General secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Professor Pat Cullen, has stepped down from her role with immediate effect to seek election in the general election.

It has been revealed that she is seeking the nomination from Sinn Fein to stand as their candidate for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency.

Professor Nicola Ranger, the RCN’s current chief nursing officer and deputy general secretary and chief executive, will take on responsibility as acting RCN general secretary and chief executive. 

Applications have opened for a permanent replacement. The job advert states a £200,567 salary and seeks a registered nurse with substantial board level experience.

Cullen has been at the RCN for eight years, the last three of which she served as general secretary and chief executive.

Professor Pat Cullen said: “This was the hardest decision to make, and we have achieved so much in 3 very different and difficult years. I hope my legacy here will be to have helped the nursing profession use its voice and campaign for change, for ourselves and patients. I owe RCN members a debt of gratitude.”

Paul Vaughan, chair of RCN Council, said: “Pat has been a tremendous leader for our profession and put the College on a journey to a brighter future. She has been fearless in rooting out longstanding cultural issues internally and speaking truth to power in the health service and politics alike."