Tag: nursing

Navigating Leadership: My Leadership Journey – “Bite your tongue, Chris😜!”

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Chris Jo Padikkal, Student Adult Nurse (UGY -2) M23 Cohort, B.Sc. (HONS) Adult Nursing, Full–time

Chris Jo Zijo Padikkal | LinkedIn

Once upon a time in the land of Swansea University, I embarked on a leadership odyssey that promised to transform me from a student into an inspiring leader. Little did I know that joining the Student Leadership Academy would be my gateway to a world of opportunity, where I would rub shoulders with CEO(s), Director(s), and Matron(s) and grow into the future leader I aspired to be.

The Adventure Begins

When I first set foot into the Student Leadership Academy, I expected a series of workshops, maybe a few PowerPoint presentations, and some free coffee. What I found instead was a great scene setter for the leadership conference, The Council Chamber, the best place to start your leadership journey, a treasure trove of experiences and connections that would shape my leadership journey forever. It was like stumbling into a parallel universe where everyone was just as driven, ambitious, slightly caffeinated and sugar-rushed by the amount of free Haribo’s and lollipops on the table. The people I met were not just students; they were aspiring CEO(s), Director(s), Matron(s) and Healthcare Leaders, each with a unique vision for the future of our healthcare.

One of the most thrilling aspects of my journey was the opportunity to network with the titans of the healthcare industry. Picture this: standing in a room with individuals who have ‘CEO’ on their business cards, and not because they printed them at home, but because they worked their dream into their reality. Engaging with these leaders gave me insights into the workings of the healthcare system and exposed me to diverse leadership styles. It was like getting a backstage pass to a concert, but instead of rock stars, I was mingling with healthcare pioneers.

Meeting these leaders wasn’t just about collecting LinkedIn connections and recommendations; it was about soaking in their wisdom, understanding their challenges, and learning how to navigate the complex world of healthcare and the NHS, which is a beast of its own. They taught me the importance of visionary leadership, adaptability, and most importantly, the art of speaking and listening.

The academy was a melting pot of talent from various disciplines and backgrounds, each bringing a unique perspective to the table. This interprofessional collaboration was crucial in creating what I like to call “the future MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) dream team”.

We shared ideas, challenged each other’s assumptions, and learned to work together towards a common goal. The friendships I forged here were not just professional alliances; they were bonds that I would cherish and last for the rest of my lifetime.

Every hero needs a mentor, and I was fortunate to have one who was as brilliant as he could be, Simon James, National Lymphoedema Specialist Practitioner with Lymphoedema Network Wales. Previously having studied Nursing at Swansea University and having participated in Swansea SLA & National SLA as a student, Simon helped me navigate the treacherous waters of leadership with wisdom and grace. One area where I needed significant enlightenment was my communication skills. Apparently, telling people they were wrong (no matter how true that was) with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and a sassy face wasn’t the best approach.

I learned that maintaining a calm conversation, even when someone was at fault multiple times, was crucial in creating a nurturing environment. My mentor taught me that while intervention is essential, there comes a point where you have to bite your tongue, let it go, and find peace in knowing you’ve done your best. This wasn’t about ignoring the problem, but about recognising the limits of your influence and preserving your sanity.

Additionally, I was invited to an Additional Practice Learning Experience (APLE) or SPOKE Placement, in Cwm Taff Morgannwg University Health Board, to learn about Lymphoedema care and management. Also, it was important to understand that less is more, meaning, sometimes, however much we want to do, we can’t fix everything in one short appointment. I saw in real time how other contexts of healthcare, apart from the disease condition in itself, play into the health of a community. It gave me an immense understanding of the importance of nurses not only being patient advocates but also patient activists. But that’s a conversation for another blog. Let’s get back to communication.

