Joanne Kerr

Biography

I have been a member of the RCN since 1978 when I started my nursing career in Manchester. My background is in public health and primary care education and at present I am a Lecturer in Health Visiting at the University of Manchester.

As this is one of the biggest schools of nursing in England I am fortunate to come into contact with many students and colleagues in primary care across the north west and work with a variety of professionals across many different trusts in a strategic, education and managerial capacity.

I am a steering group member of the Education Forum. I believe that the shift of health care into primary care will have a significant affect on how nurses work in the 21st century. I also believe that nursing students are our future. With good education and support from practice, they will ultimately shape health care.

The RCN is the voice of nursing across the United Kingdom and I joined the Education Forum steering group because I wanted to take a more active role in developing education in nursing in these challenging times.

I would like to think that I could make a ripple of a difference in enabling nurses to improve patient and client care. I also think nurses need to be more strategic and pro-active. We are a powerful group and when we work together much can be done. I would advise all to get involved in whatever way you can to improve nursing.