Mission
The World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses (WFNN) is an international neuroscience nursing organization dedicated to the promotion and development of neuroscience nursing worldwide. The mission of the WFNN is to encourage and facilitate interaction amongst neuroscience nurses worldwide and to aid, exchange and disseminate nursing knowledge. The WFNN is dedicated to
improving and fostering the highest nursing standards, encourage nursing research and the development of expertise across all levels of neuroscience nursing.
Activities of the WFNN include facilitating world neuroscience nursing scientific meeting every 4 years, development of educational materials for nursing and highlight and support local and international conferences. The WFNN actively seeks opportunities for learning, highlighted through the website and fosters the building of a community of neuroscience nursing international relationships.
If you are a nurse practicing within the neuroscience field but not yet a member of the WFNN, please contact
WFNN Board
The World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses (WFNN) is a global organization committed to advancing neuroscience nursing. Its mission is to promote interaction among neuroscience nurses globally and to support the sharing and growth of nursing knowledge.
Cathy Cartwright
Cathy is the Director of Advanced Practice Professional Development at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, with 20 years’ experience as a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist in neurosurgery. She began her nursing career in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where she became interested in neuroscience nursing.
Linda Nichols
Linda is a Registered Nurse with nearly 25 years’ experience. She began her nursing career in aged and community care before moving to neurosurgery in 2008 working across general neurosurgery, high dependency and oncology. From 2012, Linda has worked for the University of Tasmania in an academic role and as Stream Coordinator for the Postgraduate Neuroscience Nursing Stream.
Trudy Robertson
Trudy Robertson is a
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Neurosciences in Fraser Health, British Columbia Canada. She served on the CANN Board of Directors since 2008 until her final position as Past-President in 2023. She has been a neuroscience nurse for over 30 years in a variety of roles and sub-specialities including neurosurgery, neurology, spine and stroke.
Ebonye Green
Ebonye Green is an accomplished healthcare professional with a diverse and extensive background in nursing, neurosurgery, and critical care. She began her journey as a staff nurse in a neuroscience ICU at St. Louis University Hospital in 2005 and later transitioned into a successful career as a travel nurse, gaining invaluable experience in some of the country’s top neurosurgical intensive care units.
A Message from our President
As we begin a new year, I want to take this opportunity to tell you how grateful I am to be part of the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses. It has been my pleasure to meet many of you and learn more about international neuroscience nursing this past year at the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses (CANN) annual meeting and the Australasian Association of Neuroscience Nurses Sydney Symposium, as well as many virtual meetings. I continue to be impressed with the dedication of neuro nurses worldwide towards furthering their education and participating in research activities to improve patient care.
WFNN History
1969: Our Beginning
The WFNN is conceptualized by Agnes Marshall with the goal of developing and connecting neurosciences nurses worldwide in a community of education, association and support.
1969 was a big year. Russia launches a rocket towards Venus, the concord makes its maiden flight, Neil Armstrong lands on the moon and the Woodstock music and art festival is born.
1970-1993
The WFNN continues to build links and community fostering education and support
1993: Mexico
The meeting was held in beautiful Acapulco. Weather was spectacular and attended by many, including the WFNN executive committee, V. Roach (Pres), M. Reimer (VP), M. Fiore (Secretary) and C. Eberhardie (Treasurer).
1993 included the release of the famous movie Jurassic Park. Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk win the Nobel Peace prize. South Africa adopts a majority rule constitution and Rodney King raises racial awareness in the US. The world population sits as 5.5 billion. The Europeon Union is created.
1997: The Netherlands
Our meeting was held in beautiful Amsterdam at the heigth of spring and supported by Europeon Association of Neuroscience Nurses (EANN) and the local chair E. Baten. The executive committee of the WFNN for the 1997 congress was M. Reimer, the new President, C. Eberhardie (VP), S. Carroll (Secretary) and V. Prendergast (Treasurer)
1997 was a challenging year. Both Mother Theresa and Princess Diana pass away this year. 150 countries sign The Kyoto Protocol (global warming), Luxemborg is voted the world’s richest country, while the beginning of the global economic crisis is realized.
