It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since the RCN launched the Institute of Nursing Excellence. In that time, nursing has faced some of its most difficult challenges - and yet, what I’ve seen over the past 12 months gives me real hope.

The pressures on the profession are relentless: workforce shortages, burnout, the undervaluing of specialist skills, and the persistent struggle to have nursing expertise recognised and respected. These challenges aren’t new, but they’ve deepened. That’s why the Institute was created - to respond with purpose, evidence and unity.

At the heart of the Institute are five academies - Leadership, Workforce, Activism, Practice and International. Each one focuses on a critical area of nursing, and together they provide the structure and energy to tackle some of the profession’s most complex and persistent issues.

In our first year, we’ve:

• delivered leadership development programmes and summits 
• advanced activism through the Activist Strategy 2025–2027 and workplace organising pilots 
• supported clinical practice through standards and innovation 
• strengthened nursing education through resources, programmes, and partnerships 
• advanced nursing research to drive evidence-based practice and inform policy 
• tackled workforce challenges with evidence-based guidance and advocacy 
• expanded global nursing partnerships and humanitarian programmes. 

But the Institute is more than a set of programmes. It’s a movement. It’s about creating a space where nurses can come together to learn, lead and advocate. It’s about turning evidence into action, and values into influence.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen how difficult it can be for nursing to assert its value - and to have that value fully understood by others. The daily reality for many nurses - making do, running short-staffed, seeing their expertise overlooked - flies in the face of the true worth of the profession. That’s why the Institute matters. It’s a place where we can direct energy and evidence to the issues that most need attention, and where we can build a community that refuses to compromise on excellence.

We’re not doing this alone. We’re part of a Royal College. And it’s through our collective voice - our shared passion and commitment - that we make the value of nursing visible. Not just in policies and papers, but in the actions of every member who upholds the highest standards, knowing they have the support of the largest health care union in the world behind them.

The Institute is helping members lead change - not just adapt to it. Whether it’s supporting chief nurses to make the case for investment in nursing, helping new graduates transition into practice, or amplifying the nursing voice in international forums, it’s about enabling nurses to act with confidence, backed by evidence and a strong professional community.

This year’s End of Year Report showcases what we’ve achieved so far. It reflects our belief that nursing excellence is not just an aspiration, but a shared commitment - rooted in evidence, driven by values, and powered by community.

If you’d like to know more or get involved, visit the Institute of Nursing Excellence web page.

We’d love to hear from you.