Day 95: International Nurses’ Day 2022

Today’s the 202nd anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth and International Nurses’ Day.  I’m proud to be a nurse and always will be.  I highly recommend the nursing profession to anyone at any stage of their working life.

Skills and knowledge I’ve learnt over the years of being a nurse have been applicable in both the many work roles and in my personal life.  I have learnt resilience, leadership, compassion, empathy, technical skills, how to adapt to a wide range of people and situations, valuing diversity, supporting others, professionalism, and autonomy.

There aren’t many professions that will teach you all this!

Day 60: Testing Times

I tested positive for Covid on my Tuesday pre-work LFD Test.  I feel a terrible guilt for being ill; is this the nurse in me, middle-child syndrome, knowing there are many much worse off, or parental ‘inner voice’ telling me to just get on with it?!

I assure you I cannot just get on with it and if I tried; I would be doing a disservice to my employer and colleagues.  I also know the macrophages fighting the infection in my body send out cytokines. These cytokines can affect the parts of your brain that deal with emotions and reasoning.

Day 1: It all starts here...

Today is the 2 September 2013 and my first day in a new job. This is the first of my 100 words a day for 100 days. It isn't intended to be Pulitzer Prize-winning material; but I aim to write around 100 words each day describing my experience of my new role and working in commissioning in the NHS. My first day as Director of Quality for a Clinical Commissioning Group was spent mainly meeting some fantastic people and getting acquainted with the building that will be my second home (it's a bit of a maze over 5 floors!). We talked about the challenges and opportunities ahead for improving health & outcomes for the local people and the need to increase a focus on quality whilst also moving to greater integration and efficiency.  Tomorrow I'm meeting with the Nursing Director of our major provider, so will write about this in tomorrow's blog (with her permission, of course). 

Day 3: Hospital Chief Nurse, Office Move, PA Interviews

Today started with the Chief Nurse & whistle-stop tour of the urgent/emergency care parts of the local hospital.  Great staff, all committed to great care, including identifying areas where 'the system' doesn't best serve patients, e.g. effective discharge.  Future visit(s) needed to get to grips with their more significant quality challenges.  Back at office had further time with colleagues in Medicines Optimisation & Human Resources to get to know them and their areas of the business.  Moved office to be nearer my team, supported by incredibly efficient IT & admin colleagues.  Final significant task of day was interviewing for a temp PA.  Spending tomorrow with Directors of Quality/Nursing from CCGs in local area.  

Day 2: Quality & Commissioning Teams

Last minute change of plan, my meeting with the hospital Director of Nursing was postponed, so I'll write about this tomorrow.  Today was spent meeting with further members of my team and catching up with wider members of the CCG family. As well as more generally getting to know people, we discussed issues, ranging from challenges of safeguarding for commissioners (newly published Government Policy on Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-safeguarding-statement-of-government-policy-10-may-2013) to the planned 111 service re-procurement. I continue to be impressed, but not surprised, by the dedication and passion of my new colleagues for the people we serve. There is a clear desire here to make things better and I am already proud to be part of this.