Communicating in Healthcare: Tips and Tricks

Communicating effectively in the high-pressure world of nursing and healthcare is both an art and a science (Webb, 2020). Here are some tips I picked up on my journey:

  1. Listen Actively: Before jumping in with a solution, listen to what the other person is saying. Sometimes, people just need to feel heard. Innovative solutions always have room for active listening (Webb, 2020).
  2. Stay Calm: Emotions can run high in healthcare settings. Keeping your cool can prevent situations from escalating (Grant & Goodman, 2019; Webb, 2020).
  3. Be Empathetic: Try to understand things from the other person’s perspective. Empathy can diffuse sudden anger, tension and build trust (Webb, 2020).
  4. Use “I” Statements: Instead of blaming, express how the situation makes you feel. This can lead to more productive conversations (Webb, 2020).
  5. Set Boundaries: Know when to step back. Not every battle is worth fighting, and sometimes it’s better to agree to disagree and let it go (Grant & Goodman, 2019; Webb, 2020).
  6. Seek Solutions, Not Blame: Focus on finding a way forward rather than dwelling and moaning on who was at fault (Grant & Goodman, 2019; Webb, 2020).

The Journey Continues

As I reflect on my journey with Swansea University’s Student Leadership Academy, I realise that leadership is not a destination but a continuous journey of growth and self-discovery. The skills I acquired, the connections I made, and the lessons I’ve learned have equipped me to face the challenges of the healthcare world with confidence and resilience.

So, if you ever find yourself at Swansea University, I urge you to embark on your own leadership adventure. Who knows, you might just find yourself in a room full of future CEO(s), Director(s), Matron(s) and Healthcare Leaders dreaming up the next big thing in healthcare, while you munch through those packets of Haribo’s.

Cheers to the journey ahead, future director 😉; you’d do brilliant, trust the process!

References

Grant, A., & Goodman, B. (2019). Chapter 4: Understanding potential barriers to the safe

Effective practice of communication and interpersonal skills. In M. Standing & S. Walker (Eds.), Transforming Nursing Practice: Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Nursing (4th ed., pp. 67–85). Learning Matters.

Webb, L. (2020). Communication skills in nursing practice. Sage.

Leadership: The lessons learnt from the Heart of Mental Health Student Nurse

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Rachel Jukes

Leadership in nursing encompasses more than just clinical expertise; it requires a dedication to advocacy, teamwork, and ongoing personal development. My experience as a mental health nursing student, especially through my collaboration with the Deputy Welsh Government Gillian Knight, has significantly influenced my perspective on leadership. In this blog, I will reflect on my experiences, the transformative impact of my mentor, and how these insights have shaped my aspirations in perinatal nursing and health visiting involving mental health (Rolfe et al., 2001/2020).

(The Compelled Educator, 2023)

At first, I was slightly apprehensive to be involved in such a programme and I knew it would take me out of my comfort zone as I am not the type of individual to put myself forward. Even with my peers within the class environment I clam up and have no self-confidence. It was not until another student encouraged me to sign up for the programme and I for one did not expect to be accepted, the questions I answered I had to sell myself and my experiences.

  I was a mature student who had taken herself back to education, while juggling three beautiful children and holding down a job within healthcare, with all these factors upon me it could demonstrate my life was stressful enough without adding more to it.

 When I found out I had been accepted I was hit by all kinds of emotions, happy, anxious, disbelief and excitement, as I told my fellow peers who encouraged me that this was a good turning point within my nursing career as it would potentially open doors, I accepted that this was fate, it was my time to start thinking about myself and putting my career forward.

During the first day at leadership, I remember butterflies as I was walking from the car, stepping into the room and looking for my name tag. Then it hit me that this situation was not something I was used to and if I would even enjoy it. In the room there was various professional backgrounds, including Occupational Therapists, Adult Nurses, Child Nurses, Mental Health and spokespeople from different fields of nursing and employment status. The event took place for over the two days, it was well structured and planned, featuring guest speakers and engagement activities designed to strengthen our professional bonds.

After the two days was over where new friendships and bonds were made, we were assigned a mentor, and Gillian played a significant role in my leadership journey. Throughout the next few months, we both planned meetings, via zoom calls, where Gillian provided me with guidance, explained protocols within nursing, her current job role and how she herself managed her career throughout the years. Gillian took a genuine interest in my background, and my journey to becoming a mature student. With Gillian sharing her own personal experiences and her progression within her career, I found this very inspiring to listen too. Additionally, during the various planned meetings we explored fundamental nursing concepts, policies and leadership models such as the GROW model (Marshall & Broome, 2021).

