Nursing careers and jobs fair: RCNi’s events go virtual

Find your dream job, attend a CPD-accredited seminar or chat with other nurses, all without leaving home

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen significant changes to nursing practice and nurses’ working lives, with many redeployed to areas such as critical care to help cope with patient demand.

A survey of more than 2,300 UK nursing staff, carried out by Nursing Standard from 8-19 June, found that 25% of those who responded had been redeployed during the pandemic.

Redeployment prompted many nurses to reconsider their careers

Many moved to COVID-19 or intensive care wards when their own areas were temporarily closed down, bringing new career opportunities individuals may not have considered previously.

• RELATED: Has your COVID-19 experience made you rethink your nursing career?

The survey results also suggest that working through the pandemic has prompted many NHS nurses to review their career options; of the 1,850 NHS staff who responded, only half said they were happy in their current role, with 27% saying they were considering or actively seeking a different role within the nursing profession.

Visit our virtual exhibition hall and meet healthcare employers for online interviews

Whether you are looking for a new role or advice on how to get the most out of your nursing career, the RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fairs are here to help.

The COVID-19 pandemic meant we had to cancel our live events for the rest of 2020 and early 2021, but our free careers fairs are still going ahead as virtual events (see box at end for event dates).

Our virtual events, which started with our first in September, offer just as many career opportunities as our live fairs; you can still meet healthcare employers from across the UK who will be looking to recruit staff, gain valuable continuing professional development (CPD) hours at the online seminars, and network with other delegates.

In the virtual exhibition hall, 25 top nursing and healthcare employers will be waiting to meet you, with vacancies available across a range of clinical settings and specialties. They will be offering jobs on the day and each has their own chat room where you can interact and be interviewed. Don’t forget to upload your CV before the day so that it is ready to be shared with prospective employers.

What to expect from our virtual careers and jobs fairs

• Meet employers and interact with them on the day using online chat by text, audio or video
• Upload your CV for potential interviews with NHS trusts, private healthcare organisations, the armed forces, care homes and nursing agencies
• Gain continuing professional development (CPD) hours and a certificate by attending the online and on-demand virtual seminars, which will be available for 30 days after each event
• Take up live Q&A opportunities with the speakers at the end of each seminar – see the seminar programme for more details
• Download a virtual goody bag of exhibitor information, which you can email to yourself at the end of the show
• Network and chat with other delegates in a virtual lounge

CPD-accredited seminars available live or after the event

Our virtual CPD-accredited seminars, which will be available to watch as soon as the event goes live and for up to 30 days afterwards, cover a wide range of topics, from how to prepare for and succeed at job interviews to financial education for nurses and advice on leading and developing a multicultural workforce.

For newly qualified nurses, there will be a seminar on getting the most out of your preceptorship programme, and RCN general practice nursing forum chair Ellen Nicholson will talk about why general practice nursing is a great first career choice.

Career opportunities in mental healthcare

If you are interested in a career in mental health, NHS England and NHS Improvement head of mental health nursing Emma Wadey will be discussing the wide range of career opportunities available for mental health nurses.

• RELATED: Why forensic mental health nursing is such a rewarding career

All of our speakers will be online at the end of each seminar to answer any questions, and after you’ve watched a seminar, you can download your CPD certificate from your swag bag – a virtual goody bag where you can view and download free documents and publications.

You will also be able to connect with other delegates in our networking section, where you can browse the different chat rooms and virtual lounges available on the day, initiate discussions or post a message in the public forum.

And if you need help on the day, simply navigate to the information desk where you can speak to the event organisers or get technical support.

Join us for a new era of jobs fairs

Adapting to new ways of working has become the norm during COVID-19 and these events mark a new era for RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fairs.

• RELATED: The COVID-19 crisis has shown us why embracing tech is so important for the NHS

Whether you are a nursing student, newly qualified or have years of experience, come along and find out what our events have to offer. All you need is an internet connection and a device and you can join us from wherever you are. You may even go away having secured your dream job.

Find out more, including how to register, on our career and jobs fairs website. Our attendee guide has all you need to know to help you navigate the event and get the most out of it. We look forward to welcoming you.

Clare Lomas is RCNi career development editor