Category: Blogs

1st Year Mental Health Nursing Student – University of York.

The two-day conference in Reading was fantastic. I have met some seriously great, like-minded people, being fellow students from across the UK as well as some fantastic, knowledgeable and inspirational leading figures from across healthcare. The hotel, the food and everything gets top marks from me and we were all made to feel very comfortable whilst absorbing all the lessons to be learnt and having our minds enlightened about leadership practice in healthcare.

One of the biggest lessons that I have taken so far from the programme is this: Be authentic. Be aware of your emotions, the way you approach things and people and say YES to as much as you can. Growth and comfort do not coexist.

We have been told that this is only the start of the ‘leadership journey’ and I do indeed hope that this is the case. It is of course only the beginning of the programme, with another conference set to take place in London in July. I am also yet to be introduced to my mentor for the programme, which will be happening soon. I know that the programme makes a special effort to match students to a mentor who is most appropriate to their interests and areas in which the student desires to develop. So this is exciting and I’m eagerly anticipating that e-mail.

I am looking forward to exploring new concepts, developing areas to aid and enhance my leadership skills in practice and taking away even more than I already have from the programme.

I am very pleased and excited to be 1 of the #150leaders and share lessons learnt with my colleagues, family and friends now and in the future.

1^st Year Adult Nursing Student – Plymouth University

On the 5-6 March, myself and colleague and friend, Dawne Jones, attended the Student Leadership Programme launch. Unsure of what to expect, and who we would meet, we quickly met and got chatting to an array of student healthcare professionals from across the UK – from as far as Inverness! It was clear immediately that what brought us there was passion for making a difference, for the NHS, for strong and compassionate leadership in the health service and to share ideas on these issues with like minded people.

On day one we were welcomed and had a group discussion with Dr Katerina Kolyva, Executive Director of the Council of Deans of Health. We learnt about being ourselves when it comes to leadership and how it is situational, adapting yourself to the team you are working with and being authentic. We had a brilliant discussion around what makes us all unique and interestingly, in a room of 45 student healthcare professionals, the words ‘creative, resilient and persistent’ came up most often. This made me smile and think about the kinds of people that are going to be leading the NHS in the future and how it is in safe hands. The lasting remark was around how we maintain our leadership because of our behaviour and if you do not have a whole self-awareness of your development areas whilst negotiating through the complexities of some potential problems, then you may not be being the best leader you can be.

Lots of engaging group exercises and presenting went on throughout both days, but the exercise that stood out for me most was discussing with each other what we would do as the nurse in charge in a particularly difficult scenario. It was clear to me that everyone brought a wealth of experience already, being from different backgrounds, ages, professions, locations – just listening was a privilege. And this discussion continued throughout dinner and beyond when we heard from Ismalia De Sousa a Clinical Nurse specialist in stroke at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Ismalia taught me that determination and passion is what ultimately makes a successful nurse leader. She was so self-aware and reflective on her practice, on situations she had encountered and on moments where she thought she wasn’t good enough. It encouraged me to think about my own practice and now I carry a journal with me on train journeys to placement or in my bag to jot down how I’m reacting to a situation in that moment and how I can learn from it.

On day two we heard from Joanne Bosanquet MBE, Deputy Chief Nurse of Public Health England and had another exhilarating debate, sharing stories and people’s passions for what they do. We talked about advocacy and being courageous, empowering patients and challenging people as a fresh pair of eyes. We are not just ‘the student’, we are people with our own experiences who know right from wrong or can look at problems with another perspective. We encouraged each other to not fall into the ‘pity pit’, being mindful of our own compassion and instead of simply pitying patients, ask questions and speak up for them – you are their advocate and voice. Equally the backbone of advocacy is empathy and we have to think as leaders and as nurses that we are in a position to challenge things as we can think about it from their perspective.

Later we had a lovely talk from Felicity Allman, fellow Plymouth University student in Mental Health Nursing. She participated in the programme last year and we heard her reflections about the course, what she learnt, who she had met and ambitions for the future. She encouraged us to think about our visions. What we see ourselves doing a few years down the line. I encourage anyone to do the same, it was so useful for us to answer the question “what you would attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” This allowed me to think about my wildest ambitions for my career and how I can best achieve what I would like to. I suddenly realised that if this is the thing I would most like to do, then why not give it a go anyway? It’s written down in that journal and on its way to being realised.

