Become a student
information officer:
make a difference
How you and your fellow student colleagues can benefit
Making a difference
How you and your fellow student colleagues can benefit
As a student member of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) there are real
advantages to getting more involved in the RCN’s work. Now there’s a way
to get more involved without having to take vast amounts of time away from
your studies.
Student information officers are a network of RCN students who
work closely with the RCN to support and share information with their
fellow students.
Why not consider becoming a student information officer (SIO) and see how
you can engage others with the RCN’s resources whilst developing your
career for the future.
Benefits of becoming an SIO:
• receive quarterly email updates created specifically for SIOs with relevant
and up-to-date information
• experience to add to your CV or portfolio when you’re applying for that all
important first nursing job
• be the first to know about upcoming events and training days
• become involved in consultations that affect nursing students
• experience of working alongside the UK Students Committee member in
your country/region and the learning opportunities from working closely
with your University’s NUS society
• opportunities to attend UK Committee meetings.
Benefits for your student colleagues:
• your class will be the first to know about local and national student events
• colleagues will know how to access the RCN e-library for that essential
reference for assignments. We hold over 60,000 books, 350 nursing
journals, 1,600 e-books and over 1,000 e-journals
• information and news on the RCN’s campaigning work to bring about real
improvements in the lives of nursing students
• access to information on all the membership benefits that their annual
£10 membership fee gets them.
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How to apply
Complete the nomination form overleaf and then return it to us. We will send
you contact details for the staff lead and Student Committee member from
your country or region. You should contact them to talk through the role, how
you would work together and the resources available to you to help with your
learning and development. We will then register you as a SIO.
Please complete and sign the nomination form ensuring you include a
valid email address.
Completed forms should be returned to:
Governance Adviser (Students Committee)
Governance Support Department, Royal College of Nursing,
20 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0RN.
We look forward to welcoming you as an RCN Student Information Officer.
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Case Study
Dave Morgan, Nursing Student at Birmingham City
University
“Taking on an SIO role while studying full time at
university might sound a bit daunting but, as I found
out, it can also be extremely rewarding.
I really enjoyed my SIO experience, in particular
the many networking opportunities it provided
me with. Not only did I get to meet regularly with
nursing students from other universities in my area
but being an SIO also gave me access to NHS senior
managers and Directors of Nursing – people you don’t always meet on your
placements. Having the opportunity to meet so many likeminded people
who were as passionate about nursing as I am has been invaluable. I have
also engaged with my local MP about key issues affecting nursing students
– something I would not have had the confidence to do had I not been an
SIO.
The RCN has student leads in every country and region who engage
regularly with SIOs to ensure they are made aware of relevant training
opportunities which I feel is one of the key benefits of becoming an
SIO. The training courses I was given access to really complimented my
university studies by building on what I had already been taught and giving
the knowledge I learnt some context.
Through being an SIO, I was also provided with the opportunity to attend
Congress as a voting member funded by my branch. Congress is an
amazing experience and last year, through being an SIO, I was able to
not only attend but also speak for the first time on stage during a debate.
My confidence has really increased since taking on the role and I would
encourage others to consider doing the same”.
With his increased confidence, Dave went on to stand for election to the
RCN Students Committee and took up his new role as student member for
the West Midlands on 1 January 2015. He is now looking forward to this
new phase in his RCN career and continuing to work with local SIOs to
promote the issues of importance to nursing students.
Find out more at www.rcn.org.uk/students
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Student Information Officer Application Form
Section 1
RCN Membership Number .............................................................................
Name ...........................................................................................................
Address ........................................................................................................
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Mobile Phone ...............................................................................................
Email Address ..............................................................................................
University/College of Study ...........................................................................
Campus ........................................................................................................
Branch .........................................................................................................
Training Completion Date ..............................................................................
Signature ....................................................... Date ......................................
Section 2
Please set out in 250 words or less why you would like to become a student
information officer, the experience you have that will help you fulfil the role
and what you would hope to achieve.
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Publication code 004 821
May 2015