International Visits to RCN London

Published: 07 March 2013

On Tuesday 5 March London region office hosted meetings with nursing students from Casper College in Wyoming and Cedar Crest College Group in Pennsylvania, USA. The visits were part of a week long trip learning about UK health systems. Following a presentation by Bernell Bussue, Nora Flanagan and Sue Tarr, the students raised questions about the comparisons in health structures in the US and Britain, the differing roles in the two cultures for non-registered nursing staff, the impact of the Francis report on a compassionate workforce, the input of patient surveys and the importance of the “crucial conversation” to the US system.

On 19 February Ian Norris, RCN London Council member, staff and members from the region supported a visit to the regional office this week by Professor Chifuyu Hayashi and Assistant Professor, Kayoko Eki, from the Kobe City College of Nursing in Japan. Interpretation was provided by Tomoko Lewis, a Japanese nurse working in Preston. The visit was arranged by Les Storey, Former RCN Council member.

The emphasis of the visit was to add to research being undertaken about the impacts of Agenda for Change and lessons which can be drawn to inform pay system development in Japan. So in keeping with this the party also visited with a number of colleagues at RCN-HQ. The group were also able to visit a London hospital coordinated by Andrew White, one of the region’s RCN representatives. The Japanese nurses commented on the friendliness, helpfulness and knowledge base of everyone they met and Les was able to congratulate Peter Carter on the helpfulness of RCN staff and members in making the visit worthwhile and productive for our visitors.