RCN Council elections: nominations for all seats open

Nominations are now open for our next RCN Council, President and Deputy President, and we’re encouraging our eligible members nationwide to put themselves forward.   

The following seats will be filled in the election:   

• President
• Deputy President  
• 12 x country/regional seats (Council)  
• 1 x Nursing Support Worker seat (Council)
• 1 x Student seat (Council). 

The RCN Council is formed of 17 elected members from all four UK countries, who engage with over half a million members across their careers, and feed back their views to inform our decision-making. They are dynamic, experienced nursing leaders who play a key role within the RCN, the largest nursing union and professional body in the world. You can find out more about Council election eligibility here. 

Meanwhile, the RCN President and Deputy President are ambassadors for nursing in the UK and internationally. The holders of these prestigious roles will embody the vision and ambition of the College, working closely with our new General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger to influence change at this pivotal time for our profession.

We’re looking for dynamic, insightful, experienced leaders. They’ll care deeply about the profession and be confident in making collective decisions that affect the entire membership. They’ll also be able to navigate the complex political, financial and sectoral issues affecting our members.   

You have until 4.30pm on Thursday 29 August to put yourself forward.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “I am delighted to officially launch the nominations for RCN Council elections, including President and Deputy President.

“We need progressive collaborators, deeply passionate about the future of the nursing profession, who won’t shy away from the difficult questions we need to ask or the tough negotiations we need to make to drive our vision for nursing. In May, we launched our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, which highlights the values at the heart of our culture. We need an RCN Council that represents our diverse membership to ensure your voices, perspectives and challenges are heard.

“If this sounds like you, I urge you to put your name forward for nomination – don’t miss the opportunity to build and work alongside a modern, respectful, diligent and expert Council.”

The RCN is building a culture that champions equity, diversity and inclusion. Nursing is one of the most diverse of the health care professions, and so it’s vital that members feel represented by RCN Council. As we launch our equity, diversity and inclusion strategy, we’re realigning our commitment and encourage nominations from the full diversity of our membership. 

This is an incredible chance to be a part of something special, as we establish a solid and stable leadership for the coming years.