happynurses

RCN congress - next step!

Back to Bournemouth this afternoon. I am spending 3 days at the RCN congress, immersed in the world of nursing and all its development, issues and leadership.

I have a bag full of business cards, my e-book printed out, all my articles printed and in a file, and some goals and targets for the 3 days. I am open to all sorts of unexpected and amazing developments and meetings, whatever may come my way.

I intend to:

• Meet 5 senior people in the nursing world (I am open to who they might be)
• Give out 100 cards a day to nurses and tell them about happynurses
• Speak to all the exhibitors about what I do
• Work out a plan for next year - keynote speaker/ exhibitor/ both

Come and say hello if you are there!

Here's to more happynurses!

Coaching in Essex

I am just back from 2 days in Chelmsford, demonstrating short coaching sessions to the nurses there, and helping some of them to move forward on issues that were challenging them.

It was great to be able to use my skills in an area I felt was familiar - a hospital. I felt comfortable and confident talking to all grades of nurses due to my wide variety of experience. The nurses were friendly (made great tea!) and amazingly open in the 10 or so minutes we spent together. Everyone found the sessions motivating and helpful.

I am really hoping to be able to get more involved in coaching in the organisation, as I loved it!

I have also found out that Unison, a health union, are funding part of a midwife's coaching sessions with me. I also have meetings with several health care providers and training organisations in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned to see how I get on!

Be a part of it, happynurses!

keeping going

This week has been a tough, rewarding, fun, frustrating, inspiring, exciting and irritating one!

The one thing it has rarely been is dull!

I have been inspired and motivated by being part of the Money Gym focus day group. We have been posting our daily activities on the forum and doing it every few hours, to stop the procrastination and dithering, and be accountable to someone else.

Interestingly, I have been the only one posting for the last 4 days (Easter hols for some with kids) and it has still kept me motivated.

How could you motivate yourselves, happynurses?

Being a 'patient'

I have been officially diagnosed with coeliac now, via the gastro registrar and have to wait for a biopsy to stop eating wheat etc.

So, despite the fact that we know what it is, it's making me feel unwell, and the tests will just give a view, and a sample of my intestinal lining, but won't change the treatment, I still have to wait in the queue for another investigation.

Hey ho -life as a patient!

How can you make your patients' experiences a bit happier' happynurses?

shocks this week

The last week or so has been one of emotional ups and downs - some unexpected news in happynurse land!

After several trips to and from the GP and lots of tests, and me realising that having to lie on the sofa every afternoon was not a good thing, I seem to have been diagnosed with coeliac disease!

This is a serious intestinal disorder that is only treatable by removing all wheat, rye and barley and their associated by-products from my diet. So no more bread, pasta, or ordinary breakfast cereals, processed foods or anything I don't know the ingredients of. Hmmmm....

Thank goodness for the Internet though, as I feel like a specialist in coeliac now as I have spent several hours looking at various medical and public sites for the condition and learning as much as I can. I am seeing the specialist at the hospital tomorrow to plan further diagnostic tests or referrals. Perhaps I can give out some happynurses business cards while I am there!

So I went for a restful weekend with my sister, Sarah, and her family. It turns out that she may be made redundant in 4 weeks or so. She is a highly skilled lawyer so it was a bit of a shock. We got paper and coloured pens out, and we had a few brainstorm and 'creative solution' sessions. It made me glad for my coaching experience so I could look on the brighter side. Instead of redundancy - she has a choice of a job or freedom!!  Woo, that sounds great...!!

How do you deal with sudden shocks? All challenges are opportunities to learn and create something new.

Look for the positive, happynurses!