Students, HCAs and APs
Nursing and midwifery students, HCAs, and APs will be able to enjoy the full Congress experience with a tailored programme of activities repeated over three days. This means you can spread your trip out over more than one day, spending more time at debates and exploring the events programme, or arrange a day trip on either the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of Congress and still enjoy the full jam-packed programme of educational and networking events.
It's free to attend and you don’t have to be an RCN member*.
By attending Congress you will have access to:
- a mix of educational and practice seminars
- inspirational conference speakers
- debates on the issues that matter to nursing and midwifery students
- the Congress exhibition where you will be able to meet prospective employers
- networking opportunities and afternoon entertainment throughout the week.
We hope you can join us at Congress for as much of the programme as you can.
*Only RCN members are permitted to vote at Congress.
Programme of events
Every morning there will be a welcome session, where you will find out more about what's going on while you are at Congress, as well as current developments in the world of nursing students, or HCAs and APs.
You will then have the opportunity to watch some of the keynote speeches and debates in the main auditorium, as well as visit the largest nursing exhibition in the UK.
During the afternoons you will be able to attend the following series of workshops tailored to meet your needs as a student, HCA or AP.
- Cancer care: myths and beliefs - Cancer Research UK are hosting an interactive session busting the myths and encouraging people to have the confidence to talk more openly and confidently about cancer.
- Quiz time! Test your learning disability and criminal justice nursing skills.
- Diabetes essentials - discussing the management of diabetes, its complications, and sharing experiences and concerns.
- Patient safety and human factors - bringing you up to date with the important aspects of patient safety and how nursing staff play an important role in providing and improving safe, quality nursing care.
To finish off the day we will be hosting a networking session with tea, coffee and cake, where you can relax and chat with other students, HCAs and APs. And stay around for the Events at Congress evening programme.
In addition, Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year Johanne Tomlinson will be around during the event to assist with queries, and share her inspirational story. Johanne is a prison nurse and was chosen to win the overall Nurse of the Year 2012 for setting up a dedicated service to help prisoners who are former servicemen to overcome their stress and anxiety and prepare for their release back into the community.
