Nicola Ranger, General Secretary of the RCN.

Niall and Roy in conversation with Nicola Ranger, the General Secretary of the Royal College of NursingIn the latest podcast, Niall and Roy delve into the besieged world of nursing with the leader of the world's largest nursing union, Nicola Ranger.In a frank exchange, Nicola reflects on the recruitment and retention crisis, the fact that nurses spend too much time on pointless tasks, the unprecedented levels of low morale, and the possibility of strike action. And she says there is an urgent need to reform nurse education, including, in her personal view,  a national exam for every nurse wanting to join the register. This is a clarion call for reform within and beyond the profession, and a warning of an existential threat to the NHS if the government does not invest and start valuing nurses. This is an open, honest and thought‑provoking exchange — one well worth listening to.