“When the truth is on your side, you keep united and you fight for justice for long enough – then no government or power can stay in your way.”
That’s how RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger began her keynote speech at RCN Congress in Liverpool, praising Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall, who had spoken before her.
Nicola’s speech came at what is a turbulent time in politics. She referenced “a further polarisation in our country’s politics” and the “division, sometimes hatred” seen in our communities.
She spoke days after Wes Streeting had resigned from the role of health secretary and James Murray MP was appointed to the position.
In her speech, Nicola spoke on a wide range of topics including nursing staff valuing themselves and their colleagues, working to help others understand the value of nursing, and nursing leading by example.
Here are five key points from her speech.
1. Bands, progression and the value of nursing
We want nursing to be recognised at every single level
Nicola referenced the RCN’s record membership number of more than 570,000.
She said you don’t find other health care professions where people can start and end their career paid at band 5, saying “we are weighted to the very bottom”.
Nicola outlined how the RCN has fought for recognition of nursing skills and experience across the UK.
We negotiated a review with the Scottish government, enabling nursing staff on band 5 to apply for a role review. More than 80% of those who have applied have been moved to band 6.
We pushed the Westminster government to commit to support nursing career progression in the NHS in England, including that every single nursing role on band 5 will be reviewed by employers.
The Health Minister in Northern Ireland has made commitments on band 5 to 6 progression. Across the UK, including in Wales we’re running our Know Your Worth campaign to see every nursing role valued fairly.
Nicola called for "nursing to be recognised at every single level”.
2. Safe staffing
This is the number one issue for nursing staff. The RCN will set the standard
Nicola told the crowd in Liverpool that unsafe staffing levels are having an impact on nursing staff in every clinical environment.
She called for mandatory registered nurse-to-patient ratios, saying in the coming weeks the RCN will be releasing our rationale for safe nurse staffing becoming a guaranteed reality - not just a promise on paper.
“We will name the staffing levels needed,” she said. “The RCN setting the standard based on what patients need, rather than based on affordability.”
Nicola also talked about the RCN Last Shift Survey, released at Congress, where more than 13,000 of our members told us about their last shift. Among the findings, just one in 10 felt staffing was at the right level.
3. Students and jobs
It’s unacceptable that our NHS is under pressure, yet hundreds of qualified nurses may struggle to find a job
Students and the lack of jobs for newly registered nurses (NRNs) was a key topic at Congress in 2025, and the theme continued this year.
Nicola called for governments to forgive student debt, to improve starting salaries and career progression, for guaranteed jobs for nursing students, and improved, protected development time for new staff – all of which would improve staff retention.
She also said we need to improve nursing education standards and make it easier for students to get their shift hours.
4. Advanced Nurse Practitioners
Be proud of your qualifications, your nursing expertise, your years of experience
Nicola said she was angry after recent comments from the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested that patient safety could be put at risk because of the use of Advanced Nurse Practitioners.
Nicola was one of the first nurse consultants in the country more than 22 years ago. She said she brought a unique set of nursing skills to her role, and was never intended to be a “substitute doctor”.
She said nursing staff and doctors need to work together with patient care at the centre.
And to ANPs she said: “Be proud of your qualifications, your expertise, and your years of experience.”
5. Internationally educated nursing staff and diversity
Diversity improves us, it upskills us, it makes us better prepared to care for the communities we serve
Nicola spoke about a topic we see in the news every week: immigration, the right to live and work in the UK, and how it affects the nursing profession.
She said internationally educated nursing staff (IENs) bring knowledge and skills that are highly valued, but that changes to immigration rules and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) threaten to push people away.
“If we don’t make nursing staff feel welcome here, we shouldn’t be surprised if you decide to leave,” she said. “We cannot allow that to happen.”
Nicola urged nursing staff to work together with kindness and respect, regardless of where they’re from.
She finished by saying to all nursing colleagues: "We are the ones who help our community and country to thrive. Let’s be loud and proud about our true value.”