 Gillian tried to understand my personal interests and career aspirations, helping me connect with influential professionals, from this led me to opportunities where I engaged with nursing specialising in mental health, broadening my knowledge and understanding of various nursing disciplines.

Reflection on feelings

Initially, I felt both excited and slightly apprehensive around participating in the leadership programme, as I was unsure of what to expect. However, as the sessions progressed, I found the structured activities and mentorship to be incredibly valuable. Gillian’s genuine interest in my journey made me feel supported and motivated.

 Engaging with professionals from diverse backgrounds gave me a sense of belonging and confidence in my abilities. It was particularly rewarding to see how my experiences and perspectives as a mature student were acknowledged and appreciated by Gillan. The exposure to different areas of nursing and leadership models left me feeling encouraged and eager to apply the knowledge gained in my professional journey as a mental health student nurse.

Evaluation

My leadership experience was highly positive, with the structure of the program, the presence of experienced guest speakers and the hands-on mentorship were beneficial on my journey. My mentor’s approach, that balanced professionalism with a personal connection and provided a significant impact on my confidence and understanding of a leader and how to become a true leader.

 Discussing key strengths within this experience was the opportunity to engage with mental health professionals, widened my perspective on nursing and leadership in different aspects of life. Additionally, exploring leadership models such as Grow model that provides me with a structured framework that I can apply in future leadership roles.

 This experience highlighted the importance of mentorship in leadership development, with my mentors personalised approach demonstrated how effective leaders not only provide guidance however also take interest in the personal growth of their mentees (Garrity, 2013). Gillians willingness to share her own experiences made the learning process more relatable and engaging. Furthermore, the exposure to different nursing policies and leadership models reinforced the significance of structured frameworks in decision-making and problem-solving. The GROW model, for instance, provided a clear structure for setting goals and taking forward steps to achieving them.

 The leadership experience highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Professional working from various fields broadened my understanding of teamwork and the role of leadership in fostering cohesive healthcare environment (Garrity, 2013).

Conclusion

The leadership programme was a transformative experience that enhanced my understanding of leadership principles, nursing policies and interdisciplinary collaboration. Gillian played a pivotal role in my growth, providing both professional guidance and personal support throughout. The opportunity to interact with mental health professionals further depended on my knowledge and interest in this field.

 How I plan on moving forward and adapting leadership within placement, University and life, to apply leadership models, particularly grow model to set achievable career goals. To continue to keep in contact with Gillian and seek mentorship opportunities within my role as a student nurse. In future whilst being at Swansea University, would like to engage further in professional networking to expand my knowledge in mental health nursing and the capability to reflect on my experiences throughout the course and life in general, to which this would improve my leadership abilities to grow.

Leadership experience for me, has reinforced my passion for mental health nursing and I will continue to implement any form of information I have learnt throughout this experience as I further progress my career.

Reference

Garrity, M. K. (2013). Developing nursing leadership skills through reflective journaling: a nursing professor’s personal reflection. Reflective Practice, 14(1), 118–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2012.732940

Marshall, E. S., & Broome, M. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company, Llc.

Rolfe, G., Jasper, M., & Freshwater, D. (2020). Critical Reflection in Practice: Generating Knowledge for Care (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. (Original work published 2001)

The Compelled Educator. (2023). 5 Inspiring Leadership Quotes – Motivation Monday #37 {September 15, 2014}. https://www.thecompellededucator.com/2014/09/5-inspiring-leadership-quotes.html

“Being a Dream Catcher”

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By Jessica Bain

I remember sitting in the sunshine one day reading one of my favourite books “The Language of Kindness: A Nurse’s Story” by Christie Watson. My grandmother had given me the book after I received the news that I had been successful in gaining a place on the BSc Mental Health Nursing course at Swansea, and whilst reading it I came across a quote which I have held onto ever since.

“A mental health nurse is a dream-catcher in a desperate window.”

This analogy is something that has stuck with me throughout my training and is something I think of often. I’ve always had a passion for mental health and how our minds, as humans, work. I have always been told from a young age that I am emotionally intelligent and very empathetic. These are some of the attributes that I would later learn are vital in leadership.

