Most powerful nursing union

Be heard

We are the largest professional union for nursing in the UK, representing around 400,000 nurses, health care support workers and nursing students, both in the NHS and the private sector. We represent nurses and nursing, lobbying governments and other professional bodies so that your views are heard where it counts.

This means that, as a member of the RCN, your views and experiences will help to shape the development of future nursing policy both in the UK and internationally.

And as if that wasn’t enough, you will be able to take part in specialist nursing forums, where you can have a direct impact on influencing nursing policy at the local and national level. Find out more in the Nursing communities section of this site.

Get help

Whenever you need advice and help with problems in your workplace, the RCN will be on hand.

We have a network of fully-trained stewards, safety representatives and learning representatives, who can offer advice and advocacy to get you through difficult times in the workplace. And for quick answers to frequently asked questions about workplace issues, there’s RCN Direct.

Access to RCN Direct

In addition, all of our members have access to our information and advice telephone line, available from 8.30am to 8.30pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our expert advisers are on hand to offer specialist advice on professional and personal matters.

All health professionals are acutely aware of the increasingly litigious nature of society – but RCN membership offers peace of mind. As a member, you are automatically entitled to up to £3 million cover for any claim made against you by a patient, colleague or member of the public, or if you are injured at work.

Worldwide professional indemnity

With the RCN's professional indemnity insurance plan you are covered if you are a full, student, joint or career-break member of the RCN. The scheme covers members worldwide, except if you are working in the USA or Canada. Go to the Professional indemnity page for more details.

Free legal advice

It’s the sort of help most of us hope we’ll never need – but when the unexpected happens, the RCN legal team will be there to support you.

If you are a full member, student or career break member, health care support worker or nurse cadet, you are entitled to legal advice in relation to your work.

Help for the family

You will also have access to a free 30-minute legal advice session for you and your family members on matters not connected with work. Any one of seven approved firms of UK solicitors can provide this service. Find out more in the Legal help section.

Immigration advice. We also offer advice authorised by the office of the Immigration Service Commissioner to overseas nurses and nursing students in the UK. Find out more in Nursing in the UK and abroad section.

Boost your career

As an RCN member, you will have access to a wide range of education opportunities, including:

free RCN publications
the fortnightly RCN Bulletin, which is packed with job vacancies and information about local RCN meetings, study days, events, national news and special offers.
the RCN Bulletin Jobs Extra supplement
discounts on nursing journals, including the Nursing Standard, which gives you up-to-date accounts of all the most important issues and developments in nursing.

You can also take advantage of 10% discount on many Open University courses click here to find out more.

Like the profession itself, the RCN covers a wide range of fields of practice with our members specialising in everything from paediatric oncology to A&E and occupational health. We have nearly 100 specialist nursing groups and subgroups (called forums) representing every area of nursing practice.

Each forum consists of a group of nurses from across the UK with an interest in the same area of practice, research, management or education.

Becoming a member of a forum gives you a nation-wide network of members sharing the same area of interest. Forums also have their own newsletters, websites, and continuing professional development activities at local and national level.

You can join up to three forums as part of your membership subscription and additional ones at a cost of £15 per forum.

The RCN Learning Zone

If you want to update your professional knowledge and skills, and you need a resource that’s accessible from anywhere, and at any time, then the RCN Learning Zone has something for you.

The site has been developed to provide RCN members with quick access to learning and information 24 hours a day. We are continually updating the site to provide you with the very latest information about topics which affect you every day.

The RCN Learning Zone lets you:

create your secure online portfolio
build your CV online
enhance your clinical skills
develop your career
learn about being an RCN activist.

As an RCN member, you will have access to the RCN’s specialist nursing libraries – one of the largest in Europe. You will be able to visit our libraries situated across the UK, or you will be able to order materials by post, web, email, fax or phone.

Members have access to our e-library services and can download, for free, full text electronic journals. As if that wasn’t enough, members can also download free information skills sessions. Find out more in the Library services and archives section.

Our members have the peace of mind that whatever life throws at them, the RCN has a team of expert counsellors to offer guidance and support.

RCN members have access to professional and confidential counselling by appointment, either by phone or face-to-face at various RCN offices throughout the UK. Counsellors can help you with any work-related or personal problems.

When you need help with job applications, CVs and improving interview skills, or want information on courses and educational opportunities, the RCN careers service offers you telephone guidance.

Career information and guidance

When you need help with job applications, CVs and improving interview skills, or want information on courses and educational opportunities, the RCN careers service offers you telephone guidance.

Welfare advice

Through the RCN welfare service all members have access to confidential advice on a range of practical matters - including debt and money management, repossessions, applying for welfare benefits and housing rights.

Caring for ill, injured and disabled members

Members whose work is affected by physical or psychological illness, injury or disability, are supported by the RCN Work Injured Nurses Group (WING).

Advice on housing and care for retired nurses

We provide information on housing and care options for retired nurses.

Help in hardship

The RCN operates a benevolent fund which offers small grants to its members - both current and retired - who are in hardship or financial difficulty. We can help with household repairs, return to work costs, disability equipment and other essential outgoings.

Find out more in the Member Support Services section.