RCN Education Forum Conference 2026
Celebrating innovation and diversity in nursing education
15 Apr 2026, 08:00 - 16 Apr, 17:30
Choose event information:
Call for abstracts now open!
As the health and social care landscape rapidly evolves, nursing education is under increasing pressure—from workforce shortages and rising workloads to student attrition and limited placements. Educators are also expected to respond to advancing technologies, shifting policies, and the essential need to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion across all levels of learning and practice.
Our 2026 conference aims to shine a spotlight on nurse-led innovations that are actively addressing these challenges and driving meaningful, sustainable change across health and social care education and practice.
What are we looking for?
In response to delegate feedback, we are committed to curating a programme that showcases diverse perspectives and initiatives from across health and social care. We’re particularly interested in abstracts that have a strong focus on developments in post-registration and practice education, as well as pre-registration learning.
Who can submit?
Whether you're a student nurse starting out in your career or an experienced professional, we welcome submissions from individuals across all levels of nursing. We invite abstracts that showcase research, innovation, and solution-based strategies shaping the future of nursing education and practice.
We especially encourage contributions from third sector, private, independent, and voluntary organisations, as well as from our internationally educated nursing workforce.
New for 2026
For 2026, authors will now have the option to select a new mode of presentation: a ‘5-min flash talk’.
Flash talks are strictly timed 5-minute presentations delivered in main plenary session (i.e. to whole conference) and provide the opportunity for your findings to reach a large number of delegates but in a concise form.
The traditional oral sessions will continue to offer the opportunity to present work in a longer format (20 mins + 5 mins Q&A) in the concurrent sessions. Presenters can indicate their preferred format upon submission.
Call for abstract categories
Abstracts are invited under one of the following categories:
- Use of technology in nursing education and practice
- Sustaining and developing the nursing workforce across health and social care
- Celebrating success in nursing education and practice
- Innovation and developments in inclusive education and practice for a global and diverse workforce
Refer to our call for abstract section for further guidance on how to submit your abstract.
Please note, this is an in-person conference. If your abstract is accepted, all presenters will be expected to register to present in person.
RCN Education team
education@rcn.org.uk
02076473577
The Forum Building - University of Exeter
Stocker Road
Exeter
EX4 4PY
Travel information
What3Words to The Forum building: ///herds.data.little Campus Map: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/visit/directions/streathammap/
By rail
Exeter's two mainline railway stations are Exeter St David's and Exeter Central. Exeter St James is also within walking distance of both campuses. Streatham campus is a 15-minute walk from St David's station, 15-minute walk from St James station and 20 minutes from Exeter Central station. The walking route is signed from St David's' station and the campus map shows the walking route.
Use National Rail Enquiries to plan your route. For passenger information telephone 08457 484950.
As a conference delegate attending this venue, you could be eligible for discounted fares of up to 80% with GWR's conference fares. Conditions apply.
By car
The M4/M5 links Exeter directly to London, the Midlands, South Wales and the North including Scotland.
The average journey time from either London or the Midlands is 3 hours.
Download our Directions to the Streatham Campus.
If you are using satnav, use postcode EX4 4QJ.
Car parking
Car park charges are approximately £10 per day.
Pay and display parking (council operated) is available on Prince of Wales Road and Streatham Drive, both on the Streatham Campus.
Visitors may only park in car park C. Visitors must have a valid Pay By Phone session or a visitor hanging permit provided by the University. All other parking bays are for permit holders only from 08:00 -18:00.
Please note that parking spaces are limited, especially during term, delegates are encouraged to use public transport where possible.
If you are a blue badge holder, please get in touch with the events team.
By air
Direct flights operate into Exeter International Airport from Dublin, Belfast and airports in the United Kingdom including Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, Newcastle and Norwich.
Further information is available from Exeter International Airport website.