That afternoon we also learnt about emotional intelligence and resilience from Adele Nightingale, Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Leadership Practice at the University of Central Lancashire. We talked about how resilience is the ability to be knocked back and come back bigger, better and stronger. To be resilient however, we need to have an element of emotional intelligence in which we are able to recognise how we are feeling and the feelings of others – being ‘people and self-smart’. The biggest learning point I took away from this session was that the “greatest asset you have is you” so if we do not look after ourselves as healthcare professionals by reflecting on our learning experiences and developing our support network through self and social awareness, then we are not able to best look after our patients.

Last but not least, we heard from Nigel Harrison Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Central Lancashire. This was a beautiful tale of Nigel’s personal life and how he overcame challenges to be the leader he is today. It became clear to me that healthcare leaders are not necessarily those that shine academically, race to the top or shout the loudest, but those who have the drive to make a difference and the determination to just be the best that they can be for themselves and others.

Since we said our goodbyes and headed home on the train, we have found out who our mentors are for the next phase of the programme. I am excited to meet with Bronagh Scott, Executive Director of Nursing at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and develop a plan for the future as to how best I can develop into the nurse I want to be. Then we all meet again in London in July for a networking event. It will be great to see how everyone is doing and the doors the programme has opened for them. I for one have exciting plans for the future and I am so grateful for this opportunity.

By Rachael Palmer

1^st Year Paediatric Nursing Student – Bangor University

It takes a lot to inspire me, the word is bandied around too much, I must feel it in my heart and then feel it through my very soul.  I fear that finding inspiration in everything will leave you numb to the sensation.

So, it was that travelling down to Reading from Anglesey, North Wales, left me with ample time to consider what I was about to walk into.  I had been reluctant to apply, not through hesitation, but whether such a conference and meeting of minds would be applicable to me.  I am routinely seen as cynical and irreverent, two traits in complete odds with my speciality as a paediatric nursing student: So to be encouraged by my tutor to apply was rather alien and unexpected.

Through considering this encouragement, I came to realise that that was what a true leader does.  They see value and potential in all those around them, and bolster and push when appropriate to create opportunities and skills for people that, they themselves, did not realise were applicable to them.

I walked into the conference after a 5-hour journey tired, but excited all the same.  I adored talking with those from other specialities (I developed special affinity with Midwives and Learning Disability Nurses) and did my level-headed best to keep up with the influx of information and perspectives from my peers.  Listening to experienced speakers from so many different healthcare professions, in different stages in their career, gave me perspective on the bigger picture.  A picture a bit higher from the ground than I’m personally used to, but one that encouraged me that you can still work close to the ground to lead and inspire.

The Student Leadership Programme has already given me confidence and drive to push myself further than I thought I would when I began my time in University.  Knowing that I was chosen for this programme, in itself, made me realise I had something within me that I did not believe possible: a future, and an excited and bright one at that.

And that realisation truly inspiring.

By Daniel Garrod

I feel incredibly privileged to have been part of the first ever student leadership programme so generously organised and facilitated by the Council of Deans. This course has made me grow in confidence as a leader, and encouraged me to seek new opportunities to represent and support fellow student midwives, both at my university and my hospital. I will highlight a few of my best moments of the programme below:

1) I was lucky enough to be one of the three students from the programme who were able to attend the annual Council of Deans conference, this year held at the Marriot in Bristol. Despite being surrounded by impressive Deans, we immediately felt welcomed and included, from all the introductions made to us by Council members, to the efforts to ask our opinions during the table discussions during the day. The first speaker was Baroness Mary Watkins who gave very interesting insights into the new Nursing Associate positions we have seen in the media recently, and her own views on Brexit and other current issues facing the healthcare profession.

I was interested by her views on the role new research can play in shaping the future of the nursing and allied health professions, especially regarding the weight she put on research formulated by nurses working with doctors and other health professionals, which she argued would hold a larger impact through its diverse array of participants. This has encouraged me to invest in colleague relationships with the doctors, consultants and midwifery support workers at my hospital, relationships I can see benefitting both my enjoyment of my work, and advancing the care of the women as a collaborative team works much better than a fragmented one!

2) My second highlight was my first meeting with my assigned mentor, Carmel Lloyd, head of Education and Development at the RCM. Carmel told me about her journey to such a prestigious position at the RCM, where she designs policy and supports midwives across the nation. I learned so much from her which I can now apply to the beginnings of my career as a midwife, such as taking every opportunity which comes your way and trying to really know your capabilities and develop your weaknesses to become a stronger individual.

Having read my statement Carmel saw that I am interested in working abroad and set up a meeting with Joy Kemp, the global professional advisor at the RCM. She spoke to me of her recent work in Uganda and her next plans for development in other countries the RCM has links with. This inspired me to pursue my idea of working internationally and gave me a taster of what that work might entail.

