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The Association of Catholic Nurses in England and Wales was founded under the name of the Catholic Nurses Guild in 1897. Moves to change the name of the organization to the Association of Catholic Nurses took place around the centenary celebrations of the organization in 1997 in order to move into the new millennium with a fresh updated modern image.
The Association of Catholic Nurses England and Wales works with other agencies such as the Guild of Catholic Doctors and Catholics in Healthcare [1], the national Catholic healthcare group of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales to promote Catholic philosophies of care within nursing practice and to provide spiritual and professional support to Catholics working in healthcare.
The Association also links with other Catholic agencies such as the Linacre Centre in addition to Government and Non Government health organizations to explore research and discussion of biomedical and ethical issues and current work practice in the context of social change and the teaching of the Catholic Church.
At international level the Association represents the nursing profession of the Catholic Church in England and Wales on CICIAMS the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medical-Social (healthcare)Assistants. CICIAMS works closely with the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care [2] and also as a Catholic international organization has long established formal NGO (Non Government Organization) consultative relations with WHO, UN/UNESCO/UNICEF and other leading world health organizations to promote respect for Catholic Church teachings of the dignity and sanctity of all human life within local national and international healthcare programmes and practices of care.