General Prerequisites

Article 1: Title, Site And Head Offices

1. The World Federation of Critical Care Nurses (WFCCN) is a federation of critical care nursing associations. The member associations are formally admitted into membership and accept the constitution of WFCCN.
2. The address for the WFCCN will be at a place determined by the Council of Representatives (CoR) from time to time. Considerations to security, continuity and convenience will be used to inform the decision of the Council of Representatives.

Article 2: Descriptions And Definitions

1. The WFCCN is a non-governmental and independent organisation.
2. A critical care nursing association is an association or society of critical care nurses. Or it is a separate critical care nurses section within a health professional association with its own constitutions, regulations and rules.
3. All critical care nursing associations, societies, or sections will be referred to as critical care associations in this constitution.
4. A critical care nurse is a person who holds a recordable or registered nursing qualification in their own country and contributes to the field of critical care nursing.
5. Critical care nursing is specialised nursing care of critically ill patients who have manifest or potential disturbances of vital organ functions. Critical care nursing means assisting, supporting and restoring the patient towards health, or easing the patient’s pain and preparing them for a dignified death. The aim of critical care nursing is to establish a therapeutic relationship with patients and their relatives and to empower the individuals' physical, psychological, sociological and spiritual capabilities by preventive, curative and rehabilitative interventions.

Article 3: Official Language

1. The official language of the WFCCN is English.
2. Should any question arise as to the meaning in translated documents, the meaning in the official language text shall prevail.
3. Where appropriate, the WFCCN will have official documents translated to other languages and accessible via the World Wide Web.

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Purpose and Objectives

Article 4: Philosophy

The WFCCN philosophy is to assist critical care nursing associations and nurses without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origins property, birth or other status in the pursuit of the objectives of the WFCCN.

Article 5: Purpose

The WFCCN purposes are:

• to link critical care nursing associations and nurses throughout the world
• to strengthen the influence and contribution of critical care nurses to health care globally
• to be a collective voice and advocate for critical care nurses and patients at an international level

Article 6: Objectives

The WFCCN objectives are:

1. To represent critical care nurses and critical care nursing at an international level.
2. To improve the standard of care provided to critically ill patients and their families throughout the countries of the world.
3. To advance the art and science of critical care nursing in all countries throughout the world.
4. To promote co-operation, collaboration and support for critical care nursing associations and individuals.
5. To improve the recognition of critical care nursing throughout the world.
6. To maintain and improve effective co-operation between all health professionals, institutions, agencies and charities who have a professional interest in the care of critically ill patients.
7. To establish standards for the education, practice and management of critical care nursing.
8. To foster and support research initiatives that advance critical care nursing and patient/family care.
9. To encourage and enhance education programs in critical care nursing throughout the world.
10. To provide conferences, written information and continuing education for critical care nurses.

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Member Associations

Article 7: Criteria For Membership

1. Any critical care nursing association in the world is eligible for membership as long as they fulfil the WFCCN definition stated in this constitution (article 2.2 and 2.3) and are not in conflict with the WFCCN objectives and philosophy.
2. The critical care nursing associations that join the WFCCN shall be controlled by critical care nurses. Such associations and their representatives gain their authority from their members when speaking on critical care nursing matters.
3. Critical care nurses from countries with no critical care nursing association may have observer status to WFCCN meetings, and/or identify a single contact person for information distribution. Alternatively they may affiliate with a WFCCN member organisation from a nearby country.
4. Associate Members are any individual or organisation wishing to participate in the activities of the WFCCN but not having a member association in their country. These may include, but are not limited to persons identified in Article 7.3, Trade and Industry Partners, Federations of Critical Care Nurse associations, non Critical Care Nursing organisations.
5. Associate members may apply for observer status at WFCCN meetings but do not have any of the rights or obligations outlined in Article 9.

Article 8: Formal Procedures For Admission

1. The critical care nursing association applying for membership shall apply for membership in writing to the WFCCN. See Schedule 1 – Application for membership to WFCCN.
2. An eligible critical care nursing association is accepted into membership through the vote of the Council of Representatives.
3. Associate members apply for membership in writing to the WFCCN. Associate membership will be confirmed by a vote of the Council of Representatives. See Schedule 1 – Application for membership to WFCCN.

Article 9: Rights And Obligations Of Members

1. To speak and to vote in the meetings of the Council of Representatives.
2. To nominate and elect candidates for the WFCCN offices and committees.
3. To notify the Secretary of the number of active critical care nurses who are members of their member association as at 31st December. This information will be with the Secretary by the 28th of February of the following year.
4. To pay the membership subscription on time.
5. To inform the Core Administration about changes which relate to the Council of Representatives.
6. To assist the WFCCN in its activities as agreed to from time to time by the Council of Representatives.

