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Publications

RCN publications cover a wide range of topics varying from clinical guidance to employment relations issues to advice on bullying.

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  • 25 Jun 2026

    Daytime Urinary Incontinence in Children

    Publication Code : 012 377

    Functional daytime urinary incontinence and associated bladder symptoms are common in children and young people. This guidance is designed to provide relevant comprehensive information, including the current evidence base and recommendations for assessment and treatment. The forms in the appendices have been designed to be downloaded and completed on screen or on paper.

  • 24 Jun 2026

    No Substitutions?

    Publication Code : 012 536

    In the face of nurse shortages, increasingly diverse skill mix and multidisciplinary care, the potential that other staff can substitute for registered nurses is often considered. Possible substitutions are diverse and include having nursing teams led by non-nursing professions. More commonly, staff with less training are considered as potential substitutes as an answer to staff shortages, or because using less expensive staff is seen as economically efficient. In this briefing we will consider evidence to ask: is it safe and cost-effective to substitute registered nurses with less qualified support staff?

  • 17 Jun 2026

    Safety, Equity and Expertise: A UK review of learning disability nursing

    Publication Code : 012 541

    The Royal College of Nursing undertook this UK-wide review to assess the current state of learning disability nursing, understand the risks facing the profession, and identify what needs to change to protect and strengthen its contribution. The review sets out a series of high level recommendations to protect learning disability nursing as a safety critical profession and to address foreseeable system risks if current trends continue.

  • 28 May 2026

    Supporting Compassionate Practice Environments (SCoPE) End of Phase Report

    Publication Code : 012 322

    This report outlines the development of the Supporting Compassionate Practice Environments (SCoPE) initiative, responding to the RCN Congress 2023 resolution on suicide prevention in the nursing workforce.

  • 28 May 2026

    Standards to Support Compassionate Practice Environments (SCoPE)

    Publication Code : 012 321

    These standards have been developed to guide and strengthen the conditions in which nursing staff work, learn, and lead. Rooted in evidence, expert consultation, and frontline experience, these standards aim to embed compassion, equity, and psychological safety into the core of health care practice environments. Organised into three interconnected themes, experience, education, and environment, the 25 standards provide a comprehensive framework for cultivating workplaces where nurses feel valued, supported, and empowered to deliver high-quality care.

  • 27 May 2026

    Prevention Starts Here: Health visitors, school nurses and children’s health in England

    Publication Code : 012 525

    Health visitors and school nurses provide a range of universal and targeted specialist public health services to babies, children, and families and lead the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) in England. In August/September 2025, the RCN conducted a survey for members working in health visiting and school nursing in the UK covering a range of topics including work/caseload, service delivery and capacity, the needs of service users and retention challenges. This report provides analysis of the responses from members in England and reveals widespread understaffing and high vacancy rates, which are compromising service quality and hindering prevention work. It also details different modelled scenarios to expand the health visiting and school nursing workforce in England highlighting the need for investment and action.

  • 19 May 2026

    Supporting the Retention of Early Career Nurses in England

    Publication Code : 012-546

    This report draws on qualitative and quantitative evidence to highlight the challenges and opportunities faced by final-year nursing students, newly registered nurses and early career nurses. It also presents interventions that the government and system partners must take now to protect and strengthen the pipeline of nurses for generations to come.

  • 18 May 2026

    Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Annual Report 2025-2026

    Publication Code : 012 490

    Our first Group Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy was published in May 2024. We have committed to producing an annual report on its progress and impact since that time. This, our second report, highlights our ongoing activity to strengthen our EDI foundations and build on what we have learned in this space.

  • 15 May 2026

    Neurodiversity Guidance for Employees

    Publication Code : 012 454

    There are many reasons that inclusive and diverse workforces are something to strive for. Each individual has different skills and experiences that can enrich workplaces. Good employment practices ensure their talents can be utilised and developed. This guidance provides information on what support is available to employees from recruitment processes to workplace adjustments.

  • 15 May 2026

    Neurodiversity Guidance for Employers

    Publication Code : 012 453

    Neurodiversity acknowledges that each person’s brain is unique. Our brains work and interpret information differently and we all bring individual experience, strengths, and assets to a situation. This guidance includes what steps employers can take to support employees and details an employer’s and line manager’s responsibilities to their staff members.

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