happynurses

Being a great leader

I was reviewing the book 'Employee Well-being and Support' for the Nursing Standard and some important items really leaped out at me. One chapter was about leadership, and it explained some real physical and emotional effects of a poor manager.

It discussed a study that showed nurses who had a manager who was seen as unfair and punitive by workers, raised nurses' blood pressure! It was measurably lower on days when they had manager who was seen as fair. Imagine, just by treating people badly, or well, you can affect their blood pressure and over a period of time, their cardio-vascular health.

Be a great leader and help your team to have better health, happynurses!

Doctors and nurses

There was an interesting article in this week's Nursing Standard about nurses who had gone on to re-train as doctors, and they wanted a role with more responsibility and status. What they found was the opposite!

Nurses are respected in their area, often more experienced than the medical staff (as they have been working in their specialty for much longer in some cases) and spend more time with the patients, thus creating rewarding and fulfilling connections with them.

Nurses are also generally popular with the public.

Some of the re-trainees have now given up medicine. What a waste of time and money!

Make sure you know what is really involved before making big changes.

Celebrate the good parts about being a nurse, happynurses!

Being a patient 3

Here I am, fresh back from my endoscopy - and I was really brave and had it without sedation (round of applause please!)

The procedure was horrible, but I was prepared for that by all the staff I saw - the specialist nurses and the lovely Registrar who was very understanding and kind. To dispel any common fears about hospitals, the departments were clean, efficient and friendly and I had no complaints at all. I also took a book to read to keep me occupied and my flatmate was there to get me home.

Thanks to all at CGH endoscopy unit!

Be proud to be a nurse, happynurses!

Being a patient2

So this week I have the experience again of being a patient in the NHS system. I have already experienced many of the frustrations, lack of communication and understanding between departments and the generally good care that is given at point of contact.

From studying businesses it is clear that the systems need an overhaul. Not another new initiative, but a really good study of what the patient experience is and how the staff and patients can work in a system that is efficient and effective (as I was taught in my NHS management course).

I went to a great seminar as part of the RCN congress which was about an innovative productivity study on some wards and departments, which has saved nurses time that they can then spend with patients instead of papers, equipment and order books.

Have a look at it here: www.institute.nhs.uk/quality_and_value/productivity_series/productive_ward.html

Like all businesses and lives if you are too busy working 'in' them, you can't work 'on' them. You need to do this to look at what is actually happening to you, your patients, family, partner etc and then find new solutions.

Look at what you do in and out of work, happynurses.

Important week.....

This week has been a very important one for happynurses, and me!

I met lots of lovely nurses on Monday in Bristol, and attended 3 business networking events to get the word out even further, but the most important news is that I have sold my first e-book!

This is a real breakthrough and indicates how well the automated system works. I got a confirmation email but that was it - no work for me at the buying stage at all! I wrote the book, Caroline formatted it in lovely design and the tech guys set up the payment and auto-responder system, then BINGO!

What would you like to have happen automatically, happynurses?

Nurses' Day Monday 12th part 2!

What a great day yesterday! I spent the day at UBHT meeting and talking to nurses and telling then about happynurses. The little badges for the website went down well and there was a lot of interest in the idea and my coaching and group support that I could offer.

It was lovely to be with so many nurses and to be able to offer them some hope/ help/ fun/ expertise.

I now know that

1. Happynurses is a great idea
2. The logo is wonderful
3. I need to 'get out more'
4. I need to out-source tech jobs so that I can promote the happynurses vision in person
5. I am bored with the tech and admin roles as they are not in my wealth profile
6. I would love to work with UBHT and UWE in helping and supporting nurses

What sort of role would really suit you, happynurses?

sunshine

The sun is out and everyone is visiting the park by my flat. I spent the afternoon in there with a friend yesterday. It was lovely just to spend some time lying in the fresh air with nothing to do....lovely!

I saw an amazing film last night on DVD. 'Into The Wild' which is the true story of a guy who goes of travelling in the 1990's to discover himself, challenge himself and have an advenute with no money or security. It focusses on the places he visited, and the people he met on the way. It really re-kindled my love of travel, which I haven't done for a while. As I am also looking at PR strategies at the moment I was re-thinking about my VW camper van idea for touring round and speaking to nurses....I need to get my plans out again and look at the feasibility of it, as I still think it's a great idea.

Which films do you find inspiring and why?

What do you love that you have 'forgotten about', happynurses?

Nurses' Day Monday 12th

Monday is International Nurses' Day!

Send a message of support and love to nurses you know, perform random acts of kindness for nurses and just be glad they do the job they do. When you need to be cared for in hospital, someone is prepared to get up early, or stay up all night, work weekends and Christmas days and do tasks that most people would gag at, all this for the sheer reward of it!

Happynurses, you are wonderful!

Get £100 off a 3 month coaching course in may to celebrate!

Time out

Ahhhh... the view from Symonds Yat in the Forest of Dean - wonderful!

I spent a couple of days away with family and friends this weekend and felt as if I had been on holiday. The weather on Tuesday was wonderful - I had to put on my suncream and even wore a short-sleeved top!

I left my bag of work, marketing books and notebooks on the sofa, by accident (or did I?) so that made sure I really gave myself time out. Sat in the sun, had a good laugh, went for some walks and a boat trip, had an ice-cream, and caught up with people I love.

It is good to have a break, even for a few hours - how could you have a mini-break, happynurses?

RCN congress - reflections

The two days I spent at the RCN Congress were highly educational, although not in the way I had perhaps intended. I managed to visit the exhibition space a few times and talk to some of the exhibitors, look at the free items they were giving away, and also Think about what I would/will do next year.

I realised that the reason I had not done more was that I am at the beginning of the marketing cycle with the brand etc and also that I have finite amounts of time and energy.

It was great to hear from so many passionate and inspiring nurses about projects they are doing. I attended a coaching seminar and there was lots of interest in the topic - again good for me.

I now have lots of info to follow up, as well as my first really positive meeting today re training for nurses on life balance, so am feeling like there are really good things happening.....

What do you feel right now, happynurses?