Because of my interest in the mind, I pursued psychology from GCSE level all the way through to completing my BSc in Psychology at Cardiff University.

During my psychology degree, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I didn’t realise at the time how important this journey would be for my future career. Being a regular patient in the healthcare system opened my eyes to whole new perspective that I hadn’t seen before. It gave me so much insight into the patient experience: what worked well, and what didn’t.

Although nursing had always been on my mind, it was my diagnosis, and experience with my illness, that really drove me to want to enter a healthcare profession. When I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, I remember being in an appointment and being told that my prognosis wasn’t great and that I’d need further surgery in the future. The bedside manner of this particular consultant was to be questioned. It drained me of hope. And yet, not long after, I was sat in an appointment with a different consultant, who, despite facts remaining the same, made me feel as though my prognosis was different, she gave my hope back. And it was all down to her kindness and empathy.

This brings me back to the quote I included at the start of this blog. We, as healthcare students and future staff, should strive to take the worry and distress away from our patients. We should strive to be the dreamcatcher who ‘holds’ their distress for them, until they can do it themselves. We can, with kindness, give them the power of knowledge, education and medicine that allows the patient to take matters back into their own hands. The consultant I saw was a dreamcatcher for me. She altered my entire outlook on my disease, with kindness and a listening ear. Our attitude can make the world of difference to our patients.

Fast forward to starting mental health nursing at Swansea. In the early weeks of the course, we had a talk regarding the Swansea Leadership Academy (SLA). Needless to say, I went home that day and started my application. I was thrilled to hear I had been accepted to be part of 2023 SLA cohort.

The conference days as part of SLA were so interesting, and I remember feeling like, for the first time, I had met people who had the same ideas and passions as me. Through SLA, we were encouraged to apply for the Council of Deans of Health’s Student Leadership Programme (150 Leaders). After hearing about the programme, from which SLA is based on, I knew I had to explore it.

Ironically, I was in hospital just before the deadline for the 150 Leaders application, finishing my application from a hospital bed. I was sure I wouldn’t be chosen to attend due to not giving it the same effort as I usually could. As you can imagine, I was extremely shocked to find out that I had been successful in gaining a place out of hundreds of applicants.

During my time on the 150 Leaders Programme, what stood out to me was how similar all the attendees were, despite coming from all parts of the UK, doing different degrees, working in rural and inner-city areas. We all shared the passion to want to make healthcare better for our patients and staff. We want to lead with compassion and empathy – I was sitting in a room full of potential future NHS leaders.

Through both leadership programmes that I have been lucky to be a part of, I have had coaching from some welcoming and inspiring people who have allowed me to express my passions, take part in conferences, and discuss ideas. The opportunities I have been a part of since the leadership programmes have been outstanding for my learning experience. I have really enjoyed speaking to leaders in their field and will carry their knowledge with me throughout my career.

I believe that my life experience has led me to where I am today. Being innately passionate about the care of others, and now being able to put that into practice has been overwhelming in the best way.

The leadership programmes have taught me that being a good leader is not just about skill and experience, but also about being compassionate, emotionally intelligent and a good listener, who takes actions based off what their staff/patients are saying. If you heart is in the right place, the rest will follow.

I have taken my learning to the classroom and have taken steps amongst my classmates to act on their behalf and speak up for them. By being a student rep for my class, I strive to be that person who acts when situations occur that require my cohort to speak up. I enjoy being that person people can come to and feel confident that I will listen and take steps to help.

Being part of the SLA has given me a lot of confidence to do things I maybe wouldn’t have done with such ease before. SLA unlocked a part of me that was always there, I just didn’t realise it. I didn’t realise that my innate attributes were the recipe of a good leader. Kindness is the driving force to all good things, but taking steps to act is what sets you apart.

I strive to always be that dreamcatcher for my patients. I promise to hold as much worry as I can for them, and to use that to take action in ensuring that they get the best care they can. I promise to be there for my colleagues and to always show compassion in everything I do.

Jessica Bain, Mental Health Nursing Student S22.

My journey in leadership – Tesni Amos

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My journey in leadership throughout the Student Leadership Academy 2023 has been an incredible one.  

