#HelloMyNameIs Josie!

On the other hand, I've never been more certain that my cranial nerves are normal.

I volunteer occasionally as an OSCE 'patient' for medical student exams. Today I have had my cranial nerves examined 31 times and now my eyes hurt.

Come and say hi! I'll be in my bright pink Agenda Committee t-shirt, either in the box in front of the stage or dancing around nearby whenever they play the musical sting at the start of each session 😁

A selfie of Josie on the train. Josie is a white woman with long brown/grey hair. She's wearing big headphones, a dress with small colourful hearts, and an RCN Central Manchester fleece.

Going home after two days at RCN HQ, where I've been helping to select the debates for this year's Congress #RCN26. We've recommended some really interesting stuff for this year's agenda, and I'm looking forward to hearing what RCN members have to say about it!

A pink felt badge with a beige cat wearing a white nurse uniform, complete with small metal fob watch. The badge is pinned to a fluffy green coat.

...but I don't really want to tell you about any of that, I just want to show you the nurse cat on a felt badge on my coat. She's a Christmas present from my best friend's pets (who I assume made it themselves).

Today I've done some good nursing, had some productive teamwork with fab colleagues and collected lovely feedback from patients I discharged, but...

I hope those of you in healthcare have had peaceful shifts or some well-earned time off, and that your patients (and yourselves!) are healthy, happy and merry 💜🎄

Today I've been working the long day shift - bedside nursing, teaching a pre-reg nursing student, and assessing/delivering/evaluating nursing care for my patients. I love working in a 24/7/365 profession.

A selfie of Josie, a white woman with long brown wavy hair. She's wearing a dress with a rainbow snails print, an RCN Central Manchester fleece, glasses and a white peace poppy. The background is the inside of a train carriage in soft focus.

Good morning from a train whisking me across the beautiful Pennine countryside to @rcn.org.uk Joint Reps Conference! Looking forward to meeting reps from around the country, and learning about how we make our workplaces better for nursing staff everywhere 💙 #RCNJointReps

@rrowanolive.bsky.social it's taken me a whole day to realise I sent this from the wrong account. I Am Good At Bluesky.

A small wooden structure labelled "dog stick library" contains a couple of dozen fun sticks. A sleek black dog is selecting one.

@rrowanolive.bsky.social Important park feature (not my photo but park is near me)

Submit a Congress agenda item | Congress | Royal College of Nursing The RCN is your organisation - this is your opportunity to have your say in setting its agenda and have your item debated at Congress.

Submissions are now open for the Congress agenda for #RCN26! If you've got an idea for a debate at Congress, take it to your branch/forum/committee to be agreed and then submit it here: www.rcn.org.uk/congress/Sub...

It's Freshers Week in Manchester and it's so busy! This does make it slightly more difficult to get down Oxford Road, but it also makes me happy because I'll be teaching some of them soon 🥰 Welcome/welcome back to all of the pre-reg nursing students, I can't wait to see you out in practice.

Nurses union to reject pay deal as strike vote looms The Royal College of Nursing has been holding a consultative vote on their 3.6% pay rise.

BBC News - Nurses union to reject pay deal as strike vote looms - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If you work or study in nursing and you're not a union member, join @rcn.org.uk to stand up for nursing and nurses.

#FairPayForNursing
#SafeStaffingSavesLives

Finished my 4th night shift in a row this morning. Delayed my journey home by half an hour in order to be able to drive past the @bma.org.uk picket and give resident doctors a honk of solidarity. Our medical colleagues need #FullPayRestoration and for their work and responsibility to be recognised.

Happy birthday Heather!

what, blood?

You've got to lean into it haven't you

tbf this has been the response of everybody I've told about it

Today I said "enjoy your new blood!" to a patient as I started their transfusion, and honestly it's a wonder I'm allowed to talk to patients sometimes.

Solidarity with BMA members - your years of pay cuts don't reflect the value of the work that you do. Nursing staff should take note, because this is how we achieve #FairPayForNursing and safe staffing for patients.

Student nurses left ‘abandoned’ and ‘neglected’ by NHS Trust As government launches its 10-year plan for the NHS, newly qualified nurses are being ‘abandoned’ and ‘neglected’ and turned down for jobs at the hospital where they have sp…

Solidarity with student nurses protesting in Croydon and struggling for jobs across the country - you all deserve better.

Student nurses left 'abandoned' and 'neglected' by NHS Trust insidecroydon.com/2025/07/04/s...

Is the Westminster government's 3.6% pay award enough? | Royal College of Nursing Is the Westminster government's 3.6% pay award enough?

This morning I've been out around my workplace with colleagues from @rcn.org.uk North West, making sure our members have voted in the pay consultation. Lots of people with very strong views - voting is the way to get them acted on! www.rcn.org.uk/MyRCN/Englan...

Nicola Ranger quote card: “Safety is not an optional extra – it should be the standard.”

Professor Ranger told delegates the RCN is campaigning for the introduction of safe nurse to patient ratios right across the UK. We will bring together all of the evidence and advice, for every setting. To support every individual to work safely. #RCN25

Quote card from Nicola Ranger: “Give today’s final year students guaranteed jobs. Where they pay tuition fees, refund them.”

Professor Nicola Ranger has said to delegates that student nurses need more support from governments across the UK if they are to complete their courses and join the profession. The education system needs fixing. #RCN25

Quote card from Nicola Ranger: “Nursing has more than earned a higher place in health care and in society. Newly registered nurses following a period of preceptorship, should progress to band 6 as the new minimum.”

Professor Nicola Ranger has told delegates at #RCN25 that for nursing to be properly valued as a profession, it must have a pathway to progression. Too many nurses start and finish their career on the same band.

#RCN25, it’s been a blast!

The energy this congress has been infectious. We’re gearing up to be a force to be reckoned with.

Enough is enough. Let’s get loud! 📣

Thanks to everyone who joined us this week in Liverpool and online! 🙌

Catch up on anything you might have missed ⬇️ #RCN25

Listen, nobody else at Congress was in membership in 1916 so they're not in a position to confirm or deny.

Josie is a white woman with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She's wearing a pink polo shirt with RCN branding, an RCN Congress lanyard covered in badges and another RCN lanyard in trans flag colours (which she calls the tranyard, but that's a secret bonus for alt text readers). She also has a purple skirt and sparkly pink trainers. She's standing in front of a blue flag which reads "RCN - Nurses' Day 12 May" and a red union banner. The banner reads "1916 - 2016", with the RCN 100 logo, and a picture of a woman in a blue hat, coat and skirt, holding a ribbon which says "ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING - UNITY - STRENGTH".

Delighted to have been re-elected to @rcn.org.uk's Congress Agenda Committee for two more years. Thank you so much everybody who supported me, I can't tell you how much it means that a silly and colourful staff nurse gets to keep doing a role she loves for our wonderful College and members. #RCN25