This year has proved to be a significant one for elections. And last week the results of the RCN Presidential and Council elections were announced . I want to offer my congratulations to all of the successful candidates, and in particular to Bejoy Sebastian, who will succeed me as RCN President.
It has been a great honour to serve as President for the last two years, and I know that the newly elected members will enjoy the unique experiences, opportunities and challenges that the roles bring.
When I put myself forward to stand for President of the RCN back in 2022, I had been a member for over 30 years. I was clear in my commitment that equity, diversity and inclusion would be a priority for me – and that I would personally drive forward the agenda.
When we launched our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy earlier this year, we set out actions to encourage greater inclusion, representation of diversity, and equitable support in meeting the needs of our membership across the UK. So, it’s really encouraging that the people elected in the RCN elections, who will be our lead members for the coming years, are another big step towards that brighter future.
On the subject of EDI, this Saturday 23 November marks Nursing Support Workers’ Day - and this year’s theme is the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion- celebrating nursing support workers as individuals and their important role in providing inclusive health care.
Nursing Support Workers' Day will highlight their roles and their skills and is a chance to say thank you for the essential care these valued members of the nursing team give every single day. It’s also a great opportunity to highlight the importance of inclusivity of nursing support workers within the nursing profession. That might be through the breath of roles or settings they work in, or the importance of inclusive language to describe their contribution to nursing and patient care.
Finally, you have the chance to highlight the great work done by your colleagues in the RCN Awards. The Awards celebrate the extraordinary dedication, skill and passion that our members bring not just to the nursing profession, but to our College.
If you know, or work with, outstanding individuals who embody the excellence and commitment that drive this profession forward – this is your opportunity to recognise them and nominate them. Please have a look through the award categories and submit your nomination – they’re open until 13 January 2025.
