'Nurses' skills are transferable and precious'
The charity that nurse João founded helps bring hope to people in South Asia
International policy
We represent UK nursing globally and support international colleagues
The RCN works with international alliances and stakeholders in the UK, Europe and beyond to influence health and nursing policy globally.
We focus on supporting our international workforce by seeking to influence:
- a fair and welcoming immigration system
- ethical and sustainable international recruitment
- recognition and investment for the global nursing profession
By promoting the rights, expertise and leadership of nurses we can achieve better global health outcomes for all.
Valuing internationally educated nurses
Our report, Unreciprocated Care: why internationally educated nursing staff are leaving the UK, is based on a survey of over 3,000 migrant nursing staff, including care workers, nursing support workers and registered nurses.
Read our new report on how the UK government and employers can address this crisis.
Exploitation in the adult social care sector
In the UK, exploitation of workers who have come from abroad to work in the independent adult social care sector is widespread. We have written to the Home Secretary to raise this issue, calling for a full scale UK government investigation into labour abuses of international care workers in the sector. We have also contributed to parliamentary debates setting out alternative policy solutions to increase accountability and safeguard vulnerable workers.
Code of Practice for International Recruitment
We continue to work with key multilateral stakeholders such as the WHO to influence on issues relating to the Code of Practice for international recruitment. We have called for the Code to be strengthened to further safeguard workers coming to the UK, and to support the global nursing workforce.
Our commitment to improving nursing globally
Find out more about our work to influence global health policy and the international alliances we are a member of.
International workforce
The RCN supports internationally trained nurses in the UK and calls on UK governments to ensure that international recruitment is conducted ethically.
- Without a Safety Net report
- Letter to the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on visa fee increases
- Consultation response: An inspection of the immigration system as it relates to the social care sector
- Consultation response: Labour market enforcement strategy 2025 to 2026
Nursing leadership
Nurses across the world have a critical role in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and other population health goals. The RCN has called for the UK to invest in health systems globally, and implement the recommendations of the WHO’s Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery.
- Open Letter: Letter to the Foreign Secretary on Universal Health Coverage Day 2023
- Consultation response: WHO Global Code Independent Stakeholder Reporting Instrument (2024)
- Consultation response: WHO Strategic Directions on Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2021-2025
Supporting Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
The WHO have estimated that there is a global nursing shortage of 5.8 million, with the global density and distribution of nursing being highly uneven. The RCN continues to call upon UK government to do more to contribute to the global nursing workforce.
International alliances
International alliances bring together nursing organisations from across the world to work together on issues impacting the profession. The RCN is a member of a number of international alliances including:
International nursing members
Information, guidance and advice for international members, working in the UK and overseas.
Immigration advice service
If you're an RCN member and are already in the UK, you can get free, confidential support and assistance on immigration issues.
Magazine articles
Meet our International Committee
We take a closer look at the committee's work, role and how it functions within the RCN
Care in the extreme
Emergency nurse Ben Cooper has worked in some of the world’s most remote places
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