I love nursing, learning and celebrating.  Of course, nursing is a lifelong commitment to learning and we study anatomy and pathophysiology, pharmacology and medicolegal research, communication and data analysis. The art and science of nursing.  We spend our careers learning about people, their health and disease processes, but most of all how to communicate, to teach and educate in all manner of health promotion, how to recover and live well.  Part of that communication is learning about how people live their lives, their journeys, what makes them happy and what makes them sad, their culture and experiences – this allows us to understand people, and ourselves and the way in which we live our lives, and the way in which we can celebrate each other.  

I find enormous value in community and support, and that is one of the reasons I joined the RCN, I see our college as a family, a place where we can come together, to learn from each other and support one another.  In a world of increasing confusion and antagonism, we need to collaborate and come together, to care for our workforce and our patients.
  
We need to recognise that diversity is strength, that we should celebrate our differences and our commonality, and use this strength to enhance our cultural awareness and come together as a team.

I see our equalities and diversity networks as places were people can come together, to find common ground, listen and learn from each other, where we can connect and organise on things that are important to us as a profession, a royal college and trade union, things that affect all of us, and the people we care for. 

Please sign up for our equalities organising discussion group on the 23rd April, get involved, help us to learn and to celebrate together.  As chair of council I see this as an opportunity to connect, to form relationships and to continue our learning commitments, to organise together and to strengthen the RCN.  I look forward to meeting you and working with you.