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Ways you can get involved

Make your voice heard to change nursing for the better

Using our power and winning change

Get involved with the RCN through our Activism Academy. The Activism Academy is here to empower you to win meaningful improvements and positive change in your workplaces and the nursing profession.

We want you to be part of nursing activism and lead on the issues that matter most to you. You are the RCN. By joining with other members, you can make nursing activism a force to be reckoned with!
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RCN Activism Strategy

The RCN’s Activism Strategy, developed by our Activism Academy is grounded in the experiences of our members and addresses their top priorities: safe staffing levels, fair pay, and working conditions.

The strategy’s ambitions will help us grow our activist community, to empower members to become influential in the decisions that affect the workforce and profession, and to teach and develop RCN activists.

Read the strategy
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What kind of activist are you?
Answer the following questions and find out what kind of activist you are and what you should get involved in.
Do you want to improve the student experience and create connections with other students?
Do you want to influence clinical practice and be part of a specialist community?
Could you be there for our members when they need support and representation?
Do you want to meet other RCN members and share your ideas and energy for change?
Do you believe that when members come together, our collective voice can win big systemic change?
Do you want to be a local touchpoint for national campaigns that are getting our voices heard on the big issues?

Get active

Bring your expertise and experience to a new role. Develop knowledge and skills to support members and influence change in your workplace and area of clinical practice.

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Become an RCN Rep

Help someone develop their career, check on safety standards or support members through difficult times – our reps are there at every step.

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Get active in your local branch

Link in with your local RCN and connect with your branch to get your voice heard on local issues. 


An RCN member holding a sign that says Safe staffing saves lives

Support our campaigns

Lend your voice and energy to help our national campaigns reach all our members.


Use your voice

Our power comes from our ability to stand together and demand what we need for our profession. Join your local branch, learn the basics of organising, or get active in one of our campaigns to build that power with us.

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Become an RCN Ambassador

Promote the activities of the RCN and the benefits of membership to your nursing colleagues.

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Get involved in organising

Now is the time for you, your colleagues and the nursing profession to stand up and speak out.

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Influence clinical practice

Forums and networks are a gateway to influencing developments in your field.


Student nurses

Every nursing student deserves a solid start in the profession. We want our student nurse community to be a space where students support each other, share real experiences and learn together.

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What we’re demanding for student nurses

We need young people to want to join nursing – it’s an amazing profession where there is opportunity to grow and develop in a career for life. But student nurses are being left behind.

See what we're calling for

A group of student ambassadors at RCN Congress, Wales 2024

Find your student tribe

As an RCN student member, you can take an active role in the student nursing community and use your voice to improve the student experience.

See how you can get involved

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Stay up to date with activism at the RCN

7 blog posts
  • Carmel O'Boyle Carmel O'Boyle 14 Apr 2026

    Harnessing the strength of our diversity

    In this blog, RCN Chair of Council Carmel O'Boyle, explores why the RCN Equalities organising groups are vital spaces to connect, learn, amplify voices and work together to harness one of our profession's greatest strengths: our diversity.  

  • Richard Jones MBE Richard Jones MBE 12 Nov 2025

    The Voice of the Nursing Student in Wales

    Richard Jones, MBE and former Chair of the RCN Wales Board, highlights how nursing students in Wales are shaping the future of healthcare through advocacy, leadership, and active engagement with the RCN, ensuring high standards of patient care and professional development.

  • Sam Harris Sam Harris 4 Nov 2025

    How RCN members took a stand - and won

    When faced with an unexpected financial burden, RCN members in Nottinghamshire didn’t just accept the change—they organised, investigated, and pushed back. What followed was a powerful example of collective action leading to real change.

Find opportunities to share your views on nursing issues

Take part in our consultations, ballots, surveys and elections that are currently open.

We'll always email you if you're eligible to vote in a consultation or ballot, or on a resolution.

Have your say
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Get involved in our governance

Find out how to put yourself forward for a committee, board or forum, how to take part in a consultation, how to put forward an agenda item for an upcoming Council meeting and more.
See how you can get involved
Governance
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