Association of Nursing Students
All student members of the RCN are automatically members of the Association of Nursing Students (ANS). The ANS has an executive committee, with representatives elected from across the UK by its student members. The ANS represents members' professional interests and plays a key role during members' clinical placements and vocational work.
Terms of reference
The title of the association shall be the “RCN Association of Nursing Students”
1.0. Terms of reference
1.1 To provide opportunities for RCN student members to meet to consider matters relevant to students undertaking pre-registration education and courses leading to initial registration.
1.2. To promote activities which will assist nursing students to keep abreast of change and to contribute to advances in nursing and to the promotion of high standards of nursing practice.
1.3. To promote activities which will assist nursing students to increase their professional and political awareness of, and contribute to, developments in the profession.
1.4. To consider issues which are of importance to nursing students in relation to pre-registration education and to their role in the context of the nursing profession and in relation to other health care students.
1.5. To encourage all nursing students to be in membership of the RCN.
1.6. To encourage all student members to be involved in the activities of the ANS and RCN at all levels: local, regional and national.
2.0 Executive committee
2.1 There shall be an executive committee comprising not more than seventeen members constituted as follows:-
2.1.1 The two student members of Council, elected nationally by student members as an RCN council member.
2.1.2 Two members to be elected by student members in each of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. These elections shall occur in order that one member from each country is elected each year.
2.1.3 Nine members elected by student members in England, one representing each of the new English regions as constituted by Council on a rolling programme.
2.2 In accordance with RCN bye-law 18, those eligible for nomination to the ANS executive committee, must be on an education programme leading to initial registration and must be at least six months from qualification at the commencement of their term of office.
2.3 Elections for the ANS committee take place in line with RCN Council elections,
2.4 The terms of office of elected members of the executive committee shall be two years and start after the RCN AGM following election.
2.5 One of the two student council members shall be elected chair of the ANS by the executive committee, for a term of one year at the annual ANS strategy planning weekend. They are eligible for one further term of office within their council term of office.
2.6 The honorary officers of the Association shall be the chair, the vice-chair, the student member of council and the student editor of "No Limits". The vice-chair and student editor shall be elected annually by and from the elected members of the committee and shall be eligible for one further term of office.
3.0 Powers and proceedings
3.1. The committee shall have the power to consider matters referred by RCN Council, UK forums and branches, in addition to the general secretary and directors of RCN functional and geographical areas.
3.2. The association shall report annually to Council on appropriate issues considered by the executive committee and on action taken, and may put forward recommendations for the development of RCN policy.
3.3 The ANS executive committee may remove any ANS committee member from the Committee before the end of their term of office on the grounds of inappropriate behaviour for an ANS Executive member, including a breach of the RCN code of conduct. The procedure outlined in the RCN rules will be used.
4.0 Executive committee meetings
4.1 Full committee meetings shall be held at least four times per year and one meeting shall be the strategy-planning meeting. Special meetings may called at the discretion of the chair or by a notice signed by three voting members of the committee stating the business to be dealt with at the meeting.
4.2 Five elected members of the executive committee shall form a quorum