A Shared Vision for Tracheostomy Care: How the ICN’s Updated Framework Strengthens Collaboration

Tracheostomy care spans critical care, rehabilitation, and community settings, requiring collaboration among clinicians, patients, and families. The International Council of Nurses' (ICN) 2025 definitions of nursing and a nurse provide a timely framework for advancing this continuum, emphasizing equity, health literacy, cultural safety, and shared accountability. These principles align with the mission of the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative, which promotes interprofessional teamwork, caregiver engagement, and data-driven quality improvement. Within this model, nurses serve as system integrators, working with patients and professionals in safeguarding airway management, supporting transitions, and empowering families with knowledge and confidence. Evidence demonstrates that structured protocols, discharge planning, and caregiver training reduce complications, disparities, and readmissions. Globally, nurses are also critical team members who drive innovation in resource-limited settings, adapting protocols and educational strategies to community needs. By situating tracheostomy care within the ICN framework, we highlight the central role of nurses as autonomous practitioners and collaborative partners. Specific examples illustrate this continuum. The renewed definitions reinforce that tracheostomy safety and dignity depend not on isolated tasks, but on coordinated, culturally responsive systems of care. This shared language affirms recognition of contributions of all health professional engaged in interprofessional collaboration, thereby offering a global vision for safer, more equitable outcomes across the tracheostomy journey.