Welcome!

Welcome to my Blog. I hope you find the posts interesting, informative and perhaps even entertaining(!). I'll update this Blog with my responses to topical stories of the day, important news and tales of my travels up and down the UK, meeting our inspirational nursing staff.

The RCN represents almost 400,000 nurses in the UK and is the country's largest nursing union.

Friday 31 July 2009

That's what I call a great start...

It’s been three days since the RCN unveiled its new social networking tools and I have to say, I’m staggered at how successful it’s been. The launch video was watched by 10,000 people after just 24 hours on the RCN website. As I write this, it stands at over 15,000.

Plus, of the people who are following me on Twitter, a huge number appear to be signing up for the first time, helped by the launch instructions.

This is a great start to a very exciting new way of interacting with members on the ground, in the wards, with the patients. The RCN only exists because of the amazing nurses who keep our healthcare service working. The fact that these new tools can allow us to hear their comments, get their feedback and take their opinions is very encouraging.

Yesterday I was at the RCN Wales Conference, the theme of which was ‘Leadership and its legacy’. I gave a speech on leadership and met a number of inspirational delegates who are leading our profession through these tough times.

I’m off to Anglia Ruskin University today to meet with their Vice Chancellor, David Humber. The university has an exceptional Health and Social Care faculty and, judging from their website, they’re really promoting nursing as a varied, diverse and rewarding profession – which, of course, it is.

I’ll blog again next week so have a very enjoyable weekend and come back soon.

Tuesday 28 July 2009

The first blog post...

Well here it is…my first blog post. Today marks a real step forward in the way the RCN interacts with both its members and the general public. If you’re reading this then you way well have already watched the launch video on the (revamped) website.

Both I and the RCN have joined Twitter. If you were able to find this blog, then Twitter is a piece of cake. It’s a great resource for keeping up to date with what interests you.

That’s perhaps what’s best about all of this new technology – the power is with the people. You can get the news when you want the news, read updates when you have the time and interact with people and organisations of your choosing.

In this blog, I’ll write short updates about what I’m up to in and around the RCN. I meet inspirational nurses up and down the UK all the time and I’d like to share those meetings with the world and tell people about the amazing work that’s being done.

I’ll also post my thoughts and responses to the topical news stories of the day. We’re currently in an election year and with our economy in crisis and public spending cuts in discussion, the nursing voice has never been more important.

That’s where you come in. The RCN is as strong as its members; so get involved on Twitter and make sure your voice is heard.

I’ll blog regularly so make sure you come back soon…!