Background

Objectives

Organisation

Core Committee

CoR

Members

Constitution

10.08.2003:The WFCCN Constitution was revised at the Council of represetatives meeting in May 2003. Constitution of The World Federation of Critical Care Nurses

Full tex version of WFCCN Constitution in printerfriendly .pdf-format

I. GENERAL PREREQUISITES
ARTICLE 1 TITLE, SITE AND HEAD OFFICES
1. The World Federation of Critical Care Nurses, abbreviated as WFCCN, is a federation of critical care nursing associations. The member associations are formally admitted into membership and have accepted the constitution of WFCCN.
2. The address for any formal correspondence to the WFCCN is with the secretary of WFCCN.

ARTICLE 2 DESCRIPTIONS AND DEFINITIONS
1. The WFCCN is a non-governmental and independent organisation.
2. A critical care nursing association is an association, society, or federation of critical care nurses. In countries where no such group exists, it is a separate critical care nurses section within a health professional association or a subgroup of the national nurses association which have in both cases its own constitutions, regulations and rules.
3. 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.
4. 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 to ease the patients' pain and to prepare 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, cultural and spiritual capabilities by preventive, curative and rehabilitative interventions.

ARTICLE 3 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
1. The official language of the WFCCN is English.
2. Should there be any questions arising as to the meaning in translated documents, the meaning in the text written in the official language shall be predominant.

II. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
ARTICLE 4 PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy of the WFCCN is to assist critical care nursing associations and nurses regardless of age, gender, nation, colour, religious beliefs, cultural or social background in the pursuit of the objectives of the WFCCN.

ARTICLE 5 PURPOSE
The purpose of the WFCCN is 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 and to be a collective voice and advocate for critical care nurses and patients at an International level.

ARTICLE 6 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the WFCCN 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 organisations and individuals.
5. To improve the recognition given to 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 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.

III. MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
ARTICLE 7 CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. Any critical care nursing association in the world is eligible for membership as long as they fulfill the WFCCN definition stated in this constitution (article 2.2 and 2.3) and are not in conflict with the WFCCN objectives.
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: any individual or organisation wishing to participate in the activities of the WFCCN but does not have a member association in their country. These may include, but are not limited to persons identified in Article 7.3, Trade and Industry Partners, Non Critical Care Nursing organisations. Associate members may apply for observer status at WFCCN meetings but do not have any of the rights or obligations outlined in Article 9 (1-3) for members.

ARTICLE 8 FORMAL PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION
1. Any critical care nursing association or potential associate members seeking membership shall apply for membership in writing to the WFCCN.
2. An eligible critical care nursing association is accepted into membership through a decision of the Council of Representatives.

ARTICLE 9 RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
1. To contribute and to vote in the meetings of the Council of Representatives (CoR).
2. To nominate and elect candidates for the WFCCN offices and committees.
3. To notify the Core Administration about the number of active critical care nurses on December 31 each year and to pay the membership subscription in time.
4. To inform the Core Administration about changes which relate to the Council of Representatives.
5. To assist the WFCCN in its activities as agreed to from time to time by the CoR.

ARTICLE 10 WITHDRAWAL FROM MEMBERSHIP
A member association may withdraw its membership in the WFCCN at anytime for any reason by giving written notice to the Core Administration. Any property of the WFCCN is to be returned. Any member association shall receive formal acknowledgement of withdrawal from the Core Administration and shall fulfil any subscription fees paid to WFCCN prior to withdrawal.

ARTICLE 11 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership may be terminated by the Council of Representatives on the grounds of failing to meeting the criteria for membership (article 7) or failure to conduct according the obligations (article 9). Fundamental to this action is a recommendation of the Core Administration after a formal hearing of the concerned representative and a majority voting of two-third of the CoR's who are present and voting at the meeting.

IV. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION

ARTICLE 12 DETERMINATION OF SUBSCRIPTION FEES
1. The annual membership subscription shall be based on a formula agreed by the CoR and to be paid annually and as required by each member association.
2. The annual membership subscription shall be effected in advance for the following fiscal year. Any association who joins the WFCCN after July 1, shall pay half of the annual fee.
The Council of Representatives may make special determinations from time to time to waiver fees of associations with genuine cases of impoverishment.

ARTICLE 13 PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTION FEES
The annual membership subscription is due January 1 of the year.

ARTICLE 14 FUNDS AND ASSETS OF THE FEDERATION
All income derived by the Federation and all property of the Federation must be applied in the furtherance of the Federation’s objectives or as permitted by these rules.

The Federation shall hold its funds in such Bank or Financial Institution, as the Council will approve from time to time.

The funds held by the Federation may be derived from annual subscriptions, reimbursements, donations and sponsorships and any other activities lawfully generating income and approved by the Council.

All expenditure shall be approved or ratified by the Council as reported by the Treasurer.