3) Finally, the second student leadership conference held in London recently gave me such great ideas as to the ‘what next’ question which arises off the back if the programme. What should I now do with all this newfound knowledge and anticipation for the future? My favourite part of the day was a panel discussion involving representatives from the Florence Nightingale Foundation, Public Health England and the RCM amongst other organisations. What really stood out for me was the courage these people had when faced with challenges and difficult jobs. One of the panel said that they never applied for a job unless they could do ‘more than 70% of it’, based on the idea that being stretched and facing challenges should be regarded as exciting, and not something that probably fills most people with dread!

Overall this programme has been immensely useful in establishing not only a huge excitement I now hold for my future as a midwife, but also gave me some new friends who have dreams just as big as mine, giving me a community of people from all different healthcare professions to support be through my career.

Rosie Jenks, Midwifery Student at the University of West London

Coming to the end of the Student Leadership Programme (SLP), it is time for me to reflect on my experience over the past few months. What an amazing journey it has been!

In September, I was allocated my mentor, and after all the anticipation and excitement about who it could be, I was not disappointed. An Executive Director of Nursing for a leading health board was beyond what I had hoped for. I started with a google search to get some background information about my mentor, and was excited to see her repertoire of leadership experience, promotion and qualifications. My mentor was clearly passionate about encouraging leadership within healthcare.

Being an executive director, she was a busy lady, but she made time for me and we spoke at length over the phone about her experiences, her approach to and expectations of leadership within the NHS, what I wanted to get out of the programme and how could she help me with this along the way. Emails were sent regularly, and a date arrange to shadow her in her role as executive director. What an incredible time that was, and such an eye opener for a third year student preparing to qualify. Even though the programme officially comes to an end for me this month, we have arranged for me to visit again in the new year to spend some additional time with her and other field specific managers and leaders for me to learn more and have further experiences. This is what it means to be someone who inspires those to continue to learn by giving them new opportunities.

Yet the programme has given so many more exciting opportunities beyond those with my mentor. Motivated and encouraged after the SLP welcome event in July, I applied and was successful in becoming a Student Information Officer for the Royal Collage of Nursing. This again led onto new and exciting opportunities. I have become the only student on my nursing school’s marketing strategy committee and am able to voice my ideas and channel my enthusiasm about student recruitment and retention. I have been part of a validation process with the NMC to secure approval for new programmes within the school. I have met with a local Welsh Assembly Member to discuss ideas for promoting nurse education and to be involved in a recruitment drive. I have been a link between a local community hospital and the school, promoting the school during an open day for the hospital. And so much more! All of these have come about as a direct result of attending the SLP welcome event and being encouraged by my mentor to get involved and direct my interests and ideas. Networking really has become key.

So, what have I learnt on a personal level? I have learnt to believe in myself, to have the confidence to question what is out there and to have conviction in my own ideas. Communication is key, and developing my communication skills has been vital. To become a leader is to inspire others, to draw them into your enthusiasm and empower them to develop their own ideas. I have since become an advocate for the SLP, presenting to 1^st and 2^nd year students to hopefully inspire them to try for the programme.

I have now entered the third year of my degree with a new enthusiasm and drive. My desire to continue with my education after qualifying has been renewed and I am looking for new opportunities all the time. I have truly been inspired by all those I have met during my time on the SLP, not only by staff, but by fellow students on the programme, who have truly shown me that there is real hope and opportunity for the NHS and future of healthcare.

Thank you everyone, and good luck in your future professions. I can’t wait to meet with you all again in London.

Meg Smith

3^rd year mental health student nurse.

The song ‘Life is a Rollercoaster’ could not have been more appropriate to describe how my first year as a Nursing Associate and getting onto this Leadership course has been. The Nursing Associate course had so much interest that I could not believe that not only me but also my partner had managed to get onto it. I heard about the Student Leadership course on our closed Facebook group and decided to have a go. I was so grateful to get onto this as well as my new degree.

The event in Birmingham in July was amazing. The setting was so fantastic so high up in the Marco Pierre White boardroom. I still have the photos of the views and lots of selfies next to inspiring quotes that were Tweeted. This was something that I was not really used to as I thought that social media and work was not all that professional. I realise now that, this is a fantastic way of voicing how great our work is, and that networking is important.

Talking to so many people and learning about each other’s experiences really impacted on me. I shared how my rare autoimmune disease had shaped my journey and made me want to be a Nursing Associate. Emotional intelligence is something which I am really interested in and was looking forward to getting out of this course. As I sit here now on my laptop I still have the sticky notes up in front of us and it makes me want to carry on despite how difficult this year has been. One says ‘Your story is very inspiring. To go through what you did must have been very difficult, but you owned it like a pro!’

