Passionate about changing the narrative

Hello, my name is Mike, I am a nursing support worker and a member of the RCN.

I’ve spent 15 years working in various diverse nursing support worker roles within both the NHS and independent health and social care sector, and I can honestly say in all that time it never crossed my mind I could be a member of the RCN.

Now that I know I can, I’m passionate about changing that narrative, so want to give you an insight into my journey since becoming an RCN member and how it has supported my personal and professional development - and therefore had an effect on others too.

I joined the RCN in December 2023. If I’m honest it was more through luck than judgement that I joined as it was purely on the back of hearing a colleague talking about the fact that nursing support workers could join. Up until that point it hadn’t crossed my mind I could be a member, as I’d assumed the RCN was a union for registered nurses. I know I wasn’t alone in my thinking as I’m still having these conversations with nursing support worker colleagues to this day.

This is me: I’m Mike. I was born without lower limbs. I won’t lie - this has certainly proved challenging in many aspects of my life, both personal and professional, however I’ve never let it define me and have always been proud to stand tall and strong.

I’ve learnt over the years that having a confident voice based on a lived experience has been key to manoeuvring some of the challenges I’ve faced due to my disability, and I’ve had to develop strategies to overcome some of the unwelcome hurdles I’ve encountered. However, I know now that my voice could have been strengthened and supported on so many occasions if I’d only been a member of the RCN. This is what ultimately ignited my passion to become an RCN steward, to support and represent colleagues who may be facing their own challenges within the workplace.

Undertaking the learning pathway to become a steward has been a good way to learn more about the RCN, in addition to equipping me with the skills I’ll need in my role as an RCN rep. I found the more I learned and connected with colleagues who were also on the pathway, the more my passion and confidence developed. I’ve recently successfully completed the rep pathway and am looking forward to starting in my role and really making a difference.

Being a member of the RCN has also opened the door to so many learning resources that will support me in my role as a digital trainer, as well as with my own ongoing development. I didn’t know that the RCN had a professional ‘arm’ offering a wealth of resources – again my assumption was wrong as I thought that a union just deals with employment issues.  

The RCN celebrates Nursing Support Workers’ Day on 23 November every year. This is another member benefit I wasn’t aware of. I’ve ordered some Nursing Support Worker Day badges and posters and am promoting this celebratory day within my workplace. Sadly I can’t attend the Nursing Support Worker conference in London on Saturday 23 November in person, however I will be sharing some of my journey with the delegates onscreen.

It's been a rollercoaster ride and a steep learning curve since I joined the RCN, but a journey I’ve embraced and felt proud to be on. Life regrets? That’s simple – only that I didn’t realise I could join the RCN sooner.