International Council of Nurses (ICN) International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) Research and Development Centre

Mission

To serve as a global hub for research, standards, education, and community building, leveraging standardized nursing language to generate robust, multisite evidence linking nursing interventions to patient outcomes and cost, thereby enhancing the value of nursing and advancing nursing's digital future.

Centre Information

Name

Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy Frances Payne Bolton
School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University

Address

9501 Euclid Avenue, Suite 359 Cleveland, OH 44106

Director

Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, FNAP
Telephone: (216) 256-7568
Email: jjf4@case.edu

Current Research Project: Project VISIBLE

This pilot project, in collaboration with TruMerit and University Hospitals of Cleveland, will employ artificial intelligence to identify standardized nursing languages, specifically North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International (NANDA-I) and International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP), within existing electronic health record data. 

Project Goals: The primary mission of this initiative is to make nursing’s contributions
visible, measurable, and actionable within health systems. By using standardized nursing
languages such as NANDA-I and ICNP and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), the project
aims to develop a universal terminology that accurately captures and measures nursing activities and patient outcomes globally. Ultimately, this work envisions a future where nursing knowledge seamlessly drives intelligent, personalized care worldwide—elevating the profession’s impact and transforming how health systems understand, value, and operationalize nursing practice.

Phase 1 Work Plan (Currently Underway): The first 12 months of the project (Phase 1) will focus on a pilot study at University Hospitals of Cleveland to establish the technical and methodological foundation and proof of concept, and provide preliminary data to support multisite and global scaling.

Institutions interested in serving as a data site for future phases of this research are invited to contact:

CWRU Research Lead: Andrew Reimer, axr62@case.edu

“This designation as an International Council of Nurses accredited International Classification for Nursing Practice Research and Design Center strengthens our mission of making nursing’s full value visible, measurable, and actionable through developing a globally standardized nursing terminology. It also elevates the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy as a global leader, advancing the sustained research and international collaboration needed to improve patient outcomes and shape healthcare policy worldwide.” 
Andrew Reimer, Case Western Reserve University

The project is anchored by a Global Steering Committee with experts in informatics, health economics, global health, and outcomes research.

Meet our Global Steering Committee:

Howard Catton, Chief Executive Officer, International Council of NursesPam Cipriano, Immediate Past President, International Council of Nurses
Connie Delaney, Professor & Dean, University of Minnesota School of NursingSusan Grant, Chief Clinical Officer, symplr
Sarah Gray, Senior Vice President of Nursing Impact, American Nurses AssociationHeather Herdman, Chief Executive Officer, NANDA International
Michelle Hereford, Chief Nursing Executive, University HospitalsBeverly Malone, President and CEO, National League for Nursing
Peter Pronovost, Chief Quality and Clinical Transformation Officer, University HospitalsMari Tietze, Myrna R. Pickard Endowed Professor, University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Max Topaz, Elizabeth Standish Gill Associate Professor of Nursing, Columbia University Medical CenterDeb Trautman, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Jing Wang, Dean and Professor, Florida State University College of NursingClaire Zangerle, Chief Executive Officer, American Organization for Nursing Leadership, Chief Nurse Executive, American Hospital Association