From going to Birmingham in July, to being readmitted to hospital mid-August and being off clinically for almost 4 months now, but still going through university one day a week has really put my strengths through the test. I went from being someone who is intelligent to being so cognitively impaired due to my illness that the University initially thought that I should defer for another year. They said if failing this module would mean I would be off the course, so it would probably be better to take the time off. This is not how it works for me! It’s the 4th time now since relapsing and I know that I can still do this. It was Mid-September when we started back at university. I could barely put a sentence together at the time, just after a month later I was doing a PowerPoint presentation. Not sure how I have done yet but I’m proud I got through this.

I am so happy to have Ismalia as my mentor, she was so inspiring during the evening talk and I was lucky enough to sit on her table. We did speak about my condition and why it is I wanted to be a Nursing Associate and she asked if I could do piece of writing to put into her Journal. I’ve not managed to do any of this yet, neither have I done any more of my book which I was writing. I have had to prioritise and work on University. This is also why my reflection on the Leadership course is so late. My condition has made it difficult to get out on my own, so I have not been able to meet Ismalia in person, but we have emailed a few times and she has been very supportive. We are planning on meeting at some point soon. I’m excited to see where this takes me next and looking forward to the event at the end of November, something which will be quite a big thing for me at this time! There are going to be some people who will be uncomfortable about me coming but determination is one of my main attributes.

There have been times during this year where I have had a ‘wobble’ about whether healthcare is right for me and will I be good enough when I qualify. I have now done even more reflection on this (loving the reflections) and realised that I already am an amazing healthcare worker. I’ve been working in this field for around five years and the most important thing is that I make a positive difference to the patients I meet and their lives.

The future is bright and I hope one day that I will be as inspirational as my mentor.

Janine Dobson

The Council of Deans of Health, with support from the Burdett Trust for Nursing, launched a Student Leadership Programme recently to build the capacity of nursing, midwifery and allied health students in leadership. This innovative initiative is developing students’ knowledge, skills and networks to enhance their leadership potential both as students and as professional practitioners, which will have a positive long-term impact on patient care and the delivery of the health service in the United Kingdom.

I was privileged to be selected as a mentor on this programme and have spent the last three months nurturing the leadership aspirations of two undergraduate nursing students, one from Robert Gordon University and the other from the University of Dundee. Through regular telephone and Skype calls over the last few weeks we explored the concept of being a leader from different perspectives and discussed what leadership characteristics students saw in practice that they could draw on. I also set my two mentee some goals to look at the evidence base for nursing leadership, which is still in its infancy, and brainstorm ways they could utilise and build on this. Sharing my own experiences of being a leader in education and research also had a positive impact as it encouraged both students to develop and implement their ideas and influence others to follow them.

As a mentor I was extremely impressed by the leadership qualities my two nursing students already had and were actively progressing in both their academic and clinical practice. In the few months I worked with Sophie she had designed a survey that she was about to distribute to nursing students to gauge extra support they needed in practice and had set up and run workshops to improve the numeracy skills of students struggling with drug calculations. Matthew on the other hand focused on being a role model for other nursing students and helped them develop their leadership qualities and was accepted onto the Common Purpose UK Leadership programme to learn to work internationally across cultures and other social boundaries. I also heard about the networking and personal development opportunities they received as part of the student leadership programme through a series of workshops and seminars in Birmingham and the final event in London in November.

Their passion and enthusiasm to become better leaders and make a difference to patient care and the student experience demonstrated the value of the Student Leadership Programme and the importance of nurturing and supporting those starting out in their careers. I would encourage other academics to sign up to the mentoring scheme as it is a great experience both personally and professionally and is helping to build the next generation of leaders in healthcare.

Siobhán O’Connor

Learning in Nursing, Edinburgh Napier University

Participating on the Student Leadership programme has given me an understanding of leadership styles and approaches in a society where industries, companies and health care settings are adapting and evolving.

As a student nurse taking part in the programme, I have had an insight into the journey of leaders in the nursing and healthcare sector and the experiences they have had.

My mentor has been instrumental in providing assistance on leadership literature and support. I am preparing for the final event of the student leadership programme in London at the end of November and also arranging to go to the United Arab Emirates in December as part of the Common Purpose UK Leadership development project that my University are participating in.

Using my skills and experience from participating in the student leadership programme I can utilise these skills gained in the work that I do internationally by leading and working with teams, and also in the work I carry out at University in roles as learning team representative, practice learning committee member in the nursing school and peer assisted coordinator for the 2017-18 final year nursing students.

The student leadership programme has given me the opportunity to develop my interpersonal skills and gain knowledge that I can take with me in my future career in Nursing.

