Nurses Day: Why I love being a Nurse

I absolutely love being a nurse. I think I was destined to be one from the moment my mum dressed me up as a nurse and took me to visit my great grandmother in hospital. I can still remember the kindness of the nurses, who took me around the ward and introduced me as the new member of the team. They even tried to teach me how to take a pulse. I was a little shy at this point, but I was only 4/5 years old.

As a result of this interaction, being kind to others and focusing on wellbeing for my patients and colleagues a like, has been one of my core values. So, with this nurse’s day focusing on wellbeing, it is really poignant.

It has been a real privilege to lead on the happier working lives programme. Using improvement methodology to create happier healthier and more productive teams. There is real science and research behind this concept, that happier teams have fewer safety incidents and can lead to decreased mortality rates, so it really is a no brainer for me, that this is so important. I can’t believe it has been running for three years now, we are about to start recruiting for cohort 9, hosted on the IOW. Where has the time gone! It’s exciting to continue to spread this programme across the recently fused organisation.

Meeting the teams has been a real honour, seeing what they have learnt about their teams and the small-scale initiatives they have implemented, that have a made positive impacts to wellbeing & morale.

Some initiatives that really stick out for me are:

• No access to a staff room, so everyone now stops at the same for lunch and another service changed their clinic times so everyone could have lunch together. This is absolutely backed up by the research that has come from the states, around firefighters who cook and eat together, creating cohesive teams.

• Star Jars, during the month staff add to the star jar, thanking someone or highlighting something positive they have done.

• Wellbeing boxes being implemented, containing hair ties, feminine products, chocolate, deodorant etc

• A green space being commandeered, tidied up, plants planted. This is now a nice tranquil place where staff can take their breaks and or take a few minutes out.

If this has peaked your interest into the happier working lives programme or you want to express your interest to join, then go our webpage, Happier Working Lives | The Academy of Research and Improvement.

I look forward to seeing you on the programme.

Anita DeHavilland