RCN

RCN Foundation Trustee vacancy

The RCN are looking for an RCN member trustee to sit on the RCN Foundation Board of Trustees.

Candidates will have proven success in their own area of expertise, strong leadership, and strategic skills, and a good understanding of charity governance. Experience of managing grants, and assessing project and research grant applications is also required.

Michael Brown, Chair of RCN Council said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to add value to work of the Foundation and help make a real difference to nursing and patient care.  We need a board that represents all the communities the Foundation supports, and I would encourage applicants from all backgrounds across the UK.”

What is involved?

The Board of Trustees meets quarterly in London but members are welcome to attend meetings by video conference. The role is not remunerated but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. The successful candidate is expected to commit a minimum of 15 days a year to the work of the Foundation, including attending the Board and committee meetings, reviewing papers, responding to requests for support from staff, leading on project development and networking.

Trustees normally serve a minimum term of four years.

About the Foundation

The RCN Foundation is an independent charity supporting the nursing profession to make a difference to people’s lives by investing in projects that improve health and wellbeing. It also helps those in the nursing team to develop their practice and provides assistance to individuals facing hardship.

For more information, please visit: http://www.rcnfoundation.org.uk

The closing date for applications is Friday 29 May 2015.

Shortage of nurses prevents access to training

A survey of more than 14,000 nursing staff undertaken by the RCN, found that almost a fifth (18.3%) were unable to complete essential training in the last year. Forty-four percent claimed that this was due to there being too few staff to cover their work. Of those who had undertaken the training, almost half (48%) said cover was not provided while they were absent, potentially putting patients at risk. One in 10 had to use annual leave and complete compulsory training in own time.

These results ate similar to a 2010 RCN survey; some improvement has been seen since this, although  staff shortages and budget shortfalls are still cited as barriers to access to training; 34.5% of nurses do not feel up to date with core training .

Access to continuing professional development was also slow; more than a quarter (26.3%)  reported that they had no access to structured CPD, with a similar amount (26.2%) maintaining that CPD opportunities have worsened over the past 5 years. Eighty-five percent  of nursing staff have undertaken CPD activities in their own time during the last year, with 24.9% using annual leave.  Almost a third (31.4%) still have to fund CPD themselves.

Nurses and procurement

In Daniel Legg’s article (see Policy and Management section), the new campaign to get nurses involved in procurement was mentioned. The RCN has further information here: http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/campaigns/small-changes-big-differences