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Campaign for RCN to rejoin ICN wins backing of leading nurses

A campaign to persuade the RCN to rejoin a global federation of nurses has won the backing of 100 members of the profession.
RCN_rejoins_ICN

A campaign to persuade the RCN to rejoin a global federation of nurses has won the backing of 100 members of the profession.

RCN_rejoins_ICN
Picture: Twitter/ICN

The drive for the college to again become part of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) began on social media by a group called We Are Global Nurses.

The group has written a letter to RCN council chair Michael Brown outlining their reasons for wishing to rejoin the federation of 130 nursing organisations, which represents 20 million nurses worldwide.

Signatories of the letter include Public Health England deputy chief nurse Joanne Bosanquet, All Pakistan Nurses Association president Zeba Arif, NHS Digital chief nurse Anne Cooper and dozens of other RCN members and stewards.

The campaign was coordinated by health visitor and RCN activist Jeni Watts, and assistant chief nurse and RCNi editorial advisory board member Paul Jebb.

Their aim is for the issue to be on the agenda for RCN congress 2018.

The letter says: ‘Since 2013, when the RCN left ICN membership, the global landscape has significantly changed. As the UK begins Brexit, issues that affect UK nurses, such as pay and conditions, the image and status of nursing, recruitment and retention, attacks on health workers and many others, are replicated across the globe.

Global solidarity

‘Addressing these issues demands global solidarity and the strength of a global response from the nursing community.’

Responding to the launch of the campaign last month a RCN spokesperson said: ‘After lengthy discussions between the RCN and ICN on the cost of membership and reform of the organisation, RCN members voted to leave in 2013.

‘However, the RCN continues to play a leading role in the international nursing community. This includes regular contact with the ICN - working with them and others on a new global Nursing Now campaign.

‘The RCN has not closed the door on re-joining the ICN after a period of reform, but there are no current plans to do so.’

Annual membership of the ICN, which is based on the number of registered nurses in a union, cost the RCN £500,000.


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