By bus/coach
The Streatham & St Lukes Campuses are served by Stagecoach line 4 University service . From Monday to Saturday and connects Streatham Campus - Exeter Central railway station - City Centre - Central Bus Station - St Luke's Campus, every 12 minutes.
To discover what to see and do in and around Exeter please visit: www.visitexeter.com/
Key diary dates
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Friday 24 October 2025 |
Call for abstracts close |
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Wednesday 29 October 2025 |
Abstracts in review by scientific committee |
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28 November 2025 |
Outcome of abstract reviews communicated to authors. Conference programme published |
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Monday 6 February 2025 |
Registration deadline for presenter rate |
Criteria for abstract selection
View the criteria for abstract selection and abstract hints and tips
View conference terms and conditions
We strongly recommend that you invite a colleague to peer review your abstract against the criteria before it is submitted.
All abstracts must be submitted online through the Abstract Management System which can be found here.
Once you have submitted your abstract, you will receive an email to confirm receipt. If you do not receive this confirmation within 12 hours of submission, please email education@rcn.org.uk to check that the submission has been received.
Types of conference presentation:
Concurrent paper
A concurrent paper is presented orally. The presenter is allocated a maximum of 20 minutes to present their paper followed by 5 minutes for Q&A and discussion.
Poster presentation (one day)
Exhibited on one day of the conference, posters are visual displays of material. Poster displays reach a wide audience and are suited to the presentation of factual data, such as project design or findings. Posters should be visually stimulating in design and convey clear aims and outcomes. Presenters are required to be available on the day of their presentation during the lunch break to engage informally with delegates.
Visual Presentation with Expert Review (ViPER)
A ViPER is an oral poster presentation with, if used, a maximum of 3 PowerPoint slides to support for example to show overarching findings/conclusions, reference points or provide context.
ViPER’s will be presented in a breakout room within the concurrent programme and a poster board supplied. The presenter is allocated a maximum of 10 minutes to present their poster. Presenters are required to source an expert in the field to respond to the presentation (max. 5 minutes) and then facilitate a discussion (up to 10 minutes).
Symposium
A symposium is a presentation of between three and five papers with a shared focus. Depending on the number of papers, the duration of a symposium will range from 60 to 90 minutes. Discussion may be after each paper (maximum 5 minutes) or at the end of the symposium.
Flash talk
Flash talks are strictly timed 5-minute presentations delivered in main plenary session (i.e. to whole conference) and provide the opportunity for your findings to reach a large number of delegates but in a concise form. Following all flash talk presentations there will the opportunity for a 10-minute Q&A
Who can present?
Whether you're a student nurse starting out in your career or an experienced professional, we welcome submissions from individuals across all levels of nursing and from every health and social care setting – both within the UK and internationally.
We especially encourage contributions from third sector, private, independent, and voluntary organisations, as well as from our internationally educated nursing workforce.
Benefits of presenting
The opportunity to present is frequently cited as a key motivator to participate.
With a friendly and encouraging audience of peers, the benefits for presenters are:
- a platform to showcase your work and your employer on a national level
- having your research and innovation recognised by peers, receiving constructive review and encouragement
- being able to demonstrate initiative and commitment to the future of nurse education
- the opportunity to build networks and alliances, expanding your knowledge and promoting your work
- debating and sharing the current challenges at the heart of nursing education
- personal development that will improve your communication and networking skills.
Accreditation
With the quality assurance provided by the RCN’s Accreditation of the event, you can be confident that papers are reviewed with rigour and the programme designed to create a high-quality forum in which to reflect on current work, participate in networking events and learn about innovation in nursing education.
DEADLINE FOR BOOKING THE PRESENTER RATE FOR A GUARANTEED SLOT IN THE PROGRAMME IS STRICTLY 6 FEBRUARY 2026
Please note that after 6 February, presenters will be required to register at the standard rate to present at the conference.
Presenter rates cannot be booked online. To book the presenter rate and pay by debit/credit card, please contact RCN Event Registrations on 02920 546460. Please have your abstract reference number to hand. Alternatively, we can invoice your employer, please follow the invoice process below.
