What a Congress we have had this year, from the Linda Selis key note speech to meeting our amazing forum members who are so passionate about diabetes care - it's been a special one.
We have been working hard this year to increase our engagement to ensure our members are aware of the work we are undertaking to help improve their practice. The support we felt from our members of the forum and those who from other forums was overwhelmingly positive. It was clear that diabetes touches every part of nursing specialisms and how increasing awareness and general understanding will only serve to improve confidence for our members in their clinical practice.
Alongside this, we were approached by members who are living with diabetes or who have family members who also are, and it was evident that stigma is still a problem in contemporary practice. Therefore we wanted to raise awareness and I'm very happy to say that through RCN support the organisation has signed the 'End Diabetes Stigma' global campaign to demonstrate our support for both staff and patients. We will continue to raise awareness and that many members and staff, including Chief Nurse and current acting Chief Executive and General Secretary Nicola Ranger, praise the campaign and got involved at Congress with our pledge materials.
The unique opportunity Congress provides for our forum members is the opportunity to become a voting member. This means through an application process, securing a funded place to attend congress and have opportunity to vote on resolutions to shape the work of the RCN over the coming year. We took some time to speak to our voting members, with views as below:
"Attending the Royal College of Nursing Congress 2024 for the first time last week was an incredible and transformative experience. This gathering of passionate and dedicated professionals showcased the heart and soul of nursing. We came together from different corners of the nation, and it became clear that our collective commitment to excellence, compassion, and innovation is driving the future of nursing. The congress was more than just a series of talks and sessions; it was a celebration of our profession's resilience and an affirmation of our vital role. We engaged in thought-provoking and emotional debates, shared ground-breaking ideas, and connected with fellow nurses who are leading change in their fields. The energy was palpable, the learning invaluable, and the camaraderie inspiring. As part of the Diabetes Forum congress provided the perfect environment to address the misconceptions and biases that people with diabetes often face.. Many supported us by signing up for the End Diabetes Stigma Campaign. I look forward to attending Congress again in 2025."
Tamsin Fletcher - Salt Forum Committee Member Clinical Diabetes Nurse Specialist Diabetes and Endocrinology Team Leader
"The 2024 RCN Congress was a pivotal event for nursing professionals, offering insights into healthcare challenges and nursing advancements. Discussions included professional development, banding, specialist nursing levels, and workforce issues. I participated in a debate on using AI in healthcare, sharing my experience with an artificial pancreas for Type 1 diabetes. We also addressed diabetes stigma, which deeply affected many in our community. The congress left me motivated to enact change in nursing locally and beyond, I left after 2 days with a bit of regret that I didn’t have the whole week booked off to attend the full program and so next year I hope to be able to attend the entire event."
Amanda Epps, Clinical Diabetes Nurse Specialist Deputy Chair, Diabetes and Endocrinology Team Leader
"The RCN Diabetes forum made their presence and purpose felt at Congress 2024 Newport Wales as we signed up and took the pledge to end Diabetes Stigma. The symbolic graphic to the banner addressed the essential need for co-production and collaborations to address health beliefs, culture and everything that contributes to the elimination of stigma! Diabetes, it's prevention and management are everyone's business, so let's continue to work together to achieve our goal. See you in Liverpool 25 to evaluate the outcomes of the campaign."I enjoyed Congress. The group are small and I seemed to be searching. The program omitted to include Diabetes Forum but the co-ordinator of the forums was very helpful. DR Rosetta West Nurse Lecturer Voting member Being at congress was an incredible experience. As a nurse I had never experienced anything like it. It is amazing to see what the RCN does to promote its members to participate in voting matters that are so important to us as nurses. It filled me with hope. It is also inspirational to meet so many role models and have the opportunity to talk to different healthcare professionals."
Mariana Biscoito, Diabetes Specialist Nurse Medical Division
For me, Congress is about bringing the nursing community together. It's a place where we are all recognised as equals in our quest to improve standards and care. There is a strong, unifying voice as we advocate for the respect we deserve and how we want that reflected in our terms and conditions of employment. Congress provides a safe space for debate and allows time for everyone to be heard. We hope this has given a flavour of Congress and how much it can support the work of diabetes nursing – hope to see you there next year.
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