Networking across the UK and Beyond
A few months ago I became part of a nursing strategy meeting group for the hospital in which I work. What makes this strategy group unique is that although the patient is the centre of what we do, and should always continue to be so, it has nursing as a profession at its core. This has been put together in order to address issues that we want to discuss regarding the nursing experience at our hospital as well as that of nursing as a whole. Topics included are the following:
• How to continue to increase teamwork
• How to continue to improve the image of nursing both within the hospital and country wide
• How to continue to better leadership
• How to continue to improve the service we give
This is obviously still in its early stages, but I feel that it has already brought together the different areas involved, namely theatres, PACU and the wards. Communication has improved further and individuals are better known to each other, resulting in a better understanding of the roles of others.
My role in this is specifically regarding the image of nursing as a whole and how we can seek to improve it, starting with our places of work. I have written before about the constant battle ahead of us with how we feel about our profession, how it is viewed by the public and portrayed in the media. This is a huge topic with many influencing factors: the co-dependant history from which it has stemmed, the predominantly female aspect and our often inability to change things for ourselves. Within these topics lies the answer to recruitment issues within nursing and therefore within the arena of anaesthetics and recovery.
Study of the above issues in a nurse-centric way in the spectrum of the individual, the place in which you work and the culture of your profession can only improve the future, and therefore continue to better our working lives, the image of our profession, morale and ultimately the patient experience. Hence, I implore all of you to continue with your patient-centred approaches, but also give a thought to the poor old image of nursing in your building for it is also in need of some basic nursing care.