Article 10: Withdrawal From Membership

1. A member association may withdraw its membership in the WFCCN at any time for any reason by giving written notice to the Core Administration.
2. The withdrawal is effective immediately.
3. Any property of the WFCCN is to be returned with the written notice of withdrawal.
4. Any member association shall receive formal acknowledgement of withdrawal from the Secretary.
5. Subscriptions and any payments that are due by the member association should be paid but these can be waived at the discretion of Council of Representatives. No refund of subscription will be given.
6. If a member association is in arrears of subscriptions by more than a year they will be deemed as having withdrawn from the WFCCN.

Article 11: Termination Of Membership

1. The membership of a member association may be terminated by a vote of more than a half plus one of the Council of Representatives present, or proxy, voting on the grounds of no longer meeting the criteria for membership (article 7) or failure of conduct according the obligations (article 9).
2. This vote will be taken on the recommendation of the Core Administration.
3. Prior to the recommendation the Core Administration will offer reasonable opportunity for a formal hearing with the member association representative.

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Membership Subscription

Article 12: Determination Of Subscription Fees

1. The annual membership subscription shall be based on a formula agreed by the Council of Representatives and to be paid annually and as required by each member association.
2. The annual membership subscription shall be determined in advance for the following fiscal year. Any association who joins the WFCCN after July 1, shall pay half of the annual fee.
3. A fiscal year equates to a calendar year commencing January 1st and concluding December 31st.
4. The Council of Representatives may make special determinations from time to time to waive fees of critical care associations with genuine cases of impoverishment.

Article 13: Payment Of Subscription Fees

The annual subscription is due January 1 of the year. Subscription fees pay for the forthcoming year.

Article 14: Funding Of The Federation

Until the WFCCN is able to generate income, the representatives will be funded by their own critical care nursing association to participate in the activities of the WFCCN.

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Statutory Bodies and Committees

Article 15: Council Of Representatives

1. The Council of Representatives is the highest authority of the WFCCN and is made up of one representative from each member association.
2. Each member association, through its representative, has one vote on the Council of Representatives.
3. Each representative must:
   • be a critical care nurse
   • be nominated by their member association
   • have access to email and be competent in English
4. If a representative is unable to attend meetings or activities of the federation, the critical care association may nominate another critical care nurse of their association as a proxy or substitute. Alternatively they may nominate another member association or an associate member or a Federation of Critical Care Nurses to act as a proxy or substitute.
5. The meetings of the Council of Representatives shall be at least once every 2 years and each meeting will be planned 12 months in advance. The venue of the meeting shall move around the world and should coincide with a major international critical care conference. The President of the Federation will chair each meeting or nominate a delegate in their absence.
6. The President and the Secretary will arrange the meeting agenda. The President and the Secretary in collaboration with the Administrative Secretary shall determine the proceedings, facilities, catering and other requirements for the meeting. The Administrative Secretary of the meeting is the WFCCN representative of the host country or any other critical care nursing leader from that country if there is no member association in that country.
7. Extraordinary meetings of the Council of Representatives shall be held as it is deemed necessary by the Council of Representatives and/or the Core Administration. They will be called by the Core Administration on request of at least one-third of the Council of Representatives.
8. Meetings of the Council of Representatives may be attended by more than one member association person or by board members of the critical care nursing association, by associate members, official observers or invited guests who may report on special topics. All have the right to speak by invitation of the President but will not hold any voting rights unless they have proxy voting rights of a member association.
9. The functions of the Council of Representatives are to:
   • establish policies and priorities to fulfil the objectives of the WFCCN;
   • communicate between the Council of Representatives and the Core Administration;
   • receive, consider and act upon information, motions and nominations;
   • act upon recommendations regarding the admission of member associations;
   • determine the amount of subscription fees to be paid each year;
   • amend the constitution, and;
   • dissolve the WFCCN

Article 16: Core Administration

1. The Core Administration undertakes the business of the WFCCN between meetings of the Council of Representatives.
2. All member representatives of the WFCCN shall be equal and will be entitled to one vote only on any matters raised and thus have no hierarchical positions.
3. Role descriptions of the Core Administration are described in Schedule 2 – Role descriptions of Core Administration.
4. The representatives or member associations shall nominate individuals and elect candidates for the Core Administration by majority voting at the meeting of the Council of Representatives.
5. The term of office for the Core Administration will commence from the closure of the meeting of the Council of Representatives to the closure of the meeting of the Council of Representatives in approximately two years time. Therefore it is acknowledged that the actual term of office may be less or more than two years depending on the dates set for the Council of Representatives meeting.
6. The Core Administration shall regulate its business according to the constitution, standing orders and policies and procedures developed and agreed to over time by the Council of Representatives.
7. The Core Administration is responsible for organising meetings, administering the budget, monitoring the achievement of objectives and attracting sponsorship.
8. Actions of the Core Administration which may be executed by (e)mail, fax or phone must be ratified at the next meeting of the Council of Representatives or by way of a virtual decision emailed and accepted by the Council of Representatives.
9. The Core Administration shall meet at least once in every year. At the Core Administration meetings the representatives will neither represent their member association nor vote for their country. Rather, the representatives will agree by consensus on actions of business to be undertaken on behalf of and for the WFCCN. Such meetings do not need to be face to face unless convenient to do so.
10. In the case of a vacancy of a member of the Core Administration the vacancy shall be filled by nomination and election of another representative by the Council of Representatives. The Council of Representatives can undertake this at their next meeting or by virtual decision via the nomination and voting process.
11. The meetings of the Core Administration shall be funded by WFCCN if the budget provides enough income and if agreed to by a majority vote of the Council of Representatives.

