Update on RCN Congress 2022: Day Four - the final day

I’d like to say how proud I am and well done to the South West delegates who have spoken to debates, it's been a real please for me to meet and talk to so many of them. 

It’s been a full-on Congress for everyone involved and I’d also like to give my personal thanks to all the staff who have been here to support our members and ensure any issues have been dealt with as quickly as possible. 

Today we continue with a packed agenda and started with a debate about ‘Future Nursing Standards’; specifically, that RCN Congress reflects on the impact of the NMCs future nurse standards on mental health nurse education across the UK. We heard from some passionate speakers supporting this unique speciality and calling for it to not be diluted. We then continued with another very topical subject - that of ‘supernumerary status', which asked for RCN Council to lobby for the protection of supernumerary status for nursing students. After an impassioned debate this resolution was also passed. 

Next on the agenda something that perhaps we all can identify with: 'compassion fatigue'. It was a discussion point to increase awareness of compassion fatigue and its potential impact, not only on the delivery of patient care but also on leadership within the workforce. Although not a new issue, the pandemic has further impacted and it’s right we are discussing the subject. Again, there were such passionate speakers in the room. 

After a period during which we haven’t been able to hold an in-person Congress it has been so good to see so many new delegates here in Glasgow. I have been talking to many of them and they are really excited to be here. However, many tell me of the stresses they are under daily in their work with short staffing and the difficulties they have had to get time off to attend. Short staffing is having such a negative impact. 

I was so proud to hear that members from the Greater Bristol branch spent last evening working in a soup kitchen for the homeless of Glasgow. Having come across the charity work while on a walking tour of the city they joined to help out rather than attend the Congress party. What a selfless act, one that really shows what caring people our nurse colleagues are. 

Further debate including a resolution on 'overseas nurses'. The ask is for Council to produce a strategy for the recognition of the skills and the development needs of overseas nurses coming to work in the UK and how they might be better supported. Many spoke to this debate including Josiah Jackson-Okesola from the South West's Devon Branch; it was his first time at Congress and his first time speaking at the podium. Well done to him! Then Minnie Klepacz from the Dorset branch added to the debate - she is also a first-time Congress attendee and first-time speaker at the podium. The resolution was passed by Congress.

Following his inspiring presentation to Congress earlier in the week it was announced today that the poet Michael Rosen has been awarded an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing. He has sent us a filmed message of thanks which was shown in the hall this morning. 

We then had a virtual presentation from the World Health Organisation.

Debates continued with an emergency resolution, for Council to lobby UK governments regarding their announcement of a modern bill of rights, ensuring it protects individuals' right to health, patient safety and our professional nursing standards. The resolution was passed.

The debates will continue this afternoon and then we will head back to the South West region. I wish everyone a safe journey and urge anyone unable to be here to catch up on debate on the Congress webpage.