RCN Review of Membership Categories

Introduction

The Royal College of Nursing prides itself on being the 'voice of nursing' - representing every role, every care setting and every part of the UK.

Historically, only registered nurses were eligible for RCN membership, but since 2001 if you're part of the nursing workforce, you're part of the RCN.

The RCN is consulting members on how we can update our structures and processes to be more inclusive of the whole nursing profession and to support members' journeys through nursing.

Background

At RCN Congress 2019, a consultation on membership categories asked for views on the current arrangements and asked what could be improved. 

The review work is being led by a dedicated 'task-and-finish' group with member representation from across the organisation and support from RCN staff.

After reflecting on the findings of the first consultation, the group would like to present RCN members with a new proposal which best fits these three guiding principles:

1. demonstrating true equality and inclusivity for the whole nursing workforce
2. ensuring our arrangements are fit for the future and allowing all nursing professionals to benefit from RCN membership
3. ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the College itself.

Proposal - a single membership

Last year, during the consultation, you told us that our membership structures must change to be inclusive of the whole nursing profession. Currently, your membership category is dictated by the job you hold. But in 2020, it is increasingly difficult to use job titles to describe every member of the nursing workforce. In the future, the RCN can make its membership offer open to every part of the nursing profession and not try to make new members fit into old boxes. A single membership would allow the RCN to reflect the workplace and the realities of the nursing profession across the UK.

A single membership would not mean everybody will pay the same.

The 2019 consultation found that members support the concept of a link between your membership plan and your income, including concessionary rates for newly qualified members, those on career breaks, those receiving benefits, those working part time, and retired members.

At present, membership categories and governance arrangements are intrinsically linked. For example, RCN Council has one nurse member representative from each region and country, together with one nursing support worker member and one student member. We are proposing to allow our governance and membership arrangements to enable all members to stand for and vote for the members who serve on RCN Council, country and regional boards, and the Professional Nursing and Trade Union Committees from their country or region.

Questions to consider

1. Do you agree with the guiding principles listed above?
2. Does a single membership deliver those key principles?
3. Do you agree that a range of payment plans linking the amount you pay each year to salary expectations is fair?
4. Do you agree that all members should be able to stand and vote for the members from your country and region on RCN Council, your local board and the Professional Nursing and Trade Union Committees?
5. Do you agree that the President and Deputy President and Chair of Council should continue to be required to be a registered nurse?

Responding to this consultation

The above is a summary; please read the full consultation document before responding.

When responding please include:

• Name of person completing the response
• Membership number OR postcode
• Name of entity submitting response if you are submitting on behalf of a group such as a regional board.

Responses should be emailed to governance.support@rcn.org.uk by midnight on 1 April 2020.