Making the grade: valuing and investing in the future of our profession

For thousands of students, A-levels results day means acceptance onto nursing courses and the start of an exciting, fulfilling career ahead. It takes a remarkable person to work in nursing and I congratulate all of those who are about to embark on the beginning of their nursing journey.

There is however a worrying downward trend as the numbers of students due to start nursing courses is down for the third year in a row. And that is indicative of an urgent need to value and invest in our profession. We know that fair pay and reward is an important factor in recruiting and retaining staff, as well as ensuring patient safety within health and social care.

Last week, we launched our consultation on the recently announced NHS pay award in England. As soon as there are updates on NHS pay awards in Wales and Northern Ireland, and we know the outcome of direct pay negotiations in Scotland, eligible members will have their say too.

In England, it is a pay award, not an offer, so later this year you will receive a pay increase if you’re employed directly by the NHS in England. But it’s vitally important that we understand how you feel about it to help inform our next steps.

So far, not enough members have responded to our consultation to understand how you feel about it on mass. I want all eligible members to vote so that we can get a proper, genuine sense of what you, our membership, is feeling. So please take the time – it only takes two minutes – to tell us what you think. That is the way we can support you best, as we take our next steps.

It is your choice whether you want to accept or reject the award and you’ll all have different factors to consider. But what’s most important is that you use your voice – for yourselves and as part of the nursing community.

For our members working outside the NHS, this is also important, as we continue to call for pay parity between the NHS and every other health and social care setting. Members employed in independent health and social care settings should also get appropriate recognition in their pay and working conditions for the complex, expert care they deliver.

I’ve already been part of constructive discussions with the new UK government as they reset industrial relations. But on behalf of our members, we will be pushing ministers to show us their plans for improving nursing pay for the long term. I’ve been clear that this is vital to recruit and retain nursing staff, to fill tens of thousands of vacant nurse jobs and to give people the care they deserve. They must value and invest in our profession.

I want to finish by reflecting on the events of the past few weeks, which have been shocking, and scary. I have been horrified by the racist attacks around the country, some of which have targeted nursing staff. It is totally unacceptable, and this behaviour has no place in our society. Our international colleagues are welcome, valued and we owe them such immense gratitude.

While the immediate threat of organised violence appears to have quelled, for now, we must remain vigilant about safety - for yourselves and for your patients. We know that attacks on individuals have continued while the vandalisation of the Mary Seacole statue in London this week is another abhorrent display of racism.

The RCN is a proud anti-racist organisation, and we stand with you. Please take the time to familiarise yourselves with the guidance we’ve published on travelling safely to work and how to prioritise your own safety when working in communities. We’ve also updated our guidance on refusal to treat following comments made by Wes Streeting, the UK Health Secretary, in the aftermath of racist attacks on health care workers. We are here to support you, in these worrying times.