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We are dedicated to providing high-quality, quality-assured educational events that support the continuing professional development of the ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ profession. Due to the significant costs involved in organising these events, they are not included in the core membership offer and rely on delegate fees to cover their direct cost. However, RCN members benefit from preferential rates, with additional discounts available for our pre-registration student nurse members.

One key reason we charge for our larger national conferences is to encourage commitment from attendees to attend. In the past, free events have seen high levels of non-attendance, resulting in significant financial waste. Delegate fees directly fund essential event costs such as venue hire, catering, audio-visual production, and speaker expenses. Any surplus is reinvested to support the our wider work and services.

While we strive to keep fees as low as possible for members, we understand that cost can be a barrier for some. We therefore recommend checking our website regularly for details of events in your region—many of our smaller local events are free to attend.

In addition, RCN Congress, our flagship annual event, is free for all members. Learn more about Congress.

Online bookings are the easiest and fastest way to book 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Bookings can be made by phone with payment by debit/credit card, by calling +44 (0)2920 546460. Lines are open from 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Bookings can also be made via email with a downloaded booking form with credit card details or payment/remittance advice emailed to eventsreg@rcn.org.uk. All bookings will be confirmed in writing.

You will not be registered for this event unless payment accompanies your application. Places cannot be held provisionally.

We reserve the right to refuse any booking at any time.

To pay by invoice you must send all of the below to eventsreg@rcn.org.uk

• A copy of the Purchase Order document from your organisation or company (we cannot process your order without it).
• Your Finance department/accounts payable contact email address to receive an electronic copy of the invoice from us.
• A completed RCN Events Booking Form for each delegate in the booking.

Once the invoice has been raised, you will then receive confirmation of your delegate booking for the event requested. Invoices are to be paid within 30 days of the invoice being issued.

For our conferences where a delegate fee applies, discounts may be available for RCN members. These are usually up to 40% discount for pre-reg student, retired, or health practitioner members or up to 25% RCN representatives and forum steering committee members. Please check the relevant event webpage for further details.

Join the RCN to be immediately eligible for discounted member rates at selected events.

Here are some of the benefits of attending our events you may wish to flag with your
employer:

• By supporting your attendance your employer is positively demonstrating their commitment to your continuing professional development. At this conference you can accrue hours of participatory CPD.
• Hear from eminent keynote speakers updating you on latest developments and best practice within ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ practice, making sure you stay updated on this fast paced area of care and are following the latest guidelines
• Real life case studies will focus on service developments. Understand different models and how these can be used to enhance patient care and outcomes.
• You can use this learning to produce written reflective pieces of learning for your portfolio of evidence for revalidation.
• Use the day away from work to reflect on what you can do to improve your own practice and be prepared for the future.
• Identify personal opportunities for lifelong learning.
• Utilise opportunities to network with colleagues
• Return to your workplace inspired, with fresh ideas and new learning to share with your wider team.
• You will discover new techniques, procedures and best practice that could be implemented in your work setting to improve patient care and outcomes.

Requesting the time – Use our letter of justification as a template to outline your objectives for attendance and the key learning outcomes, making sure you relate these to impacting best practice and patient care and provide the total cost of your attendance.

Attending the conference – Use the time at the event to network and make new connections, picking up tips and sharing best practice.

Evaluate your time – spend some time during and after the event writing notes and consolidating what you have learnt.

Update your CPD portfolio – All accredited courses or conferences will issue you with a certificate of attendance or completion. Make sure you transfer your reflections and learning’s so you can validate your CPD.

Share best practice – Following the event, distribute the information amongst your team, act on it and follow up showing your employer where improvements have been made as a result of the event.

Highlight areas for improvement - This also allows you to highlight areas for improvements to ways of working and service delivery.

Disseminate the learning - Whenever you go to an event you can share what you’ve learnt by giving a presentation to your colleagues on what you’ve learned. By sharing the information, you reduce some of the jealousy felt because you got to go instead of them, and the training experience for others is invaluable. If you're uncomfortable presenting in front of others, then just concentrate on providing a good report.

Implementation is key - Implement at least one performance change you've learned. Be sure to document the savings, and emphasise that these savings would not have been made if you had not attended the event.

Compare and contrast - If you're trying to justify the cost of an event, simply compare it to almost any education course. RCN Events are almost always better value for money, we have an in-house team who have built up relationships with venues and suppliers to offer our service at the best possible price to you.

Many budgets have been slashed, and NHS trusts and other healthcare providers are increasingly reducing or cutting training budgets to save costs. However, your continuing professional development is important for your practice and future career. Conferences, professional seminars and workshops are a great way to keep yourself and your CPD updated.

If you feel that the training you receive at a conference is worth the cost, then you'll probably need to justify it. Events can be difficult as there is the time off you’ll need to attend, as well as the cost of travel and sometimes accommodation if it’s too far from home. You need to prove the time away from your workplace is both value for money and will directly improve the care you provide your patients.

Need help getting started? Use our justifying your attendance form letter.

International delegates who wish to attend our events in the United Kingdom are responsible for ensuring they meet all entry requirements set out by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the UK Home Office. For most delegates, this will require applying for a Standard Visitor visa under the category of attending a business or academic event such as a conference.

As the event organiser, we can only provide confirmation of your event registration, including proof that you have booked and paid (where applicable) to attend. Please note:

• We do not issue invitations to individual delegates.
• Our events are open to all qualified healthcare professionals who wish to attend (RCN Members and non-members).
• We are not able to provide sponsorship or support for visa applications beyond the confirmation of event registration.

 Delegates are advised to consult the UKVI official guidance on visitor visas, available at:

You may be asked by UKVI to provide documentation such as:

• Confirmation of your event registration and payment receipt
• Proof of your professional background (e.g. employment in a healthcare role)
• Evidence of your intent to return home after the event

We strongly recommend applying for your visa well in advance of travel, allowing sufficient time for processing.
For further information on visa requirements and the application process, please refer directly to UKVI or consult your local British embassy or consulate.