Chapter I – Name of the Department and Purpose

Article 1 – Name

The name of the section is the Professional section of foreign nurses in Iceland, and it operates within the Icelandic Nurses Association (INA). The registered office and legal venue of the department are in Reykjavík, and its jurisdiction extends throughout Iceland. The laws and regulations of the Icelandic Nurses Association also apply to the department.

Article 2 – Purpose

The purpose of the department is to serve as a professional forum within the Icelandic Nurses Association that supports nurses with international backgrounds in Iceland and promotes their participation in the healthcare system.

The objectives of the department are to:

• Influence healthcare policy, particularly in matters concerning the status, integration, and working conditions of nurses with international backgrounds, as well as services for a diverse patient population.
• Promote education, language proficiency, and professional development for nurses of foreign origin, and encourage cultural competence in nursing.
• Encourage the sharing of knowledge, research, and experience related to multicultural nursing, the integration of healthcare professionals, and the quality of healthcare services.
• Serve as a liaison with the Icelandic Nurses Association and safeguard the interests of its members.
• Build strong collaboration with the professional divisions of the , international professional associations, and other nursing organizations, with an emphasis on sharing the knowledge and experience of nurses with international backgrounds working within the Icelandic healthcare system.
• Provide advice to the INA, its Board, and committees on matters relating to foreign nurses, diversity, and inclusion within the Icelandic healthcare system.

The department falls under the professional affairs division of the INA.

Chapter II – Membership

Article 3 – Membership

Membership in the department is open to nurses who are members of the INA and are of foreign origin, as well as nursing students of foreign origin who hold associate membership in the INA. Other members of the INA are also eligible for membership, provided they have an interest in matters concerning foreign nurses, diversity, and inclusion within the Icelandic healthcare system.

Article 4 – Application for Membership

Applications for membership in the department shall be received by the INA office and forwarded to the department’s Board. Any member who has failed to pay membership fees for two years shall be removed from the membership register.

Article 5 – Resignation

Resignation from the department shall be submitted in writing to the Board. The Board may also regard a member as having resigned if the member has failed to pay the department’s annual membership fee for two consecutive years.

Chapter III – Organization of the Department

Article 6 – Regulations

The department operates under the Icelandic Nurses Association, and the Association’s laws and regulations apply to the department.

Article 7 – Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting is the supreme authority in the affairs of the department. It shall be held annually in February or March. Notice of the meeting shall be given in a verifiable manner at least two weeks in advance. The notice shall include the meeting agenda and any proposals to be submitted to the meeting. The Annual General Meeting shall be considered lawfully convened if notice has been given in the manner and within the time limit specified above.

The Annual General Meeting may be held in person, remotely, or as a hybrid meeting. If held remotely or in hybrid format, it shall be ensured that participants enjoy equivalent rights to participation as at an in-person meeting, including the right to follow proceedings, speak, submit proposals, and vote.

Unless otherwise specifically provided for in the department’s laws or regulations, decisions at the Annual General Meeting shall be determined by a simple majority of votes cast.

Article 8 – Board

The Board shall consist of five members elected at the Annual General Meeting for a term of two years. The Chair shall be elected separately, while the remaining Board members shall divide among themselves the roles of Treasurer, Secretary, and Board Members. Two Alternate Members may also be elected to the Board.

If more than one member stands for the same position, the election shall be conducted by secret written ballot. If voting takes place at an in-person meeting, written ballot papers shall be used. If voting takes place remotely or in a hybrid meeting, voting shall be conducted electronically in a manner that ensures ballot secrecy, secure voter identification, and reliable vote counting.

The candidate receiving the majority of votes cast shall be elected. Elections shall be arranged in such a way that no more than three elected Board members, in addition to Alternate Members, retire from the Board at the same time.

The Board of the department shall reflect the diversity and broad experience of foreign nurses in Iceland. The Board may appoint committees as needed, including committees on education, integration, courses, or research.

Article 9 – Agenda of the Annual General Meeting

Following the formal proceedings of the Annual General Meeting, educational presentations may be offered.

The agenda of the Annual General Meeting shall be as follows:

• Election of a Chairperson and Secretary of the meeting
• Presentation of the Board’s report
• Presentation and approval of annual accounts
• Amendments to regulations
• Determination of membership fees
• Election of the Board
• Election of two auditors/reviewers of accounts
• Other matters

Article 10 – Membership Fees

Decisions regarding membership fees shall be made at the Annual General Meeting and reviewed annually. During the department’s first year of operation, the membership fee shall be ISK 2,500, and no grants shall be paid during that period. Members holding pensioner membership shall be exempt from paying membership fees.

Article 11 – Dissolution of the Department

A decision to dissolve the department shall be made at an Annual General Meeting by a three-quarters majority of votes cast, and the department’s assets shall be transferred to the INA .

If the section fails to submit an annual report to the INA Board for two consecutive years, the Association’s Annual General Meeting may decide to dissolve the department.