ALL presenters and co-presenters are required to pay the registration fee to present at the conference. We strongly recommend that you attend the full two days of the conference to maximise learning and networking time.
Presenter rate restrictions
The lead presenter and maximum of one co-presenter are offered a rate equivalent to a 15% reduction on the two-day conference fee.
For symposium submissions one presenter per paper is eligible for the presenter rate up to a maximum of five presenters.
We regret that the presenter rate cannot be offered on the one-day conference fee.
Not an RCN member? Join today to qualify for preferential conference fees.
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Conference fees |
Price ex VAT |
VAT |
Price inc VAT |
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Member (2 Days) |
£265.00 |
£53.00 |
£318.00 |
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Non Member (2 Days) |
£395.00 |
£79.00 |
£474.00 |
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Member (1 Day) |
£202.50 |
£40.50 |
£243.00 |
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Non Member (1 Day) |
£297.50 |
£59.50 |
£357.00 |
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Presenter rates (available until 6 February 2026) |
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Member Presenter (2 Days) |
£225.50 |
£45.05 |
£270.30 |
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Non Member Presenter (2 Days) |
£335.75 |
£67.15 |
£402.90 |
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Discounted rates |
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Member (1 day): Pre-reg student, Retired, RCN Health Care Practitioner, Nursing Support Worker/Assistant Practitioner |
£75.00 |
£15.00 |
£90.00 |
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Member (2 days): Pre-reg student, Retired, RCN Health Care Practitioner, Nursing Support Worker/Assistant Practitioner |
£150.00 |
£30.00 |
£180.00 |
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Please note the above discounted rate is not available to post graduate students. Refer to section on conditions and exclusions below. |
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Member: RCN representatives, forum steering committee (2 day / 25% discount) |
£198.75 |
£39.75 |
£238.50 |
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Conditions and exclusions
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Please note: discounts cannot be accumulated or redeemed when booking online. Please contact RCN Events Registration to book a discounted place. |
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Catering during the conference and conference materials are provided within the conference fee. Travel, accommodation and catering outside of the conference programme are not included in the conference fee.
To make a booking
Please note our booking lines are only open Monday to Friday.
Online bookings are the easiest and fastest way to book 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bookings can be made by phone with payment by credit card/Maestro, by calling
+44 (0) 2920 546460. Lines are open from 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Bookings can also be made by post with a downloaded booking form with credit card details or payment/remittance advice posted to: Event registrations, FREEPOST, ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING.
Invoice payment
To pay by invoice you must send all of the below to eventsreg@rcn.org.uk
- A copy of the Purchase Order document from your organisation or company (we cannot process your order without it)
- Your finance department or accounts payable contact email address to receive an electronic copy of the invoice from us
- A completed RCN Events Booking Form for each delegate in the booking
Important - Please do not send booking forms without pdf copies of POs or vice versa, we will not be able to complete your booking.
Once the invoice has been raised, you will then receive confirmation of your delegate booking on the event requested. Invoices are to be paid within 30 days of the invoice being issued.
We always endeavour to process your booking as quickly as possible, however, this process can sometimes take up to 10 working days.
So that we can process your booking quickly, please send all the booking forms and the Purchase Order to us together on the same email.
Group bookings - please send all the completed booking forms and the Purchase Order to us, together on the same email.
Email: education@rcn.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7647 3577
The RCN Education Forum Conference is a flagship event valued by delegates and with a strong reputation for delivery. It provides an unrivalled opportunity for you to connect directly with nurse educators at all levels across the UK and beyond, in the NHS, public or independent and voluntary sectors, universities and colleges.
There are a number of ways you can get involved, from networking to raise your profile to tailored commercial packages to help achieve specific objectives. Please contact the exhibitions team on 02076473959 or email exhibitions@rcn.org.uk
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Page last updated - 25/07/2025
