RCN Wales holds successful conference in Cardiff

Published: 05 August 2009

The Royal College of Nursing Wales Conference returned to Wales's capital city in July and focused on the theme of leadership and its legacy- the nursing family. The sixth biennial RCN Welsh Board Conference was held at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff. 

The conference explored and celebrated nursing leadership in all its dimensions and looked at the challenges the nursing family faces in today's clinical environment. This one day event was aimed at all the members of the nursing family across the NHS and the independent sector.

The selection of speakers was guided by the RCN's determination to provide nurses, managers, nurse leaders, health care providers and educators with speakers who would tell of their own leadership in the health care system.  There were presentations that demonstrated the diversity of work being undertaken by healthcare professionals in Wales.

Tina Donnelly Director RCN Wales said:

"The nursing profession needs leadership at all levels. This is a time of challenge and opportunity. As patients demand a greater say in their care, the need for strong nursing leadership is crucial. The conference was designed for nurses who view themselves as leaders and are looking to stretch their personal and professional boundaries." 

Edwina Hart Minister for Health and Social Services, said:

"Encouraging effective leadership in nursing will have major benefits to staff and patients in the long-term. This is being addressed through the implementation of the Free to Lead, Free to Care: Empowering Ward Sisters/ Charge Nurses report which was developed with input from health care unions, such as RCN, and the experiences of frontline staff. A lot has been
achieved in nursing in Wales in recent years and this event provided an opportunity to look at how to continue this good work."