Politics in nursing

The debate, which would have featured at this year’s Congress, cancelled because of COVID-19, considered whether the RCN should take steps to ensure members recognise that politics is embedded in all aspects of nursing policy and practice.

Zeba Arif, who opened the debate, told members that she believes that being politically astute can empower nursing professionals to safeguard and advocate for their patients. 

“Government policies affect every area of nursing, starting with training,” she said, reminding members that being political does not mean party political.

Zeba, who is a member of the RCN Outer North West London Branch, which proposed the debate, said that despite being the largest health care workforce in the UK, members don’t always recognise what a powerful voice nursing can be due to a lack of awareness and political engagement.

But she said members in Northern Ireland who recently took unprecedented strike action in support of safe staffing and pay parity had demonstrated how successful political activism can be.

Dame June Clark also highlighted the success of RCN campaigning in Wales, where safe staffing legislation marked a “huge victory” following much hard work. “There can’t be anyone in Wales who doesn’t know the RCN stands for safe staffing,” she said.

During the debate, Samantha Spence, a member of the RCN Congress Agenda Committee, said: “People need to realise that politics is embedded in every aspect of our lives.”

Be bold and courageous

Summing up, Zeba told members they should be bold and courageous enough to stand up for their beliefs.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) says every registrant should be able to articulate concerns over service provision and any political decisions that may have an adverse effect on that provision.

Speaking after the debate about her own political activism, Zeba recalled as a student nurse in the UK asking to change a shift so that she could vote in a general election. Her charge nurse questioned why she would bother to vote. “I realised that reaction was par for the course,” Zeba said.

But she is heartened by the activism of members who do speak up for nursing, including many younger members whom she described as being “clued-up and politically savvy.”