The first conference, on the 9th and 10th of March, was a strong start to the whole process – from getting to meet a lot of like-minded students, to getting to witness great talks from extremely senior members of staff (Chief Executive Welsh Ambulance (NHS) Trust Jason Killens). While the talks and networking with staff was very useful and genuinely interesting, to be able to connect with my fellow healthcare students was also a great aspect of the Academy. Throughout my general university life, I have ample chance to socialise with other student nurses, but unfortunately have had little time nor opportunity to engage with students of other healthcare degrees. However, in the Student Leadership Academy there was a large mix of students. Nursing students were well represented, but there was also midwifery, paramedics, neurophysiologists, and occupational therapists.  

The first two days set up how the rest of the experience would go – encouraging me to think about what truly matters in a great leader, and how these key aspects in the good leaders around me utilize these to give their staff and patients the best possible working and healing environment.  

One challenge that students were asked to think about before returning for the second and last part of the Academy was an achievable change that Swansea University could implement to improve the student lives. The group that I was in decided to go with my idea of a society catered towards all healthcare students – created with the goal of uniting students across the boundaries of degrees, making life-long friendships that would benefit the student in university but additionally once working together in the NHS. Our group the “HealthSoc Committee” then committed to starting a presentation to be shared on the final day of the Academy.  

The next stage of the Student Leadership Academy was the coaching scheme, which involved one-on-one meetings with senior members of different aspects of healthcare organisations in the UK to speak about leadership and learn from one another. The coach that I was paired with was Simon Cassidy, a member of staff in Health Education in Wales. Simon was always incredibly pleasant to me and enabled me to feel comfortable to ask him continual questions about his experiences whenever we met up over Zoom. This was around once every month from April to September 2023 – which may have been slightly more than other students met with their coaching mentors! Simon and I had a good relationship over our chats, and so he invited me to speak at a HEIW conference with four other students from across South Wales.  

With some students from Cardiff University, Open University, University of South Wales, I was proud to be able to represent Swansea University by my lonesome. On the 24th October 2023, in my speech to a crowd of around 100 people, each with their own years long experience as a nurse, I spoke about the future of nursing as it seems to students, mentioning the negative press surrounding nursing (potentially turning away future needed nursing staff), and the positive way I had been treated by multiple staff members on placement ensuring my enjoyment.  

As I was going first of the group, I was quite nervous, but persevered. I got through the speech – hopefully with mistakes to a minimal! Some audience members were also kind enough to come to the students’ table after the event and congratulate us all on our speeches. A comment made by a sister stuck with me – that our talks reminded her “of what it was like to be a student and to have that ambition and drive to improve”.  

With positive reviews on the day and on the internet afterwards, I was feeling grateful that the Academy enabled this opportunity to come to me – but that was not the end of positive effects from SLA!  

The final day on the 7th of July came upon me fast. The “HealthSoc Committee” group had been preparing for the presentation, and we had organised a survey for healthcare students to undertake – with full approval from the SU research ethics team. We did not anticipate the response, with over 140 responses from many different healthcare degrees. This encouraged our team, as it showed a real gap in the SU experience and incredible preliminary interest in the idea, and through this survey process we gained valuable advice and knowledge from multiple senior staff members. We then presented in front of staff and students, an experience which helped me build my confidence in my presenting skills. The feedback we received was exceptionally positive and made me thankful for the work that my group and I had put in, all supported by the skills garnered from the Student Leadership Academy. As a direct result, we now have a healthcare society, of which the majority of committee are SLA members of 2022/23.  

The final opportunity that I can thank the Student Leadership Academy for is meeting hosted by HEIW staff with five other students online, of which I was the only student from Swansea University, and additionally the only student studying Adult (General) Nursing.  

It was in this meeting I got to learn about how HEIW is planning to recruit nursing staff, and the future of nursing from their perspective – as well as share my own thoughts. The topics ranged from AI to decentralisation. Throughout I was honoured to get an inside look at how nursing could look in 10 years time – a chance earned through SLA.  

When I first applied to attend the SLA, I was not expecting to be given these great events throughout the year – but as I have I would encourage everyone to give the Student Leadership Academy application a go. You may just get through and open yourself up to improving yourself with leadership skills, and incredible networking opportunities in which you make stable and lifelong relationships!