Hello, my name is Nicki White, I am a Specialist Practitioner District Nurse / Practice teacher based in the North East of Edinburgh. It was an article in the Nursing Standard Vol 33 No 2/ May 2018 that first drew my attention to the Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS) programme Inspire Improvement Fellowship. The FoNS vision is to “inspire and enable a culture that values people, where staff feel appreciated and supported and patient experience and care aim to be the best that they can be.”
I have been qualified for more than 30 years but still aspire to improve and be a role model for the nurses l work with. It was with uncertainty that l pursued the application process; however, as l re–read the article, Inspiration of Leaders on the Frontline, l knew that this programme reflected my own beliefs. Throughout the process l was supported by my Team Manager Lynne Pryde, Chief Nurse for EHSCP Pat Wynne and Caroline Dickson at Queen Margaret University. l spoke to Vicki Garrick IBS nurse specialist, RHC in Glasgow who was in the 2018 cohort. She told me that this was the best experience that she has been on throughout her career and the programme had transformed the way she works.
So, putting self-doubt behind me l applied and to my absolute delight l was accepted as one of eleven throughout the UK in the 2019 cohort. I feel privileged to be accepted for such a prestigious programme.
Leading the programme is Jo Odell Practice Development Facilitator for FoNS. Jo has been fantastic in sharing her knowledge and experience in practice development. I have completed the first two residential days in Solihull. We were introduced to creativity, cultures of working, leadership, collaboration inclusion and participation and active learning, but this does not even start to include all the topics discussed.
I am not sure where l am going on my journey, but my reason for applying was that l wanted district nursing to be recognised as at the forefront of changes in healthcare provision. I look forward to the service being dynamic, adaptable and embracing the vision of Transforming Roles. I want to promote positivity in our workplace including the whole community team. I want staff to feel valued and cherished in a caring culture of openness leading to positive care of patients and families.
I recently attended the QNIS 2019 conference. Clare Cable spoke of Connecting to your Source, Unleashing your Creativity, Stay Curious, Reflect Deeply and Discover Journaling. I was struck by the similarities Clare spoke of and the philosophy of the Inspire Improvement Programme. The QNIS conference was inspirational and thought-provoking. A phrase used on the day has struck home to me, ‘vulnerability is a strength’. This has made me reflect that my own uncertainties are not failings but to be embraced and reflected on. I hope, with support, to put my learning in practice by initially looking at our team culture, our values and beliefs and agreeing a shared purpose. I aim in the coming year to take up any opportunity that arises, to seek out support and knowledge from FoNS, my cohort and previous fellows and to embrace the experience.
Further information about the Foundation of Nursing Studies and the Inspire Improvement Programme can be found at: –