By Krishna P Sharma 

London – Nepalese Nursing Association UK (NNAUK) marked its 12th anniversary by organising an educational conference  on Saturday (28^th March 28, 2026), at Harrow Borough Football Club. 

The program, which began with an opening ceremony, included a safety briefing delivered by General Secretary Srija Dangol, followed by a welcome address by Vice President Indira Bashyal. Acting Ambassador at the Embassy of Nepal in London, Bipin Duwadi, attended as the chief guest. In his remarks, he stated that such events help promote the identity of Nepalis abroad and demonstrate their hardworking nature.

During the conference, Clinical Specialist Nurse Sushila Karki from Lewisham and Greenwich Trust presented a session on career pathways, while Advanced Critical Care Practitioner Prasuna Kadel delivered a presentation on mental health, wellbeing, and resilience in nursing. Geeta Lamichhane, Head of the Nursing Department at Buckinghamshire New University, provided information on professional and academic course opportunities. David Taylor, Regulation Advisor (Scotland) at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), conducted a session on fitness to practise. Dr. Bibha Simkhada, Reader in Nursing at the University of Huddersfield, presented on the future of nursing in Nepal and introduced the national CPD framework.

During the conference, participants extended heartfelt congratulations to Nepal’s newly elected Health Minister, Nisha Mehta, who comes from the nursing background. The nursing community welcomed this news with great enthusiasm, highlighting the significance of a nurse attaining such a high-level position within Nepal’s health system.

At the event, Welfare Coordinator Binu Lamichhane made a presentation regarding the activities of the NNAUK. A plenary panel discussion on “Nursing Workforce Challenges: Migration, Retention, and Professional Recognition” featured panelists Kalpana Giri, Vinesh Thomas, Shrijana Koirala, Suman Shrestha, Rashmita Darlami, and Rajendra Pudasaini. Rajendra Pudasaini, President of NRNA UK, and a member of the organizing team, actively contributed to the panel discussion.

In the afternoon, interactive workshops were conducted covering leadership, communication and interview skills, midwifery consultation pathways, and information on OET and OSCE. This was followed by a poster session on quality improvement projects and research skills. Researcher Krishna Sharma and Dr. Bibha Simkhada from the University of Huddersfield engaged with participants interested in research.

The program concluded with closing remarks by NNAUK President Rashmita Darlami, who thanked all speakers, participants, sponsors, and partners, emphasizing the importance of unity among Nepali nurses and continuous professional development. Tokens of love were presented to Chief Guest Mr. Bipin Duwadi, representatives from NHS England, and representatives from the NMC as a gesture of appreciation.

This conference was organized in the context of nursing development in Nepal. A national Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework, developed through workshops involving around 40 stakeholders, is regulated by the Nepal Nursing Council (NNC). It mandates nurses to complete a specified number of CPD hours every five years, with training available face-to-face, online, and on accessible formats for remote rural areas.

In the UK, nursing became the most trusted profession in 2025, ranking above engineers, doctors, teachers, and professors in terms of honesty. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) also maintains strict regulation, with only 0.77% of concerns related to fitness to practise among 860,801 registered professionals in 2024–25.

The 12th NNAUK Annual Educational Conference provided an important platform connecting Nepali nurses in the UK with professional development opportunities in both Nepal and the UK. It promoted collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the continuous advancement of the nursing profession. The event was supported by sponsors including A Star Limited, Medacs OSCE Academy, and other partners.