Nursing is at a crossroads. Across the UK, the profession faces mounting pressures that demand not just policy change, but new ways of thinking and acting. Currently almost half of all vacancies across the UK are being filled from overseas. An ageing population will require innovation if we are to achieve the standards of care in which we believe. Yet the tight fiscal situation places limits on resources on which to draw, human and otherwise. At Edinburgh Napier University, one of the largest centres for nurse education, we are uniquely placed to help shape those changes. Over the past decade Iain has built his career to professorship at Napier and looks forward to sharing the work and ambitions that guided him.
The lecture will focus on two interconnected themes, firstly, Iain will present pioneering research linking the nursing and midwifery register with the 2021 Census for England and Wales. This unique dataset reveals how social and community contexts influence professional experiences, offering new ways to think about workforce planning and support. Data cannot give us all the answers, but it can spark new, creative thinking about the policies and practices that improve lives.
Secondly. turning to his passion for teaching, Iain will discuss strategies for fostering independent learning, curiosity, and self-belief among nursing students, qualities essential for practitioner-led innovation and meaningful change.
Iain’s vision is for a nursing workforce that is both data-informed and deeply human-centred: one that understands the realities of care, values creativity, and is confident in shaping a better future for patients and communities alike.
Join us for an evening of thoughtful discussion and to gain fresh perspectives, network with peers, and reflect on the future of nursing in the UK.
