Royal College of Nursing

Last updated

RCN
Royal College of Nursing
PredecessorCollege of Nursing Ltd
Founded27 March 1916;108 years ago (1916-03-27)
Headquarters20 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0RN [1]
Location
  • United Kingdom
General Secretary
Professor Nicola Ranger
Key people
Dame Sarah Swift
Sir Arthur Stanley
(founders)
Publication
 Nursing Standard
Website www.rcn.org.uk OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Coat of arms Y-0397 RCN Coat of Arms.jpg
Coat of arms

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is a registered trade union [2] and professional body in the United Kingdom for those in the profession of nursing. It was founded in 1916 as the College of Nursing, receiving its royal charter in 1928. Queen Elizabeth II was the patron until her death in 2022, King Charles III continued the royal connection and became patron in 2024. [3] The majority of members are registered nurses; however student nurses and healthcare assistants are also members. There is also a category of membership, at a reduced cost, for retired people.

Contents

The RCN describes its mission as representing nurses and nursing, promoting excellence in practice and shaping health policies. [4] It has a network of stewards, safety representatives and union learning representatives as well as advice services for members. Services include a main library in London, and regional libraries. The RCN Institute provides courses for nurses.

History

The College of Nursing Ltd was founded on 27 March 1916, with 34 members, as a professional organisation for trained nurses. [5] On a proposal from Dame Sarah Swift (then matron of Guy's Hospital ) and Arthur Stanley, chairman of the Joint War Organisation, developed with Rachael Cox-Davies (matron of the Royal Free Hospital) and Alicia Lloyd-Still (matron of St. Thomas Hospital ) the College was founded with articles of association. [6] The objectives of the College were 1) to promote better education and training of nurses , 2) to promote uniformity of curriculum, 3) to recognize approved nursing schools, 4) to make and maintain a register of persons who had certificates of proficiency in nursing and 5) promote bills in parliament in support of the interests of the nursing profession. [6] Eleven matrons signed the founding articles of Association , one of whom was Margaret Elwyn Sparshott. [7] It attempted amalgamation with the Royal British Nurses' Association, but this was frustrated, largely by the efforts of Ethel Gordon Fenwick. [8] [6] In March 1917 the college had 2,553 members and, by 1919, 13,047, a great deal more than the RBNA. It had most of the nursing places on the General Nursing Council when it was first established, and by 1925 it had about 24,000 members. Membership was restricted to registered general nurses. The college initially excluded male nurses, and those on the mental, mental subnormality, fever and children's nurses' registers from membership. [8] Annie Warren Gill was one of the founders of the Scottish board of the College of Nursing which held its first meeting on 1 November 1916 in Edinburgh. She was instrumental in setting up local branches in Scotland to increase membership. [9] Gill also proposed in 1922 that married members be considered part of the College, having realised that there would be a nursing shortage following World War 1. [10]

A royal charter was granted in 1928.The organisation became the College of Nursing [11] and Frances Goodall its Assistant General Secretary. The college pushed for registered nurses to be given precedence, and to be in charge. In 1935 Frances Goodall became General Secretary [12] and the Trades Union Congress promoted a Parliamentary bill to secure a 48-hour working week for all hospital employees. The college opposed this and was accused by the TUC of being "an organisation of voluntary snobs". [13] In 1939 the college's name was changed to “the Royal College of Nursing”. The Ministry of Health guaranteed a salary of £40 to nursing students in training in 1941, about double what voluntary hospitals were paying before the war. The College said that this was too high. [14] In 1943 the College held nine seats to represent 'employees' on the Nurses Salaries Committee chaired by Lord Rushcliffe which published two reports in 1943 [15] [16] .

Since 1977 the RCN has been registered as a trade union. [17]

21st century

In 2018, after a pay agreement was not clearly explained to the membership, the Chief Executive and General Secretary Janet Davies resigned and Dame Donna Kinnair was appointed in an acting capacity. She was confirmed in the role in April 2019. [18] A motion of no confidence in the RCN Council was called shortly afterwards and passed in September 2018 with 78% of votes, but on a turnout when only 3.7% of the membership voted. As well as the Chief Executive and General Secretary, the Director of Member Relations had previously resigned. [19] [20] Twelve of the 17 council members resigned, 10 of them standing for re-election in the subsequent election. [21]

In 2019, the RCN's first strike – limited to Northern Ireland, over staffing and pay issues – took place. [22]

In May 2019, the Royal College of Nursing voted to back the “decriminalisation” of prostitution (prostitution itself not in fact being a criminal offence. [23] [24]

In April 2021, Pat Cullen started acting as General Secretary & Chief Executive, and was appointed as interim General Secretary & Chief Executive in July 2021. [25]

