The College of Nursing Charter

Reference:GB 1199 RCN1/2
Dates of Creation:1920-2012
Name of Creator:
Physical Description:

Scope and Content
This collection contains papers relating to the petition for and writing of the Charter for the College of Nursing Ltd (later Royal College of Nursing) and its subsequent amendments and supplements.
Includes the March 2012 original of the Royal College of Nurisng's Royal Charter with seal in a presentation box which is on exhibition in the Royal College of Nursing Library and Heritage Centre, 20 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0RN.
Administrative / Biographical History
Unlike the Articles of Association, the charter gave power to grant diplomas as well as certificates. Queen Mary became the first patron of the College and membership was restricted to nurses on the General Part of the State Register. As a chartered society the council could make or obtain loans without sanction of a General Meeting. Members of the council had a personal responsibility if they acted outside the charter.
The draft charter and petition were approved by the membership at an EGM in December 1926. In January 1927 the petition was forwarded to the Privy Council who approved the grant of the Charter on the 13 June 1928. The membership authorised the council to accept the charter at the AGM on 28 June 1928. The charter was granted and sealed by His Majesty George V on 28 July 1928. The final General Meeting of the College of Nursing Ltd was held on 19 June 1929 and the new Royal College took over all its business from then.
The College's founders and supporters had high ideals. There were obvious advantages to having a Charter rather than being a limited company, but overall a Royal College would be more prestigious and influential for nursing and the College's membership. It equated nursing with the other healthcare Royal Colleges (the Midwives Institute didn't follow until 1941). Our Charter sets out the criteria and subscriptions for membership of the College, the make-up and powers of Council, the position of President, the Royal Patron, how meetings are to be run and decisions or resolutions made, how the boards are run, a great deal of financial and investment regulation and the first bye-laws regarding protocols used at meetings for voting etc. It also requires that a record be kept of all decisions.
We still have the first two purposes under section 3. Objects, but the rest have been altered to the current version passed in March 2012:
The College shall pursue the following Objects in the Area of Activity (other than object 3.5)
3.1 To promote the science and art of nursing and the better education and training of nurses and their efficiency in the profession of nursing
3.2 To promote the advance of nursing as a profession in all or any of its branches
3.3 To promote the professional standing and interests of Members
3.4 To assist Members who by reason of adversity, ill-health or otherwise are in need of assistance of any nature
3.5 To promote through the medium of international agencies and otherwise the foregoing purposes in other countries as well as in [Our] United Kingdom.
Altering the provisions of the charter require the approval of the Privy Council, the amendments having first been passed at two council meetings and confirmed by the membership at a General Meeting. Changing it is hard work and not undertaken lightly as it underpins what we do as a Royal College and a professional association reflecting the views of our membership. Sometimes the changes were so radical it required a supplemental charter to be created in addition to the original charter. In May 1963 organisational matters were transferred to the bye-laws leaving the charter to deal with the constitution of the College. This made the charter shorter and clearer and the bye-laws more detailed. The bye-laws can be changed more easily in response to new legislation.
Worthy alterations to the Charter over the years included:
" Royal added to name in 1939.
" Widening the membership to include male nurses 1960, student nurses 1968, enrolled nurses 1970 and later health care assistants
" Amalgamation with National Council of Nurses giving us an international role and ICN vote in 1963.
" RCN restructure required supplemental charter in 1979.
" Constitution of Council e.g. Student member 1980.
" Subscription changes and altering membership categories.
" Restructuring the RCN to include national and regional boards.
It should also be noted that our trade union status does not conflict with the purpose of a Royal Charter in the way that the original
Articles of Association would have. In July 1976 the council voted unanimously that the College should seek certification as an industrial trade union. This required two alterations to the charter which were put to the Annual General Meeting in November 1976. The first resolution added a new purpose to the charter…
" To promote the professional standing and interests of members of the nursing profession
" The second resolution confirmed the charitable status of the College.
Both resolutions were adopted by the meeting and received royal approval in February 1977. Our membership did not approve TUC affiliation which would have involved not registering under new union laws and the approval strike action. Since registration as a trade union, we have had a set of rules that come largely from trade union regulations which work alongside the bye laws as set out with the original charter.
Section 4. Powers in the current Charter starts with our trade union registration but still include elements from the original Charter relating to education.
4.6 To institute and conduct examinations in all branches of work conductive to the efficient conduct of the nursing profession and grant certificates, diplomas and degrees to those who satisfy the requirements laid down by Council
4.7 To make such arrangements with any university or other educational institution as may from time to time be considered desirable for association with or admission as a school or college of such a university or other institution
The next two are slightly newer.
4.8 To promote, encourage, carry out, commission and publish research, surveys, studies and other work
4.9 To publish books, pamphlets reports, leaflets, journals, films, tapes, and instructional and informational matter on any media
Pointing out that education was the main reason we achieved a Charter and it is still an integral part of that document.
[RCN Archives, FB 2012]
Access Information
This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact the RCN Archives in advance of their first visit.
Other Finding Aids
Most recent online Royal College of Nursing Archives Catalogue is available at http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/library_and_heritage_services.
Conditions Governing Use
Royal College of Nursing