Influencing on your behalf
Influencing Scottish health and social care policy and practice
We campaign on issues of concern to nursing staff and patients, influencing health policies and promoting excellence in nursing practice on behalf of our members.
Our influencing work
Read our latest responses:
- POLICY: Rural Delivery Plan
- Stage 1 of the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill
- RCN Scotland member briefing Influencing for positive change
- PARLIAMENTARY: Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry
- RCN Scotland briefing for MSPs Scottish government budget 2025 26
- POLICY: Delegated Powers & Law Reform Committee consultation on Framework Bills
- PARLIAMENTARY: Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
Government review of financial support for nursing students
In response to lobbying from the RCN the Scottish government has committed to a review of the current financial support package for nursing students. This is your chance to get involved and influence change for you and future nursing students.
The Scottish government is holding engagement sessions looking at the existing financial support and other ways to support you to complete your studies. They are running a series of 1-hour teams meetings in the coming weeks. If you’ve not already signed up to attend one of the Scottish government sessions through your university, you can email cnod_education@gov.scot to book a place including your university, course and year of study. The Scottish government currently has the following online sessions planned:
- Tuesday 25 March 2025, 10.00-11.30
- Thursday 27 March 2025, 10.00-11.30
- Tuesday 1 April 2025, 11.00-12.30
- Thursday 3 April, 14.30-16.00
Download our briefing
RCN report on the nursing workforce in Scotland
In our third instalment of ‘The Nursing Workforce in Scotland’ report it is evident that Scotland’s nursing workforce crisis is showing little sign of improvement. For the second year in a row, the headline recommendations in the report focus on the importance of the Ministerial led Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce and the need for a fully-funded nursing retention strategy.
Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce
Find out more about how the Taskforce will work, the scope of its work and what the RCN expects
Safe staffing in Scotland
A National Care Service for Scotland
Find out more about the review looking at the long-term future of adult social care in Scotland, what we've been doing so far and how you can get involved.
RCN Nursing Workforce Standards
What is community nursing in Scotland?
Watch our short film which provides a snapshot of what community nursing is in Scotland – where you’ll find the teams; who they care for; and a few facts and figures.
Page last updated - 21/03/2025
