RCN Policy and International Department
Welcome to the international pages of the Policy and International website. For information on our role, go to What we do.
Many of the downloads in this section are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
News
RCN launches position statement on human rights and nursing at Congress event
The Royal College of Nursing launched its position statement on human rights and nursing (PDF 507 KB) at a packed RCN Congress event in Harrogate on Wednesday 16 May. The event was hosted jointly by the West and East Midlands and the International Committee.
Guest speaker Monika Kosinska, Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance, said: "Congratulations to the RCN. This is a seminal moment in terms of human rights and nursing in the UK. Nurses have long been champions of human rights, and this document will support them in advocating for them."
Maureen Beecham of the National Council for Women shared cases from the patient perspective and highlighted the difficulties that can arise in clinical settings, saying: "If you cannot give patients the basic care you need to, you now have a tool to use at policy level. We all know when something is substandard and we should speak up and not be desensitised to it."
Ellie Keen, from the British Institute of Human Rights, spoke about how nurses need to respect and protect the rights of patients and monitor the systems they work within, saying: "By far the greatest majority of abuses which are going on stem from the system itself."
The event ended with a call to action for members to go back to their workplaces and take action on human rights and nursing practice.
Global Health Partnerships: Nurses and Midwives making a difference - 12 June 2012, London, 9am-4pm
Midwives and nurses make a difference through partnerships between health institutions in the developing world and the UK. A one-day conference and workshop on 12 June 2012 will highlight the value of midwives and nurses in health partnerships with developing countries. The event is being held jointly by the RCN, the RCM and THET (the Tropical Health and Education Trust).
“This is a chance to hear what works in building the skills of counterparts through institutional partnerships,” said Jane Cockerell, Chief Executive of THET.
“We want to see more UK midwives and nurses in health partnerships,” said Louise Silverton from the RCM. “They have such a vital role in improving health care for some of the world’s poorest people.”
Nurses and midwives take part in all sorts of health partnerships, sometimes leading and sometimes supporting work that brings change to all partners. Getting involved in and sustaining health partnerships is challenging and rewarding.
Speakers at the event will include nurses and midwives who have developed sustainable partnerships. Many started off as individuals and progressed to involving their organisation in a substantive arrangement. The day will inspire and introduce participants to networks, information and guidance about getting involved in global health partnerships.
Venue: The Roben's Suite, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT
Tickets cost £30. Visit the event's booking website to book your place.
Please download the flyer (PDF 5.4MB) and publicise this event among your contacts.
New RCN factsheet on nurse prescribing in the UK
Nurse prescribing in the UK is well established as a mainstream nursing practice, with over 54,000 nurse and midwife prescribers across the UK and over 19,000 independent and supplementary nurse prescribers.
Over the years, the RCN’s Policy and International Department has received a lot of interest from national nurses’ associations keen to find out more about nurse prescribing in the UK and the evidence to support it.
This newly-released RCN Factsheet on Nurse Prescribing (PDF 238KB) discusses statistics, education, training and regulation. Evidence of improvements in access, patient safety and patient-centred care continues to strengthen the foundations underpinning the success of this practice.
RCN responds to new legislation on nurses' right to practise across Europe
On 23 February 2011, ahead of the initial debate in the European Parliament, the RCN announced its position (PDF 99KB) on European Commission legislative proposals issued in December 2011.
The proposals suggest a number of revisions to current law on nurses' right to practise in Europe. The RCN welcomes many of the changes proposed; however it remains concerned about:
- continuing professional development not being made mandatory, meaning that nurses don’t need to show that they have kept their skills updated to have their qualifications recognised in another country
- twelve years or equivalent of minimum general education to enter nurse education should be the norm across Europe. We are pleased the commission is supporting this change.
- Greater clarity is needed on language controls and the ability of regulators and employers to check language ability.
Read more about the contents of the legislation and the RCN's work on it
Nurses' voice in the EU Policy Process: celebrating 40 Years of EFN
One of the RCN’s key international alliances, the European Federation of Nurses’ Associations (EFN), has published a book on its history and nursing’s future impact on the politics and policy of the EU. Written to celebrate EFN’s 40th anniversary, "Nurses’ voice in the EU Policy Process" by Paul De Raeve, EFN’s Chief Executive, is currently available via the RCN at a discounted price of £19.99.
The book covers the history of the European nursing movement, effective lobbying for successful outcomes, EU funding, bringing different stakeholder voices to the EU, and nursing's future influence in Europe.
European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes calls it a "fascinating book" on "an important subject".
To order a copy call 0345 772 6100 and quote publication code 004 206.
If calling from outside the UK, you can call 00 44 207 647 3456.
RCN advocates for women's and children's human rights in Indonesia
In December 2011 the RCN collaborated with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and several other health care organisations, including the International Council of Nurses (ICN), to write to the Indonesian authorities objecting to a new set of clinical guidelines which medicalise female genital mutilation (FGM). Whilst all organisations accept the rationale behind the new guidelines, intended to ensure that this widespread practice is carried out in sterile conditions by qualified health professionals rather than traditional healers, the concern is that the move to a health care setting effectively legitimises and legalises a harmful and unethical practice. The implementation of the guidance would send a clear signal to other countries that female genital mutilation is acceptable, and undo the good work that has been done over the past two decades to eradicate the practice, which is a gross violation of women's and girls' human rights and bodily integrity. For further information
The RCN has previously produced guidance on the issue of FGM in a UK setting: Female genital mutilation: An RCN educational resource for nursing and midwifery staff (PDF 1MB) [See how to access PDF files].
RCN's European nursing body agrees next steps on nurse education in Europe
The European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN) agreed at its meeting in October 2011 to develop Europe-wide competencies for nurse education as part of the likely second stage of the EU's review of the professional qualifications directive in Europe. EFN members also agreed to change its membership arrangements to open up to more than one nursing organisation per country. Nurses' associations also discussed the impact of the economic crisis and the future health workforce and the RCN shared its work on Frontline First and in particular its work with members to identify nursing innovations.
Health trade unions in Europe address challenges of the economic downturn and impact of Europe on health services
The RCN's European trade union body - the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) - focused its health conference in Romania in October 2011 on the continuing shortage of health workers, migration of patients and professionals within EU and impact of ageing workforce in the context of the severe economic crisis in Europe. The RCN, along with colleagues from other health and nursing unions, presented on changes to professional recognition in Europe and retention issues in relation to older health workers.
EPSU issued a strong statement on the negative effects that the economic crisis and austerity measures are having on health workers in terms of workload, low pay, and stress, and called for a sustainable health care system in Europe. (Read European health workers must not be the scapegoats of the crisis). It stressed the need for effective dialogue with governments on measures to improve patient and worker safety and to tackle the challenges that cross-border mobility will pose to the recruitment and retention of health workers in countries where workers are low-paid.
Contact us
For advice on working and volunteering overseas, and information on coming to work in the UK from abroad, please contact: web.enquiries@rcn.org.uk
For other international enquiries please contact international@rcn.org.uk