Article 17: Formal Committees

1. The WFCCN shall establish committees and/or working parties as required.
2. The chair of the committee/working party shall be nominated by the Council of Representatives and the chair of the committee shall present recommendations for the Council of Representatives consideration and action.
3. The meetings of the Committees/working parties shall be funded by the WFCCN if required and if the budget provides sufficient income and if agreed by a majority vote of the Council of Representatives.

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Nominations and Elections

Article 18: Nominations

1. Any Council of Representatives member may nominate one individual, or themselves, for each of the offices of the Core Administration.
2. Nominations for the Core Administration can only be drawn from the Council of Representatives.

Article 19: Elections

1. The Council of Representatives elects the candidates for each of the offices of the Core Administration by secret ballot at the appropriate meeting. Or email, if an unacceptable delay is expected till the next meeting of the Council of Representatives.
2. The members of the Core Administration shall be elected according to those who received the highest number of votes. In the event of two persons receiving the same number of votes, a second ballot shall be taken restricted to those nominees who are tied until a clear winner is identified.
3. In the event of only one nomination for a position on the Core Administration there will be a vote of the Council of Representatives to accept that nominee. If they fail to get more than half plus one of the votes to accept the nominee the position will not be filled and the nomination process will be reopened.

Article 20: Quorums/Voting

1. A quorum for the Council of Representatives is defined as half plus one of the Council of Representatives.
2. A quorum for the Core Administration is defined as a half plus one of the Officers of the Core Administration.
3. The meetings of the Council of Representatives and the Core Administration must have a quorum in order to take action for its business. If a meeting of the Council of Representatives does not achieve a quorum any actions or decisions made must be ratified by a majority of the Council of Representatives within six months. The virtual voting (article 20-item 7) may be used for ratifying these decisions.
4. Any action must be accepted by voting of the Council of Representatives and be based on a majority vote of the representatives, or proxy votes, who are present and voting.
5. Abstentions shall be excluded from the total from which the majority is calculated but the results of voting shall be minuted as: 'for', 'against' and 'abstain'.
6. In the event that a decision of the Council of Representatives is required between meetings, the President may allow a motion to be made and seconded by another member. The virtual voting (article 20-item 7) may be used for ratifying these decisions. Each member’s vote must be recorded by the Secretary and minuted at the next meeting.
7. For virtual voting the Secretary must send the motion, with the name of the mover and seconder to all members of the Council of Representatives. A closing date will be made; this should leave time for all representatives to discuss the matter with their association. It should also leave time for virtual discussion. The motion will be sent a second time one week prior to the closing date to all those who have not recorded a vote by that stage. The Secretary must keep an up to date list of electronic contact details for the purpose of virtual voting. The voting will be recorded as 'for' 'against', 'abstain' and "no response". ''No response will not be counted in the totals for voting. Thus a majority is a majority of those who have voted. Each member’s vote must be recorded by the Secretary and minuted at the next meeting.

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Final Prerequisites

Article 21: Amendments

1. Any member association may propose amendments to the Constitution of the WFCCN. The Constitution may be amended at any meeting of the Council of Representatives provided that written suggestions are forwarded to the Council of Representatives three months in advance.
2. Any amendment must be accepted by voting of the Council of Representatives and be based on a two-thirds vote of the representatives who are present, or have proxy, and voting.
3. Changes to a Schedule to the Constitution may occur without prior notice but must be approved following the procedures of Article 20.

Article 22: Dissolution

1. The WFCCN may be dissolved at any meeting of the Council of Representatives provided that written recommendations of a half of the member associations are forwarded to the Council of Representatives six months in advance.
2. The dissolution of the WFCCN is only possible if two-thirds of the member associations present, or have proxy, and voting agree to the dissolution of the WFCCN.
3. Fundamental to the dissolution of the WFCCN is that all financial obligations are fulfilled. The remaining assets, finances and the equipment will be shared equitably and be given to the member associations of WFCCN.

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