In August 2021, the RCN cancelled its annual meeting of members in Liverpool following allegations of sexual harassment and said the 2021 Congress would now be held virtually in order to safeguard those attending. [26]

In 2022, the RCN held a strike ballot over pay, held separately across NHS trusts and boards. Its members went on strike as part of the 2022–2023 National Health Service strikes. [27] [28] The RCN commented that from 2010 (the start of the government's austerity programme) to 2022, pay for nurses had fallen by 20%. [29] The government offered a 5% pay rise to most Agenda for Change classes; [27] the RCN demanded a pay rise of retail price index inflation plus five per cent. [29] Around 60 per cent of NHS workplaces in England reached the turnout necessary to legally strike. Outside of Scotland—where the government began negotiations over its 7.5 per cent offer—strikes took place on 15 December and 20 December 2022. [28] [30] In England, further strikes took place from 18 to 19 January 2023. [31] In England and Wales, the next strikes are set to occur from 6–7 February 2023. [30]

Offices

RCN HQ, Cavendish Square London Rcnhq.JPG
RCN HQ, Cavendish Square London
Then-President of the RCN, Cecilia Anim, opening the RCN's West Midlands office in 2016 Cecilia Anim in 2016.jpg
Then-President of the RCN, Cecilia Anim, opening the RCN's West Midlands office in 2016

The UK headquarters are at 20 Cavendish Square, London, a Grade II listed building. [32] This also serves as the England HQ and London region offices.

Additional country headquarters are based in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. [33]

Additional England regional offices are located in Birmingham, Bolton, Bury St Edmunds, Croydon, Exeter, Leeds, Newbury, Nottingham, and Sunderland.

Council

The RCN is governed by its Council. Council members represent members, making decisions that meet the RCN's legal and statutory requirements. These include responsibilities as set out in the royal charter and in trade union legislation. [34]

As at 2024 Council is made up of 17 elected members. 14 of these members are elected directly to the role. 12 are elected by the geographical sections (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and 9 English regions). One member is elected by student members (RCN Students). One member is elected by Nursing Support Worker members. These 14 members choose 3 Council officers from among themselves for the roles of Chair of Council, Vice Chair of Council and Honorary Treasurer. [34]

All RCN members elect the final three roles of RCN President, RCN Deputy President,and the Chair of RCN Congress (non-voting). [34]

The RCN's General Secretary is appointed by Council. Council members are not paid to serve on Council but voluntarily give up their time to serve the RCN and its members, in their governance role.

Chairs of Council (since 2005)

Presidents

Previous RCN President, Andrea Spyropoulos, at the 2010 AGM Andrea Spyropoulos at RCN AGM.jpg
Previous RCN President, Andrea Spyropoulos, at the 2010 AGM

Chief Executive & General Secretary

RCN libraries

RCN Library and Archives at the Senate House History Day, 2019 Royal College of Nursing archives - Senate House History Day 2019.jpg
RCN Library and Archives at the Senate House History Day, 2019

The RCN has four physical libraries in London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh. [37]

The largest of these is in London, which is also responsible for the online library services. [37] The London library was founded in 1921, and claims to hold Europe's largest nursing library resource.

Due to its Museum holdings, the Library is a member of The London Museums of Health & Medicine group. [38] Special collections include the printed Historical Collection and the RCN Steinberg Collection of Nursing Research, the latter of which comprises over 1,000 nursing theses and dissertations 1950s-2010s. [39]

The RCN Archive is physically held in Edinburgh, with increasing online services [40]

Fellowships

Fellowships are selectively awarded by the RCN in recognition of exceptional contributions to nursing. [41] Honorary fellowships are granted by the RCN Council to those who are unable to become an RCN member, either because they are from overseas or because they work outside the nursing profession. Only a small number of fellows are elected each year. [42] For example, in 2021, 11 fellows and two honorary fellows were elected, and in 2022, five fellows and three honorary fellows were elected. [43] [44]

Fellows and honorary fellows are entitled to use the postnominal FRCN. [45]

RCN publications

As at 2024 the RCN produces an online member publication RCN Magazine (formerly RCN Bulletin) [46]

RCNi (previously RCN Publishing) produces Nursing Standard , which is available through subscription and on news stands. It also publishes a range of journals for specialist nurses: Cancer Nursing Practice , Emergency Nurse , Learning Disability Practice , Mental Health Practice , Nursing Children and Young People , Nursing Management , Nursing Older People , Nurse Researcher and Primary Health Care . [47]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Council of Nurses</span> Federation of national nurses associations

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations. It was founded in 1899 and was the first international organization for health care professionals. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Nursing in the United Kingdom is the largest health care profession in the country. It has evolved from assisting doctors to encompass a variety of professional roles. Over 700,000 nurses practice, working in settings such as hospitals, health centres, nursing homes, hospices, communities, military, prisons, and academia. Most are employed by the National Health Service (NHS).

