Get involved to create change

Nursing is a progressive profession, and we need to work together to advance the art and science of our profession for the good of the people we support and care for. We all do this in different ways depending on our personal preferences and the environments we practise in. We can rarely progress things alone; as well as being part of our own teams, we are also part of a huge profession which can be a force for good.

I find it easy to identify issues I care about, nursing related and wider - climate change, world peace, social care, human rights. There are no shortages of issues, so deciding what I should get involved in and how to participate can be quite overwhelming and result in me taking no action at all.

I recently re-watched the film 'Titanic'. I was horrified with the lack of lifeboats which resulted in massive loss of life. Should I get involved in campaigning for greater nautical safety? I haven’t. Instead, I pondered why Rose didn’t sell the ‘Heart of the Ocean’ necklace and why she pushed poor Jack off the raft. There are so many things I care about, but it’s unrealistic to expect myself to be actively involved in all of them or that I have the skills and knowledge required to have any impact.

In nursing we don’t have to look far to identify things that aren’t right or could be improved. Sometimes our duty ends with us raising the issue with those who have the responsibility for remedying the problem. But a lot of the time we can and should be part of the solution. I have never been a fan of handwringing; while having a good old moan can be quite cathartic, it rarely results in any action to improve things. Although according to my husband I am quite good at it! Asking ‘What can we do to improve this?’ changes the focus from moaning to action and can move a negative conversation into a more motivating one.

When the issue requires more time than I think I have or I don’t have the resources or knowledge, or I fear failure and feel I can’t complete something to the perfect standard that I desire, I can become paralysed. However, approaching this with a different perception has combated my inaction. Addressing knowledge deficits through research and speaking with colleagues with the required skills helps. Working with others to tackle the issue also helps with motivation and sharing the burden. It’s not always easy, but I find the more effort I put into something the more I get out.

I am most successful when I do something I have a passion for. If it involves learning something new, working with others and results in positive change, I am happy. There are many ways to achieve this. If you want to start somewhere, have a look at what RCN forums and networks fit with your interests and area of practice. This is a great way of sharing ideas and keeping updated on developments in your area of practice and growing your professional network.

Branch activities are also a good source of information and support in the South East. For those interested in representing colleagues within your own workplace becoming a RCN representative  or a Nursing Workforce Standards Champion may be for you. RCN Congress is also a fantastic annual event and will be in Liverpool next year, keep an eye on our website for further details.  

There are other ways of getting involved, e-mail me with ideas of the type of events you would like to see for the independent health and social care sectors in the South East. Invite me to your workplace to talk about your challenges and innovations or write a blog. We are always looking for expert speakers to run sessions at our events and co-produce them with us, so if this is something that interests you get in touch.

I am a fan of efficiency. If I can combine my professional obligation for learning and development, the requirements of my job role to contribute to service development and share ideas with others in my profession through one mechanism of involvement, so much the better. And if I can build a professional network, have some fun and link with likeminded colleagues it’s a winning formula. 

However, what issues to tackle and how to get involved can be overwhelming. Individually we don’t have the capacity to solve every problem or be involved in everything. Focusing on one issue, or one form of involvement, no matter how small can make a huge difference both to the lives of people we care and support, our colleagues and ourselves. 

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jnr