RCN president-elect: I will tackle racism and help college change
Posted 08 December 2022 - 07:57
Nurse academic Sheila Sobrany pledges to help address discrimination affecting the profession, and a negative culture that has come to light inside the college
A nursing lecturer elected as the next RCN president vows to ease pressure on nurses, tackle racism and discrimination and work to resolve organisational concerns inside the college.
Sheila Sobrany will take over from outgoing president Denise Chaffer in the new year and will act as a key figurehead for the UK profession.
Priorities for term of office
Her key priorities will be securing fair pay in the profession, reducing pressures on nurses and tackling racism, bullying, harassment and discrimination of health care workers, the RCN said.
Ms Sobrany also addressed concerns about the RCN organisation, as examined in the recent Carr Review, and said she would work to ‘root out the poor behaviours’ identified in the review and hold perpetrators to account.
‘The culture of the organisation and how it works must change, and I will dedicate myself to that ambition,’ she said.
Unity among college membership
Ms Sobrany added it was important for the college to foster unity among members.
The RCN president-elect is a course leader in adult nursing at the University of East London and sits on the RCN London board.
Her appointment comes as up to 100,000 nurses prepare to strike on 15 and 20 December in a long-running dispute over pay and patient safety.
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