Two or more of the following may authorise payment of any cheques or any other payment transfer: Chair, Secretary, Trade Liaison Officer and Treasurer.

All payments are to be paid by cheque or direct deposit transfer.

The Treasurer is to prepare a statement of income, expenditure, assets and liabilities half-yearly, as required by the Council and as soon as practical after the end of the financial year that ends 31 December. These reports are to be made available to member associations on request.

V. STATUTORY BODIES AND COMMITTEES
ARTICLE 15 COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES
1. The highest authority of the WFCCN is the Council of Representatives. Each association shall be represented by one representative. Each representative must be a critical care nurse and be nominated by the critical care nursing association.
2. 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.
3. The meetings of the Council of Representatives shall be at least once every 2 years and will be planned 12 months in advance. The venue of the meeting shall move around the world and should attempt to coincide with a major international critical care conference. The Chair of the Federation will chair each meeting or nominate a delegate in her/his absence.
4. The Chair shall work with the Secretary to arrange the meeting agenda. The chair and the Secretary shall work with the Administrative Secretary to determine the agenda, proceedings and facilities/ catering of the meeting. The Administrative Secretary to each meeting is the WFCCN representative of the host country or any other critical care nursing leader from that country if there is no association member in that country.
5. 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 upon by the Core Administration on request of at least one-third of the Council.
6. The meetings of the Council of Representatives may be attended by more than one representative 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 of them have the right to speak by invitation of the Chair but will not hold any voting rights.
7. The functions of the Council of Representatives is to:
• Establish policies and priorities to fulfil the objectives of the WFCCN,
• Communicate with the CoR's 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.
8. Each country/association will have one vote on the Council of Representatives. If the representative or its proxy is unable to attend, s/he can nominate in writing one of the other CoR representatives to take over her/his proxy voting.

ARTICLE 16 CORE ADMINISTRATION
1. The Core Administration (CA) takes the actions for business of the WFCCN within the time intervals between the 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. The Core Administration shall have the post of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Trade and Industry Sponsorship Coordinator. These roles represent specific tasks and responsibilities but have no extra powers or authority than any other member of the Council.
3. 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. Core Administration positions are elected for a two-year terms. Elections are held on the odd-year at a full Council meeting where possible. Elections have been held in 2001, 2003 and are due in 2005.
4. The Core Administration shall regulate its business according to standing orders, policies and procedures developed and agreed to over time by the CoR.
5. The Core Administration is accountable for organising the meetings, administering the budget, monitoring the achievement of objectives and attracting sponsorship.
6. Immediate 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 CoR from time to time.
7. 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. They rather, agree only by consensus on actions of business to be undertaken on behalf of and for the WFCCN.
8. In the case of a vacancy of one Core Administrator the vacancy shall be filled by nomination and election of another representative at the next meeting of the Council of Representatives or by virtual decision via an email nomination and voting process.
9. The meetings of the Core Administration shall be funded by WFCCN once the budget provides enough income. In the mean time, their member organisation will be responsible for these costs.

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 CoR and the chair of the committee shall present recommendations for the CoRs consideration and action.
3. The meetings of the Committees/working party shall be funded by the WFCCN if required.

VI. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
ARTICLE 18 NOMINATIONS
1. Any representative of a member association may nominate one individual for each of the four 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 (e)mail, if an unacceptable delay is expected till the next meeting of the CoR.
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.

ARTICLE 20 QUORUM/VOTING
1. A quorum for the Council of Representatives is defined as at least one-half of the Council of Representatives.
2. A quorum for the Core Administration is defined as at least three-fourth 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.
4. Any action must be accepted by voting of the Council of Representatives and be based on a majority vote of the representatives who are present and voting, unless otherwise specified in this constitution.
5. Abstentions shall be excluded from the total from which the majority is calculated but the results of voting shall be noted in the minutes as: 'for', 'against' and 'abstain'.
6. In the event that a decision of the Council of Representatives is required between meetings, the Chair may allow a motion to be made and seconded by any other members and a virtual decision may be accepted according to the above rules via email. Each member’s vote must be recorded by the Secretary and minuted at the next meeting.

VI. FINAL PREREQUISITES
ARTICLE 21 AMENDMENTS
1. Any member association may propose amendments of 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 CoR three months in advance.
2. Any amendment must be accepted by voting of the Council of Representatives and be based on a majority voting of two-third of the representatives who are present and voting.

ARTICLE 22 DISSOLUTION
1. The WFCCN may be dissolved at any meeting of the Council of Representatives provided that written recommendations of one-half of the member associations are forwarded to the CoR six months in advance.
2. The dissolution of the WFCCN is only possible if two-thirds of the member associations vote for the dissolution of the WFCCN.
3. Fundamental to the dissolution of the WFCCN is that all financial obligations are fulfilled. The remaining assets, financial and the equipment, will be shared equitably and be given to the member associations of WFCCN.