Blogs
Read the latest opinions from the RCN in Scotland
33
blog posts
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17 Jun 2026
Reshaping narratives around care home nursing
General perceptions of care homes and care home nursing are shaped by stories of decline and crisis, reinforcing stigma associated with the sector. However, a visit by RCN Scotland to Burnlea House in Largs demonstrated why this stigma must be challenged, and why care home nursing deserves recognition for its distinct expertise and highly skilled practice.
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16 Jun 2026
Care homes - a place where life grows
Care Home Open Week is a nationwide invitation to step inside and discover what's really happening behind the doors of your local care home. For too long, care homes have carried a reputation that doesn't reflect the reality.
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6 May 2026
Scotland’s nursing staff and patients cannot afford more warm words
This week’s election represents a crossroads for the future of Scotland’s health and care services. Whichever party, or parties, forms the next Scottish government, one thing is clear: the status quo is unsustainable.
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1 May 2026
The quiet skill of care home nurses
RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2025 Kirsty Cartin talks about the often unseen but vital role nurses play in care homes.
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10 Apr 2026
Nursing student? Have your voice heard this election
The Scottish Parliament election is just under a month away, on 7 May, and it brings an opportunity for the next government to take decisive action on attracting more nursing students into the profession and improving support for students to increase retention. Make sure you know how we, as nursing students, can make an impact this election.
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2 Apr 2026
Safe nurse staffing levels are critical to Scotland’s health
Our manifesto includes a call for the introduction of mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for all health and care settings. Without safe nurse to patient ratios, people are being put at risk.
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5 Mar 2026
Have you jumped on the band 5 review wagon yet?
Our election campaign – The Gloves are Off – calls on the next Scottish government to start valuing nursing properly. One way to achieve this is to pay nurses for the job they do now. Thousands of band 5 nurses may be missing out on an opportunity to be paid properly, says Colin Poolman.
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18 Feb 2026
One year on from Scotland’s Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce
A year on from the publication of the Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce report, RCN Scotland is calling for urgent action from the Scottish government to deliver the change our members were promised.
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13 Feb 2026
The Gloves are Off
As we launch our 2026 Scottish elections manifesto, Julie Ross explains why it’s time to value nursing properly.
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22 Dec 2025
Looking Back and Moving Forward
As the year draws to a close, it’s a natural time to pause and reflect on what we’ve achieved together and what lies ahead. For RCN Scotland, 2025 began with a significant milestone: the publication of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce recommendations.