Sylvia Ernestine Denton (1941-2020), CBE, FRCN. RHV. Denton was one of the first Breast Care Nurses in the United Kingdom and President of the Royal College of Nursing from 2002-2006.

Justus Akinbayo Akinsanya, FRCN was a nurse, human biologist, nurse educator and researcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheila Quinn</span> British nurse

Dame Sheila Margaret Imelda Quinn, DBE, FRCN, RGN, RM, RNT, was a British nurse and fellow of the Royal College of Nursing. She was president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) from 1982 to 1986. She was awarded an RCN Fellowship (FRCN) in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen Musson</span> Nurse

Dame Ellen Mary Musson, was Chair of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales. Her nursing career began in 1898. She served prominently at St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London.

Dame Kathleen Annie Raven, DBE, FRCN was a British nurse, matron, government health official, health care engineer, and educational philanthropist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Swift</span> English nurse

Dame Sarah Ann Swift, GBE, RRC was an English nurse and founder in 1916 of the College of Nursing Ltd. which became the Royal College of Nursing. The College of Nursing created the first registers of nurses, a blueprint for the introduction of Nurse registration in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alicia Lloyd Still</span> British nurse

Dame Alicia Frances Jane Lloyd Still, was a British nurse, teacher, hospital matron and leader of her profession. She was one of the leaders in the campaign for state registration of nurses. Following the Nurses Registration Act 1919, she was a member of the General Nursing Council (1920-1937). As chairwoman of the General Nursing Council's first Education and Examinations Committee she helped establish the first national examination standards for the registration of nurses.

Reginald Trevor Clay, CBE, FRCN was a British nurse and former General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). His obituary in the Times described him as the most influential nurse of his times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Marie Rafferty</span> British nurse

Dame Anne Marie Rafferty FRCN is a British nurse, academic and researcher. She is the professor of nursing policy and the former dean of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care at King's College London. She served as President of the Royal College of Nursing from 2019 to 2021.

Dame Catherine Mary Hall was a British nurse and nursing administrator who was a long serving General Secretary of the UK's Royal College of Nursing (1957–1982).

The history of nursing in the United Kingdom relates to the development of the profession since the 1850s. The history of nursing itself dates back to ancient history, when the sick were cared for in temples and places of worship. In the early Christian era, nursing in the United Kingdom was undertaken by certain women in the Christian Church, their services being extended to patients in their homes. These women had no real training by today's standards, but experience taught them valuable skills, especially in the use of herbs and folk drugs, and some gained fame as the physicians of their era. Remnants of the religious nature of nurses remains in Britain today, especially with the retention of the job title "Sister" for a senior female nurse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecilia Anim</span> Ghanaian nurse

Cecilia Akrisie Anim former president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), and a clinical nurse specialist in sexual and reproductive health at the Margaret Pyke Centre in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Patrick McKenna</span> Irish academic (born 1954)

Hugh Patrick McKenna CBE FRCN is a British academic. He is Dean of Medical School Development at Ulster University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–present National Health Service strikes</span> Healthcare strike

The 2022–present National Health Service (NHS) strikes are several ongoing industrial disputes in the publicly funded health services of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Cullen</span> Northern Irish politician and nurse (born 1965)

Patricia Yvonne Cullen is an Irish Sinn Féin politician, trade unionist and nurse who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Fermanagh and South Tyrone since 2024. Cullen was the Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing from July 2021 to May 2024.

Peggy Dina Nuttall OBE, OStJ, FRCN (1917–2008), as editor and later director of Nursing Times was one of the most influential nurses of the 20th century.

The Society of Registered Male Nurses was a British professional body for male nurses founded in 1937 with six members including Mr Edward J. Glavin. Prior to the Society there were a number of small agencies that placed trained male nurses, often from the co-operative movement such as the Male Nurses (Temperance) Co-operation. Male nurses also joined unions, such as the National Asylum Workers' Union, but the professional nursing organisations in the United Kingdom were exclusively female.

The Association of Hospital Matrons was a professional organization of hospital matrons in the United Kingdom, founded in 1919. At its meeting on 23 December 1971 it changed its name in to the Association of Nurse Administrators from January 1972. It was officially dissolved on 31 December 1986, and amalgamated with the Royal College of Nursing Association of Nursing Management in January 1987.

