On the Front LineOn the Front Line

RCN Fellows Conference RCN Fellows Conference

November 2010November 2010

Compassionate LearningCompassionate Learning

““We need to make feedback the We need to make feedback the cornerstone of improving quality and cornerstone of improving quality and a culture of compassionate learning.”a culture of compassionate learning.”

(Thornton and Sieff HSJ June 2010) (Thornton and Sieff HSJ June 2010)

Recent HistoryRecent History

““Historically, Nursing has been viewed Historically, Nursing has been viewed as a low status profession, but this as a low status profession, but this must change if we are to embrace must change if we are to embrace

the challenges ahead.” the challenges ahead.”

(Bernhauser 2010)(Bernhauser 2010)

Current Challenges - 1Current Challenges - 1

DemandDemand ComplexityComplexity ChangeChange Growing needGrowing need

Challenges - 2Challenges - 2

““There is a need to ensure nurses are There is a need to ensure nurses are better equipped to address future better equipped to address future

public health challenges.” public health challenges.”

(Davies 2008)(Davies 2008)

Public Image of NursingPublic Image of Nursing

Public face of NHSPublic face of NHS Myth and StereotypesMyth and Stereotypes Mini Doctors / ManagersMini Doctors / Managers Education in the class roomEducation in the class room Image and realityImage and reality

RecruitmentRecruitment

““The familiar association of the nurse The familiar association of the nurse with pain, suffering and death and with pain, suffering and death and the tendency to place her (almost the tendency to place her (almost always a her rather than a him) always a her rather than a him) within the setting of a hospital within the setting of a hospital

impedes an understanding of the impedes an understanding of the great variety of jobs nurses actually great variety of jobs nurses actually

do.” (Briggs 1972) do.” (Briggs 1972)

Perceptions Perceptions

““Nurses have for too long suffered from Nurses have for too long suffered from the fact that policies and rules are the fact that policies and rules are

made for us rather than by us; made made for us rather than by us; made by men for women; by politicians for by men for women; by politicians for

nurses.” nurses.”

(Tschudin 1999) (Tschudin 1999)

Patients want Nurses who; Patients want Nurses who;

Communicate Communicate Well organisedWell organised ConfidentConfident Safe Safe Can navigate on their behalfCan navigate on their behalf Construct rational arguments for themConstruct rational arguments for them Enabling cliniciansEnabling clinicians

The Public expects…The Public expects…

Well educatedWell educated CompetentCompetent CompassionateCompassionate Caring Caring

The Public expects… The Public expects…

“ “ In addition to being expert technicians, In addition to being expert technicians, healthcare workers must be good with healthcare workers must be good with people, be educators and team players and people, be educators and team players and have a holistic sense of people’s needs.”have a holistic sense of people’s needs.”

“ “ Paternalism is eroding and now a new Paternalism is eroding and now a new generation of clinicians is emerging with generation of clinicians is emerging with different attitudes, but more needs to be different attitudes, but more needs to be done.” done.” (Jeremy Taylor – CEO National Voices 2010)(Jeremy Taylor – CEO National Voices 2010)

The unique position of The unique position of nursingnursing

PassionPassion CommitmentCommitment ResponsibilityResponsibility SatisfactionSatisfaction Freedom and FlexibilityFreedom and Flexibility Team workTeam work Vital to the NHSVital to the NHS

The new story of nursingThe new story of nursing

Fresh imageFresh image Raised awarenessRaised awareness New career opportunitiesNew career opportunities Educated to careEducated to care Flexible workforceFlexible workforce All graduate professionAll graduate profession

Impact of all graduate Impact of all graduate professionprofession

Improved retentionImproved retention Likely to stay longer at bedsideLikely to stay longer at bedside Able to act more independentlyAble to act more independently Capable of taking on more responsibilityCapable of taking on more responsibility Advocacy rolesAdvocacy roles Confident in reaching nursing diagnoses and evaluationConfident in reaching nursing diagnoses and evaluation Confident in use of researchConfident in use of research Development of Nurse led pathwaysDevelopment of Nurse led pathways Increased leadership capacityIncreased leadership capacity Both individuals and the profession developedBoth individuals and the profession developed Policy regularly influencedPolicy regularly influenced

Remaining Issues dependent Remaining Issues dependent on;on;

Quality of education programmesQuality of education programmes Development of advanced practiceDevelopment of advanced practice Regulation of healthcare support workersRegulation of healthcare support workers Student support / preceptorshipStudent support / preceptorship Motivated leaders to maintain momentumMotivated leaders to maintain momentum Managing the current financial positionManaging the current financial position Multi-professional workforce planningMulti-professional workforce planning DoN champions of careDoN champions of care Ability to identify value for money Ability to identify value for money

SummarySummary

Greater emphasis on supporting and Greater emphasis on supporting and educating patients and clientseducating patients and clients

Patients better equipped to look after Patients better equipped to look after themselvesthemselves

Greater dialogue with the publicGreater dialogue with the public Nurses with a different mindsetNurses with a different mindset Nurses who use their experience, rather Nurses who use their experience, rather

than acting as experts who dispense it than acting as experts who dispense it

Finally Finally

““The future belongs to the people who The future belongs to the people who see possibilities before they become see possibilities before they become obvious...” obvious...”

(Theodore Levitt)(Theodore Levitt)