On the eve of International Nurses Day, Helen Whyley, Director for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales, has spoken out about the “massive future” of the nursing profession in a candid interview with Newcross Healthcare’s Voices of Care podcast series.
After a tumultuous period for the RCN in Wales, which included a historic strike action, Ms Whyley argues that the future of the nursing profession is bright, pointing out the increasing role of nurses in providing advanced care and managing mental health issues.
In order to ensure the continued success of the profession, Ms Whyley calls for greater investment and workforce planning, as well as more flexible contracts.
Discussing the lead up to the strike action, Mrs Whyley spoke of the “toes curling” stories of nurses being put into situations they should not have been in, with promises of senior nursing support not being fulfilled.
“We have to think and demonstrate that we can do short, medium and long term planning and take those actions,” she said. “We have engaged [nurses] and empowered them to take that space and really speak up for their profession and the things that they value.”
The episode featuring Helen Whyley is now available on various platforms, including YouTube, Apple, Spotify and the Newcross Healthcare website.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.