2001: Australia
The conference was held way down under in spectacular Sydney, home of the famous Opera House and hosted by the Australian Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) and local chair, V. Evans. The WFNN Executive committee for the 2001 congress was H. Ubachs (Pres), B. Lester (VP), P. Hagell (Secretary), V. Prendergast (Treasurer).
In 2001, the twin towers collapse and a plane crashes into the Pentagon. An earthquake in India kills >20,000 people, the IRA dismantles it weapons arsenal and the leaning Tower of Pisa is finally re-opended after 11 years of repairs.
2005: Spain
The conference was held in the romantic city of Barcelona during the springtime and hosted by the local chair R. Suner. The executive commitee for the WFNN in 2005 was H. Ubachs (Pres), P. Hagell (VP), R. Firth (Secretary) and V. Prendergast (Treasurer). Our executive team also welcomed JD Meacham as the Executive Director.
In 2005, Pope John Paul II passes away and >4 million people attend his funeral. Disneyland celebrates is 50th birthday, the Avian flu shows itself, and the Kyoto Protocol comes into effect.
2009: Canada
Our meeting was held in the culturally-diverse city of Toronto at York University during the early summer and hosted by the local chair of the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses (CANN) W. Koopman. The executive committee for the WFNN for the 2009 congress consisted of V. Prendergast (Pres), V. Evans (VP), K. March (Secretary), P. Hagell (Treasurer) and JD Meacham, Executive Director. 2009 was the beginning of EANN and Neuroblend, consisting of a group of dedicated neuroscience experts with a passion for international education. Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first female astronaut in space was the key note speaker.
Also in 2009; the ‘swine flu’ is listed as a global pandemic, Barack Obama is voted in as president, Australia witnesses its worst wild fires and Greenland is voted the least populated country representing .001% of the world’s population.
2013: Japan
The conference was held in beautiful city of Gifu during the early spring and hosted by the Japanese Assocation of Neuroscience Nurses (JANN) and local chair Mitsue Ishiyama. Many of us climbed that famous mountain and highly enjoyed the local culture. The congress was attended by 340 nurses from across the world. The executive commitee for the WFNN for the 2013 congress was V. Prendergast (Pres), V. Evans (VP), K. March (Secretary/Treasurer) and JD Meacham, Executive Director.
In 2013; Twitter goes live, a garment factory in Bangladesh claims 1100 people, world politics and violence erupts, and the 3D printer is born.
2015: Update
So far, in 2015 we updated our website and welcomed Uganda into the WFNN.
Italy joins the WFNN
We welcomed the Italian neuroscience nurses to the WFNN. Christi DeLemos joined President Cristina Razzini in Rome for their highly successful national meeting.
Singapore joins the WFNN
The executive board welcomes the Singapore neuroscience nurses association to the WFNN. Welcome!
Retirement of a long standing WFNN employee
D Meacham, a long standing WFNN Board member retires from the WFNN after a long industrious career. We will miss his humour, his dedication to neuroscience nursing and his beautiful pictures of the mountains where he resides. Congratulations and thank you for all the hard work! Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
PAST PRESIDENTS
Christi DeLemos (2013-2021)
Virginia Prendergast (2009-2013)
Herman Ubachs (2001-2009)
MEMBERS AND PARTNERS
SPONSORS
SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONS
Awards
International Neuroscience Nurse Leadership Award
What is The DAISY Award for International Neuroscience Nurse Leadership?
The DAISY Foundation, standing for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, was created to honor the memory of J. Patrick Barnes who was diagnosed with the auto-immune disease ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura). The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created to recognize kind and compassionate nursing care in honor of the care received by Patrick and his family. The DAISY Award honors the super-human work nurses do for patients and families every day wherever they practice, in whatever role they serve, and throughout their careers. The International Neuroscience Nurse Leadership Award encompasses all this and more by honouring those who have spent their careers working in the neuroscience specialty.