RCN Congress - How We Can All Lead

Leadership rarely arrives with a shiny title. It starts with a question, a nudge, and the courage to make a small change that helps a colleague or a patient. We share how emerging leadership in general practice nursing grows through everyday influence, builds through learning and mentorship, and finds its voice on national stages like RCN Congress. From the first steps on a leadership course to presenting to a room of hundreds, this conversation follows the real arc from nerves to impact.

We dig into how structured development expands confidence and strategy: programmes like Nurses in Bloom and specialist practitioner qualifications give GPNs shared language, practical tools, and peer networks. That foundation makes service improvement less daunting and more deliberate. You’ll hear a case study on phenotesting moving from a part-time project to wider rollout aligned with national guidance—proof that evidence, partnership, and persistence can shift primary care pathways and reduce health inequalities.

Congress takes centre stage as a crucible for nurse-led policy, where motions shape the agenda and lived experience guides decisions. We talk through funding support that removes barriers to attendance and why stepping up to the microphone can flip a mental switch. The takeaway is simple and actionable: influence beats authority, and leadership is contagious. If you’re a GPN, your voice matters—join a course, connect with your forum, and consider applying for one of the funded places at Congress in Liverpool, 18–21 May 2026, with applications due 7 December.

If this conversation sparks something in you, follow the show, share it with a colleague who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review telling us the first change you’ll lead this month. Your next step could inspire someone else’s first.

RCN General Practice Forum - General Practice Nursing Forum | Royal College of Nursing

RCN General Practice Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/RCNGeneralPracticeForum/ 

Attending Congress - Congress | Royal College of Nursing

Application - Apply to becoming a voting member | Congress | Royal College of Nursing

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Chapters

• 0:00 Defining Emerging Leadership
• 1:43 Learning Through Courses And Community
• 3:10 Stepping Onto The National Stage
• 5:25 Presenting On Leadership And Projects
• 7:15 Confidence, Influence, And Next Steps
• 10:25 Invitation To Get Involved And Apply

Transcript

Ashleigh: 0:09

Welcome to Generally Practicing, where we talk all things general practice nursing, the challenges, the changes, and the people shaping the future. I'm Ashleigh.

La Toya: 0:20

And I'm La Toya. Today we're gonna dive into what it means to be an emerging leader in primary care. And how nurses like us, myself and Ashleigh, are trying our best to step up, shaping services and making our voices heard.

Ashleigh: 0:41

Exactly. Leadership isn't just for our managers, it's for every single nurse who wants to make a difference. So what is emerging leadership? Emerging leader, what does that actually mean for a GPN?

La Toya: 1:00

I can tell you what it means for me. For me, it's about recognising that leadership happens every day in how we support our colleagues, in influencing decisions that are happening in healthcare, and advocating for patients. You don't need to be a you I actually think you don't need to have a fancy title to be a leader, you just need curiosity, a bit of courage, and a vision.

Ashleigh: 1:32

Yes, that is what um a leadership development programme um can come in with. I've recently started a Nurses in Bloom general practice nursing leadership course, and so far it has been such an eye-opener. It's helped to see um how small actions uh like mentoring a new nurse or improving a care pathway uh can have quite a big ripple effect across the whole practice.

La Toya: 1:59

And for me, last year I took the brave step of enrolling for this specialist practitioner qualification at Wolverhampton University. I thought leadership was about being in charge, but now what I do know is it's not about authority, it's about the influence. It's about asking what needs to change, and how can I help to make that happen?

Ashleigh: 2:30

That's so true. Uh the courses help me connect with other GPNs locally who share the same drive to make primary care better. It's something powerful about hearing other nurses' stories, you realise um you're not alone in wanting change.

La Toya: 2:46

And what I like is that sense of connection, and for me, that's what's pushed me to be involved. And I'm involved in the Royal College of Nursing GPN Forum. I am one of the committee members, and that's also actually made me go to the Royal Congress, the Royal College of Nursing Congress. Have anyone heard about it?

Ashleigh: 3:14

Yes, you've been a couple of times now, haven't you? It sounds so interesting.

La Toya: 3:19

I have, and to be fair, both times were incredible, and both times I had the opportunity to be funded by the RCN for them, um for going to the Congress. And what funding means is you get accommodation, you get paid transport, and also your meals sorted for the entire Congress or the part that you want to be there. And when I went off quite nervous, as I'm normally nervous, and it was a really great atmosphere. There were hundreds of nurses, and they were all debating these big issues in healthcare. And it didn't really take long for me to see how what a supportive space that was. And Congress gave nurses a chance to shape that national agenda, to raise motions, to debate policy, and to influence what agenda the Royal College of Nursing is going to set for that year.

