The RCN has teamed up with the National Union of Students to improve students bursaries for nurses, says chair of the RCN Council.
Michael Brown addressed the RCN Congress on 23 June and said that they would be working with the NUS to improve student bursaries. He said that the partnership was still in its infancy but that the students were engaging in the work.
In his speech he also acknowledged that the next 12 months would be very difficult for the nursing profession. He called on all nurses to rally together to support the profession and once again paid tribute to outgoing general secretary Peter Carter. Mr carter received a standing ovation.
Mr Brown also commented on the government's plans for seven-day services and said that nurses would be unable to carry this out if they continued to feel that they were not being supported. 'This cannot go on. Nurses are well placed to deliver seven-day care.'
David Harding-Price, the honorary treasurer of the RCN, also confirmed that the RCN remains 'financially strong' and that there would not be 'an increase in membership subs in 2015.'