Reflection
The QNIS annual conference was well attended by academic, health and social science professionals, students from across Scottish Universities and hosts of other interest groups. It was a great learning event which included lectures, life experiences and work place attitudes. This event created an opportunity to enhance our knowledge and learn new things especially for students as well as those in employment.
Presentations:
There were breath taking presentations with wealth of information and new knowledge, which for me served as evidence-bases that would informed my future decision-making in contemporary practice. Presentations were empowering for nurses and student alike – to stand up for what we believe is nursing, our true vocation is “caring for the sick and well”, and placing this idea paramount in daily community service, this is consistent to Brendan McCormack’s perception of person-centeredness movement as an approach to practice establishment through the formation and fostering of healthful relationships between all care providers, service users and significant others in their lives. This belief is well related in nurses’ advocacy and ethical considerations in nursing practice underpin by respect, and value of individuals patients/clients and colleagues alike.
One striking point from these presentations is the knowledge that we have connections with our clients and patients and should shine light in our patients and colleagues’ lives through our responsibilities and services to them. My understanding of empathy, care and commitment can resonate with this. However, McCormack’s emphasises on the politics and unsettling work place culture and the danger/impact of such practice context on nurses’ psychological safety and fear of the unknown. For me this awareness creates forum for anticipatory care and forward thinking, which would hopefully equip caring nurses to stand up for what they believe in for the best interest of the clients they serve. This will also help nurses and students to keep abreast with the NMC professional code of conduct as well as research evidence to justify our stand or action that put both our clients and colleagues in the centre of our agenda. My understanding of generosity to fellow colleagues is a strategy to effective service, the importance of dialogue in a mutual ground as method of effective conversation to facilitate more human approach while paying attention to other human factors and patient safety.
Sally Magnusson’s life story of caring for her ill Mum was a share act of compassion and endurance which I will take away with me. I learnt a lot from her perseverance, patience and understanding of the needy which are attributes of a good nurse. Her experience of “learning to value “, is a quality every nurse should have. I commend her effort and would definitely aspire to achieve these attributes because I believe that everyone, irrespective of their present situation or condition is special in their own way. This is why we as nurses must be mouth-piece for those vulnerable that cannot speak for themselves. This teaching is inspiring us to endeavour to create a positive work place culture, conducive for everyone to flourish and develop practice which will also improve quality of life for those under our care. It also call for nurses to have voice in research, learn new way of caring that sustain positive change.
Making a difference in the community – My learning around this topic is the importance of partnership working with stakeholders especially the clients/service users. I was able to relate theory to practice as research evidence has shown that when clients are involved to identify their own needs this action would initiate clients’ motivation as well as help practitioners to prioritise better. Practice is improved when the most pressing needs are targeted through combined inputs/efforts for positive outcome which usually close the gap of health inequalities. Involving clients in decision making of any intervention promotes ownership and concordance of intervention. I have learnt from practice that this method of community engagement create sense of trust, respect and dignity as well as integrity of nursing profession.
This knowledge is consistent to Professor Debbie Tolson’s talk on enhancing dignity through relational caring conversations which she termed “Being mindful of the carers” and emphases to improving care of older people in the community. She urges nurses to support and change life for both patient and colleagues, this is my understanding of altruism in nursing vocation. It is up to us to provide health and social care in anticipation of clients’ needs, taking positive risk and being accountable and empowered with evidence-based information and available resources to achieve higher productivity. Achieving success could be difficult in the face of restraining factors and politic of work place environment which in most cases are hindering factors facing nursing leaders. . As the day goes by Rhona Hotchkiss– we must be brave and sometimes create a platform by doing boring things but good enough to push practice forward. This would mean being persistent perspective persevere because’ bonkers’ do not give up. We were reminded again that clients may forget what nurses say and did but will never forget how nurses make them feel.
Networking
I felt it was a valuable event, learning, gaining new knowledge and meeting inspiring people. I felt lucky and fortunate to be invited to share these learnings of which I will remain grateful.
My thoughts
I believe that nursing is caring for the vulnerable, frail and needy – we must do to others as we want done to us because we cannot run faster than our shadow, what we give is what we shall receive. Let out moral guide us as nurses.
