Advice and development

New to nursing? Visit our first-ever careers fair for students and newly qualified nurses

Sign up for a free day of online seminars and networking and a chance to meet employers

Starting your first nursing role is a hugely exciting time – but making the transition from nursing student to newly registered nurse can also be nerve-wracking.

The first year after qualifying is known to be challenging, with research showing that newly registered nurses (NRNs) leave the profession at a higher rate than those in any other year of experience.

Making sense of the healthcare job market

Securing a role that is the right fit for you – with the right support at the right time – is crucial if you are to thrive in your new career.

To support those entering the healthcare job market for the first time, RCNi is holding its first ever career development event for nursing students and NRNs on Tuesday 19 October.

The free virtual event will give attendees the chance to meet key nursing employers looking to recruit staff, gain valuable continuing professional development (CPD) hours at online seminars, and network with other delegates.

All you need is an internet connection and a device and you can join us from wherever you are. More than 1,300 people have already registered to attend, so book your place now.

Register for the Student and NRN Careers Fair

Why attend our student and newly registered nurse careers fair?

Picture: iStock
  • Meet employers, interact with them online on the day and 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 CPD hours and a certificate by attending the online and on-demand virtual seminars, available for 30 days after each event
  • Participate in live Q&A opportunities with the speakers at the end of each seminar
  • Download a virtual goody bag of exhibitor information, which you can email to yourself at the end of the show
  • Network and chat online with other delegates

Virtual chat rooms where you can meet employers

In the virtual exhibition hall, 20 of the UK’s top nursing and healthcare employers will be waiting to meet you. Each has their own virtual chat room, so you can interact with staff from organisations including King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Tayside, which is sponsoring the event.

Staff from the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust – the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK – will be on hand to talk you through their current vacancies, or if you want to explore a career in mental health and learning disability nursing, staff from Devon Partnership NHS Trust will be there to discuss the roles available.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust will also be looking to recruit staff, including children’s nurses for their community, complex care and child and adolescent mental health services, or if a career in the armed forces appeals to you, staff from Army Medical Services will be available to talk you through all that a career in army nursing has to offer.

Some organisations will be interviewing on the day, so don’t forget to upload your CV prior to the event so you can share it with prospective employers.

Seminar programme helps you build up CPD hours

We also have a packed, CPD-accredited seminar programme, which includes talks on getting your CV ready and preparing for interview, preceptorship programmes, maintaining your health and well-being, safe and professional use of social media and advice on revalidation for NRNs.

Queen’s Nursing Institute chief executive Crystal Oldman will be presenting a seminar on careers in community nursing, and we will also be joined by RCN Nurse of the Year 2020 Ana Waddington, an emergency department sister at the Royal London Hospital and founder of YourStance, a voluntary organisation supporting young people affected by knife crime.

RCN professional lead for mental health Stephen Jones will be showcasing the huge variety of careers available in mental health nursing, and if you visit the NS Student stand you will find resources and information about the different nursing specialties, including children and young people, learning disabilities, older people and practice nursing.

As RCNi career development editor, I will be hosting a live panel talk on the day, where I’ll be joined by newly registered nurses who will talk about their experiences and offer advice on how to thrive in your first year as a registered nurse.

Seminar programme at a glance

Something for every student and NRN

At RCNi, we are here to support you at every stage of your career – from the first day of your degree programme through to retirement.

Whether you are a first-year nursing student wanting to explore your options and gain valuable career advice, or a more senior student or NRN actively looking for your first nursing role, there will be something for everyone at our first-ever student and NRN careers fair.

So why not come along and see what we have to offer? We look forward to welcoming you on the day.

Register for the Student and NRN Careers Fair

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