Royal College of Nursing Representing nurses and nursing, promoting excellence in practice, shaping health policies

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Our work

How we represent forum members

  • Developing guidance documents for members spanning all clinical specialities within defence nursing services.
  • Carrying out research.
  • Working with other organisations to develop guidance and policy.
  • Organising conferences and study events to share good practice.
  • Providing an opportunity to network with other members working in defence nursing.

Our strategy

  • Providing an effective steering committee in order to represent forum members.
  • Ensuring the voice of defence nursing is heard at all levels.
  • Providing appropriate professional resources and study events to support professional development of nurses and HCAs working within the Armed Forces.

Defence Nursing Forum Annual Report 2023

Leadership lessons from defence nursing

Defence nurses undergo leadership training and appointments throughout their careers. In this video defence nurses share insights from their deployed leadership experiences. Speakers include the Chief Nursing Officer for Defence, an additional Army, Navy and RAF nurse and an Army HCA.

Speakers share their leadership insights and advice which are applicable across all types of nursing practice, not just defence.

Watch the event

Please log in to watch the event.

Recent activity

RCN Defence Nurses Conference

In March 2023, Dr Liz Walsh (RCN Professional Lead for Defence Nursing) and Dr Janet Kelly (Chair of the RCN Defence Nursing Forum) attended the Defence Nurses Conference at DMS Whittington in Lichfield. As part of the conference, they were invited to present the work of the Defence Nursing Forum and to talk about the role of the RCN in supporting nurses and healthcare support workers working in the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Airforce. They were keen to ensure that nurses working in the military were aware that the RCN has much more than a trade union function to support its members. Feedback from delegates and colleagues was positive, and we look forward to supporting further events.

Defence Nursing Forum slide

RCN Defence nursing conference 1
RCN Defence nursing conference 2
RCN Defence nursing conference 3

Page last updated - 20/06/2024