The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) annual Congress is the place where its members gather to learn, develop and share nursing practice. The event provides a space where the RCN agenda (put together by its members) can influence nursing and health policy through debate. The event allows nurses who are practitioners at the sharp end to raise issues or concerns. In many ways the event has the potential to be the catalyst for change but this can only happen if the RCN and its members-over 435000 at the last count (RCN, 2016)-see through the responses made to the numerous debates, emergency items and resolutions discussed-sometimes with gusto and passion. At this centenary year's Congress in Glasgow, as I met with nurses from all four UK countries and further afield. It was absolutely clear that the message that needs to go back to those who decide policy (in any shape or form), and who must listen, is to let nurses do their job.
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