The first time I attended RCN Congress was almost an accident. There was some spare funding for members in my branch to go to Congress 2022 in Glasgow, and as a student nurse who was trained through the pandemic, I’d never been before.

I didn’t really know what to expect; I’d never been to a nursing conference, and I’d not had many opportunities to go to RCN events. But on a bit of a whim, I found myself heading up to Scotland.

What I found was hundreds of RCN members, reps, activists and staff, all coming together to make one of the most exciting and engaging events I’ve ever been to.

It was my first time in a room with that many nursing professionals – nurses, nursing associates and support workers, nursing students and nursing educators – people from across the entire nursing family. Everyone was there for the same reason: not just because they work in nursing, but because they care about making it better for patients and for ourselves.

As a student, it can be easy to get stuck in a cycle of placements and university. Congress completely broadened my horizons and helped me to see nursing in ways I’d never considered before.

Every day, I met members who worked in roles I’d never even heard of, supporting diverse, sometimes highly specialised patient groups. Despite our different fields and scopes of practice, I learned so much from just talking to people, whether in organised workshops and debates or just when we got chatting in the coffee queue.

Congress takes place over four days this year – Monday 18 May to Thursday 21 May – at ACC Liverpool, but you don’t have to attend all of it. You can drop in for as much or as little as you like.

If you’re a student, I’d especially recommend the Tuesday, which is traditionally Student Day. The debates and workshops are particularly relevant, but you’ll find something interesting happening every day of Congress.

My Agenda Committee colleagues and I have put together a programme of debates covering a wide range of topics affecting nursing in 2026, all proposed by RCN members like you. The main hall hosts speeches and debates, while the Education, Learning and Development Programme offers workshops and small group discussions. These sessions are a great way to meet people, build your network, and learn more about areas of nursing beyond your own.

Congress is free to attend for all RCN members.

I’ve been back every year since my first Congress, and it’s still one of the highlights of my nursing journey. It gives you perspectives on your career that you just won’t get anywhere else.

If you’re a nursing student and you’re unsure – I’d really encourage you to go at least once. You might find yourself coming back every year, just like I have.

Learn more about Congress and book your place