Ashleigh: 4:30

What an amazing experience. It's real democracy in action, isn't it? Nurses actually setting the direction for our profession.

La Toya: 4:40

Exactly. And the first time I attended, I actually presented at Congress. And the title it was about leadership. And I presented as an emerging leader. And actually, I never thought of myself as a leader at that time. And I was presenting alongside amazing nurses who were working in primary care. So there was Joyce, who is a partner in a GP surgery, and she's actually a member of the LMC. And then there was Sarah, who's a strategic lead in Devon, and she had done an amazing project on um legacy nursing and mentorship in nursing.

Ashleigh: 5:31

That's that's huge. Um just tell us a little bit more what it was, what it was actually like. Nerve-wracking, sure.

La Toya: 5:43

But if I'm to really reflect, it was one of the proudest moments of my career because at the end of it I had people who stood up and actually clapped for what I say, and I didn't think I said anything that was that quite profound. All I did was share about my journey in primary care, how I worked as a practice nurse, what sort of involvement I had, and also about the part-time job that I had with the hospital or a local hospital that you know, and it was dealing with health inequalities and how we can introduce FeNo within primary care. And from that, I was actually able to present at BTS last year about FeNo when the BTS sign nice guideline um was introduced, and trust me, that was nerve-wracking too. And you know, so to just think that that one little part-time job that I was doing made such a big difference, and FeNo is now being rolled out in primary care.

Ashleigh: 7:00

I remember when you were doing that role. Um, honestly, it's so inspiring all the work you've done. It really does give me chills to see how much of a difference you are making for you know, for our voices, our profession. Thank you.

La Toya: 7:16

I can't believe you're telling me that because I think you're amazing. So, as you know, um, you know, it was quite emotional, but it was very empowering, and the feedback that I got was so incredible. And there were people saying, you know, actually, I want to get involved. And that's when I realized that you know, being a leader isn't just alone being in the spotlight, it's that those little jobs that we are doing um in the background, and we can light the way for others.

Ashleigh: 7:47

That is so beautifully put together and explained it's it's proof that opportunities like going to the RCN Congress really do give emerging leaders a platform, um, not just for speaking and presenting, but to actually shape and change the the future of our nursing.

La Toya: 8:07

Yes, and you know, since doing the presentation, you know, that's for me it's really made a difference and it's made me bolder. I'm more confident in speaking up, not that I don't still get nerve, but that's also helped me to partner with you to do this um podcast, and I'm better at speaking up in meetings, suggesting service improvement, and mentoring new nurses. And it's that moment of congress that flipped the switch for me, really. Because can you imagine standing up in front of 500 nurses and debating emotion? Wow, trust me, that at that point your mind goes blank, but your voice just has to speak, and you because you've got an opinion.

Ashleigh: 9:03

That's such a great takeaway from the experience you had. Um, and I do think for me it's you know, more strategically, not just about what we're doing at our desk in our consulting rooms with our patients, but how our work fits into a bigger picture and you know, wider aspects of patient care and the community's health as well.

La Toya: 9:23

Yeah, exactly. And you know, what I've realized is that leadership is contagious. Once you start thinking that way, others around you will follow.

Ashleigh: 9:36

So if there's one thing that we'd say to other GPNs listening today, it's this leadership starts with you. Don't wait for permission, step up, speak out, and just get involved.

La Toya: 9:48

Yes, that you know, join a leadership course. If you want to do the SBQ, attend RCN Congress too so that you can actually connect with your local network. And if you are a GPN who is on the RCN Facebook page, um, we you know, just ask someone how can I um apply for Congress? Um, because in our profession we need to really get our voices heard. There is seven spaces um for GPNs that's funded. So I say definitely do apply. The deadline for application is the 7th of December, and Congress this year will be in Liverpool, and it will run from the 18th to the 21st of May 2026, and you don't have to go for all days, you can go for the days that suit you. So please definitely apply.

Ashleigh: 10:46

So, and we can put the information, the relevant links in the description. Um, but what's really important is that we are all part of the future of general practice nursing, and the more we lead together, the stronger that future is going to be for all of us.

La Toya: 11:02

Yes, and thanks everyone for listening to me and Ashleigh and listening to Generally Practicing. You know, I'm Latoya.

Ashleigh: 11:11

And I'm Ashleigh. Stay inspired, stay curious, and keep leading from wherever you are. Also keep listening. We've got making a few arrangements for some other exciting content coming soon. We've also seen quite a bit of chat on some of the um the groups, um, for example, about air bubbles and syringes. So we're gonna put together some content about that to try and help everybody in their day to day practice, too.