: The healthcare of the future needs more than medical progress. It needs a strong nursing sector that operates on a scientific basis, takes responsibility, and actively co-designs the healthcare system. We thank him for his valuable insights and the inspiring exchange at our campus!
About Howard Catton
Born in the UK, Howard Catton has served as Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) since 2019. Prior to this, he led the ICN’s Nursing, Policy, and Programmes division and played a key role in developing international nursing policy. He was also co-chair of the WHO’s first State of the World’s Nursing Report and has been a global advocate for the protection and empowerment of nursing professionals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interview with PMU Chancellor
As part of the event, ORF Salzburg was also in attendance and conducted an interview with PMU Chancellor Pia Hössl-Dworschak. She emphasized the importance of close collaboration among all healthcare professions and highlighted the university’s interprofessional approach to education.
“Medicine and nursing are inseparably linked. The best care is achieved when the focus is on the person,” Hössl-Dworschak stressed. Only through the collaboration of different professions can high-quality healthcare be achieved.
The fact that PMU unites medicine, pharmacy, and nursing science under one roof is a deliberate strategic decision. “Our students learn to work interprofessionally during their training—just as they will in their future professional lives,” the chancellor explained. She added: “The challenges of the healthcare system can only be overcome together.”
A special focus is placed on the education of future nursing professionals. The goal is to train graduates who work on a scientific basis and are equipped to meet the current and future demands of the healthcare system. “Our aim is to ensure the best possible care for people at all stages of life,” said Hössl-Dworschak.
Link to the ORF Salzburg report:https://salzburg.orf.at/stories/3362549/
