Royal College of Nursing Library and Museum

Graphic with RCN Library and Museum event listings from 11 February to 5 March 2026. Full details available at www.rcn.org.uk/whatson

From our fantastic and exciting new exhibition launch 🏛️ to yoga practice🧘, library skills🔍 and writing workshops🖊️, we've got loads of events for you over the next few weeks.

📔🎼🖼️💭🏥 Find our full programme and book your place: https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/Museum-and-Events/Library-Events

Quote: "Heart Unions Week is a powerful reminder that our strength as nursing staff comes from organising together. Every rep, every activist and every member helps amplify our collective voice." Below is the name Denise Kelly, Chair of RCN Trade Union Committee. At the bottom is a red heart followed by #HeartUnions.

This #HeartUnions Week, we’re celebrating our members who organise, mobilise & grow our collective power every day.

Through building solidarity in workplaces and turning member activism into real change, you ensure that the voice of nursing cannot be ignored.

Get involved: https://bit.ly/4hOpqNI

One not to miss ! #histnursing #histmed #womenshistory

Promotional graphic showing the British Journal of Cardiac Nursing cover beside text that reads "Journal spotlight".

For #HeartMonth we're highlighting the British Journal of Cardiac Nursing. Essential for all nurses working in cardiac care, you can access the latest accurate research with your RCN membership. Browse the latest issue here: http://bit.ly/3NZvc4b

Cath Jackson's Nurse Nightshade cartoon strip. Panel shows a a suited man saying "The student nurse! Workhorse of the N.H.S. strong, reliable -- cheap to run..."

Cath Jackson's Nurse Nightshade cartoon strip. A hand holding a pointing stick reaches into this panel and directs the attention at a poster. The hand belongs to the suited man from the previous panel. He says "She is the solution to our over-manning + under-funding problems". The poster depicts a nurse with disposable had, disposable uniform, disposable arm, disposable legs, disposable shoes all labelled. A thermometer labelled compassion scale indicates over 90% compassion.

Cath Jackson's Nurse Nightshade cartoon strip. Panel shows a nurse above flames with steam or smoke emanating from her person as her eyes form spirals. The suited man's voice reaches into this frame and says "After 3 years training - working very hard for almost no money - she spontaneously combusts..."

Cath Jackson's Nurse Nightshade cartoon strip. Panel shows a the man rubbing his hands in glee. He says "Thus requiring no further employment."

Enough is Enough! A talk on the history of nursing cartoons from 1900 to 1980. Join historian Dr Sue Hawkins, cartoonist Cath Jackson, graphic novel editor Corinne Pearlman and Holly Burrows (Cartoon Museum).

🕠5:30-7pm, 18 February
📍London
🎟️Free: https://bit.ly/3MefKR1
#ArtOfNursing #HistNursing

Good point! We'll see if we have some other marginalia from Nightingale.

United we shall go forward, disunited we shall be overwhelmed.

I stand for progress-pledged to support any measure coming from whatever source that will lift the nursing profession supported as it is by the noblest tradition to the place where it should be, in the forefront, we should lead not follow...

Thanks for your help! We think, and with all the contributions, this might be the passage:

We think this might be "lift the" which seems to make topical sense too. There was some suggestion this could be Florence Nightingale's hand - we'll dig out some of her letters to compare soon!

Thanks Catherine! We like this suggestion - there seems to be a real consensus that this is the most likely.

a neon sign that says thank you is lit up in a dark room ALT: a neon sign that says thank you is lit up in a dark room

We think this makes sense too!

Thanks Susi! It is a tricky hand. We had to look up viccisitudes 🫣. But we think the traditions suggestion is most likely.

Nice to have a palaeographer on the line! Expert hive minds here on Bluesky! 💯

Thanks Madeleine! We think so too now - really helpful to get everyone's eyes on this 🌟

Thanks Krisztina! We think this is it too :) And I think we largely in agreement about your whole passage now. It's been really helpful to get everyone's dis/united suggestions!

Thanks Brad! We thought it was something like levelled/desiccated - but disunited with a looped "i" makes more sense.

Thanks Andy! It does look like an L - but a lot of helpful suggestions for traditions - which makes sense.

Makes sense paleographically, rhetorically and philosophically!

Thanks Alex! We think this is a good take.

We think that makes sense 👍

It does!

Thanks Søren - amazing work! We think this is a really great transcription - especially on the earlier clauses. Although, we think the united/disunite consensus forming might be the way to go for the last sentence.

Thanks for sharing onward <3

a woman sitting at a table with the words " you are the prize " written on the bottom ALT: a woman sitting at a table with the words " you are the prize " written on the bottom

Thanks! It seems there's a consensus forming on dis/united.

Time for a spring refresh | News | Royal College of Nursing

🌸 Smash your studies this spring 🌸

We're here to help you succeed this term (and the next) with training, resources, librarian support, cultural events and even yoga

🌷Start your refresh: https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/time-for-a-spring-refresh

Moved to care graphic featuring run details (5 March to 2 September 2026)

Join us for the launch of Moved to Care: Stories of Nursing and Migration. Your chance for a first look around the exhibition. Enjoy free refreshments, an expert panel of speakers and activities.

📆 Thursday 5 March 2026
📍 London
✅ Book your spot: https://bit.ly/4pSGp4z

#MovedToCare #HistNursing

A 19th Century Cursive passage... we think it reads: "I stand for progress - pledged to support any measure coming from whatever source that will lift the nursing profession - supported as it is by the [unclear] to the place where it should be, in the forefront, we should lead not follow. Leveled we shall go forward [unclear] we shall be overwhelmed.

🕵️Calling all handwriting sleuths🖊️

We need your help. We have this handwritten note in our 19th Century copy of Martin Chuzzlewit by Dickens. Can you work out what it says? We are stuck on the first word of the last line. And any thoughts on whose penmanship it could be?

#HistNursing #HistBook

What I do at work: consultant nurse in critical care | RCN Magazine | Royal College of Nursing We hear from Suman on what ANPs bring to intensive care, and the future of advanced practice

"Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) bring a huge amount to any team - they’re used to handling complex situations and can spot when something isn’t quite right straight away." 💬

Learn more about ANPs, including how they work within a multidisciplinary team, in our magazine feature ⬇️