References

  1. ↑ "Contact | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing.
  2. ↑ "Trade unions: the current list and schedule". gov.uk. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "HM King Charles announced as new RCN patron | News | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  4. ↑ Peate, Ian (10 July 2013). The Student Nurse Toolkit: An Essential Guide for Surviving Your Course. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-1-118-39392-5.
  5. ↑ "About us: our history". RCN. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Bowman, Gerard (1967). The Lamp and the Book : the story of the RCN 1916-1966. The Queen Anne press Ltd. pp. 25–33, 34–39, 49–56.
  7. ↑ Kershaw, Betty. "A proud record: nurse leaders from Manchester Royal Infirmary". International History of Nursing. 4 (2, Winter 1998-1999): 38. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  8. 1 2 Abel-Smith, Brian (1960). A History of the Nursing Profession. London: Heinemann. pp. 90–92.
  9. ↑ O'Donnell, Alison (2020). "Gill, Annie Warren (1862–1930), nurse". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.369141. ISBN   978-0-19-861412-8 . Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  10. ↑ O'Donnell, Alison (2020). "Gill, Annie Warren (1862–1930), nurse". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.369141. ISBN   978-0-19-861412-8 . Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "About us: our constitutional documents". RCN. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004). "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. ref:odnb/55672. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/55672 . Retrieved 16 October 2022.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  13. ↑ Abel-Smith, Brian (1960). A History of the Nursing Profession. London: Heinemann. p. 143.
  14. ↑ Abel-Smith, Brian (1960). A History of the Nursing Profession. London: Heinemann. p. 165.
  15. ↑ First Report Of Nurses Salaries Committee Salaries And Emoluments Of Female Nurses In Hospitals. London: HMSO. 1943.
  16. ↑ Second Report of Nurses Salaries Committee Salaries and Emoluments of Male Nurses, Public Health Nurses, District Nurses And State Registered Nurses In Nurseries. HMSO. 1943.
  17. ↑ "Our structure". RCN. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Royal College of Nursing appoints Dame Donna Kinnair as Chief Executive and General Secretary | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. 18 April 2019.
  19. ↑ Mitchell, Gemma (28 September 2018). "RCN pay deal review finds lead negotiator role had 'conflict of interest'". Nursing Times . Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  20. ↑ "Breaking: RCN council lose 'no confidence' vote over NHS pay deal". Health Service Journal . 28 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  21. ↑ Collins, Annabelle (5 October 2018). "RCN to hold elections for new council following mass resignation". Health Service Journal . Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  22. ↑ Connolly, Marie-Louise (7 November 2019). "NI nurses vote to strike for first time over staffing and pay". BBC News . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  23. ↑ "Decriminalise prostitution, say nurses". BBC News. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  24. ↑ Campbell, Denis (20 May 2019). "Nurses vote to back decriminalisation of prostitution". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  25. ↑ "Executive Team | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  26. ↑ Jamieson, Alastair (28 August 2021). "Royal College of Nursing cancels in-person annual conference after 'serious allegations of sexual harassment'". Independent. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  27. 1 2 Chappell, Elliot (6 October 2022). "Royal College of Nursing launches first UK-wide strike ballot in 106-year history". LabourList . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  28. 1 2 Gregory, Andrew; Grierson, Jamie (25 November 2022). "Nurses across UK to strike for first time on 15 and 20 December". The Guardian . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  29. 1 2 Burtenshaw, Ronan (18 January 2023). "'Nurses Are Striking Because Patients Are Dying'". Tribune . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  30. 1 2 Triggle, Nick (16 January 2023). "Nurses' strike: New dates as union escalates dispute". BBC News . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  31. ↑ Rogers, Alexandra (23 December 2022). "Royal College Of Nursing Announces New Strike Dates For January". HuffPost . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  32. ↑ "20 Cavendish Square". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2006.
  33. ↑ "Countries and regions | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  34. 1 2 3 "RCN Council | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  35. ↑ "New Chair and Vice Chair of RCN Council elected". Nursing Standard . 7 December 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  36. ↑ Ford, Megan (16 June 2021). "NHS safety director elected as new president of the RCN". Nursing Times . Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  37. 1 2 "About us | Library | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  38. ↑ "Medical Museums". medicalmuseums.org. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  39. ↑ "Permanent Collections". Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  40. ↑ "Archive | Library | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  41. ↑ "Royal College of Nursing Fellows - Royal College of Nursing Council - Archives Hub". archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  42. ↑ Corr, Shauna (21 July 2021). "Meet the award-winning Mater Hospital nurse who held countless hands in stellar career spanning the Troubles and Covid". BelfastLive.
  43. ↑ Ford, Steve (16 July 2021). "Former president among recipients of RCN fellowships and awards". Nursing Times. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  44. ↑ "RCN Fellowship and Honorary Fellowship Roll of Honour" (PDF). June 2022.
  45. ↑ "RCN Fellowship and Honorary Fellowship Roll of Honour". Royal College of Nursing. 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  46. ↑ "RCN Magazine | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  47. ↑ "About us". rcni.com. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2024.

Further reading

51°30′58″N0°08′45″W / 51.516134°N 0.145786°W / 51.516134; -0.145786

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.