RCN strategic plan 2008 to 2013 - Forward Together

The new RCN strategic plan for 2008 to 2013, Forward Together, has been launched at Congress on Monday 28 April 2008.

The new plan defines what is important to the RCN; setting out the organisation’s aims and aspirations, and will be used practically to influence the organisation’s strategic priorities for the next five years.

The current plan (2003-2008) is at an end, and the new plan has been put together following a year of research, debate and consultation.

RCN Council has been involved throughout the development of the new strategic plan, which was produced in full consultation with members. At Congress last year, and at the AGM in October 2007, members expressed their views about what the plan should contain and endorsed the overall direction of the plan.

In January 2008, a final draft of the Strategic Plan was made available to members on the RCN website. Members were invited to feedback their thoughts and ideas relating to the new plan by 15 February 2008, prior to final approval of the plan by Council at the end of February 2008.

The new strategic plan continues to support the RCN’s overall mission to represent nurses and nursing, promote excellence in practice and shape health policy.

Key goals

There are 10 key goals focussing on:

Building an organisation which values both the professional and trade union functions
Engaging members and staff and their clinical and workforce talents and experience
Strengthening the RCN as the leading authority on nursing on health and social care
Embracing the wider nursing family and furthering strategic activities in our membership, our networks and with employers
Campaigning for nursing, health care and patients
Strengthening accountability in our governance structure
Maximising the RCN’s contributing to improving the health and wellbeing of the national, EU and international population
Enabling structures and processes to value diversity
Building the RCN as a business
Communicating the responsibilities the RCN has given its current charitable status and consider how this should develop in the future

The new plan was shaped by members and staff during a year long process of research, debate and consultation. This included consultation events at Congress 2007 and at the RCN’s AGM in October last year.