Best wishes,

Matthew Weir

Beryl Mansel, Director of the Swansea Student Leadership Academy, Student Leadership Programme Coach and Advisory Group member, shares her thoughts on the Programme.

The Council of Deans of Health in partnership with the Burdett Trust have introduced a two-year project aiming to develop and promote student’s leadership abilities. The Students Leadership Project objectives are to support 150 students of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals with leadership training, networking and mentoring.

I have been privileged to be part of the student’s leadership project as a co-facilitator for one group of students. As a co-facilitator of the student’s journey, I observed leadership characteristics and values of exceptional quality, such as passion and enthusiasm, to become better leaders and a desire to make a difference for their patients and service users.

The students engaged with the two-day event with great interest and demonstrated active listening with their peers. The depth and richness to their discussions was awe inspiring. The students openly shared real experiences which developed appreciation from the group and a great sense of respecting others was evident. Students shared their life changing events which were critical to their journey to the here and now. The energy and enthusiasm created by the room full of students united in becoming effective leaders was infectious and inspirational.

The notion of authentic leadership was embraced by the students however this was no surprise due to the exceptionally high degree of honesty and sharing, positivity and self-awareness within the room. It was recognised by the students that Emotional intelligence was an essential requirement in healthcare and a concept that they all appeared to embrace. Emotional Intelligence considers the awareness of self and others. The students demonstrated great interpersonal skills which are required to work in harmony with others demonstrating caring, compassion and empathy for each other. The sense I have is that the students have built a network of collaborative, supportive relationships which will foster own professional practice. The quality and safety of patient care can only improve when professionals collaborate equally with trust and respect for each other.

Working closely together the students were challenged to present their scenario-building posters which was somewhat outside their comfort zone. Yet the sense of a ‘safe psychological environment’ enabled the students to feel empowered. Working in small groups the students thrived on creativity, with coloured pens and paper, scissors and diagrams ‘taken back to childhood’ several students reported with delight.

I noticed the emotions within the student’s facial expressions which were evoked by the speaker’s stories. The students listened intently and were empowered to build upon their own self-confidence, openly able to feedback their own thoughts and feelings, accepting themselves as themselves. Accepting from one speaker that it was ‘ok to be vulnerable’ and have the self-awareness to recognise this endearing strength. This notion was highly valued by the students and evident within their feedback and discussions.

This high-quality student leadership programme and all involved under the great leadership of Katerina Kolyva and her wisdom was reported by all the students to be an enormous success. This was due to the sense that the students felt valued. The feeling that organisations such as the Council of Deans and the Burdett Trust appreciated their wish to learn more about effective leadership practice by placing such importance upon the students, in nurturing their leadership qualities and supporting their leadership journey.

The project must strive to continue to nurture these students in the future. Remind them where their intrinsic motivation and journey begun and continue to inspire and develop their desire and confidence to become great leaders within healthcare.

Beryl Mansel, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Swansea University

Earlier this year I decided to apply to the Council of Deans Student Leadership Programme, excited by the potential opportunity to learn from leaders in nursing and network with my new peers.  I have always had firm views about nursing care and ideas about how it needed to develop, but never felt like I was in a position which would allow me to develop and share these opinions.  After a considered application, I was excited and pleased to get accepted on to the course. On the 5 June I got on the train from Nottingham to Birmingham, looking forward to the next two days. The Student Leadership Programme was held on the 25^th floor of the Circle in Birmingham, which is next to the Mailbox and from the moment I walked in I knew I was part of an amazing opportunity.

On arrival, we were given a chance to network with each other and talk. It was enlightening and encouraging to learn how far people had travelled and hear their hopes for being part of the course. Conversation quickly turned to discussing the different courses we were on. Although all health professionals, it really struck me just how much we would be able to learn from each other; discussing not only the different ways trusts worked, but how different parts of the UK are different in terms of funding and focus. The first day went very quickly, with time spent in groups. The group I was in discussed leading a team, different types of leadership, and the different situations we could potentially find ourselves in after qualifying. It was motivational to be talking with likeminded people who could potentially already see ourselves making decisions about being in charge of a team.  People who are already beginning to pick up on the difficult choices that could arise in the workplace, and who were also considering the best way to manage these decisions.

Before a wonderful dinner, we were spoke to by Ismalia De Sousa, Clinical Nurse Specialist from a hyper acute stroke unit, who talked to us about ‘sitting at the table’.  I have reflected on this message and its importance often since. As a student, it is easy to feel like we’re not ‘at the table yet’, more waiting in the queue outside. This talk was important for me, it made me realise this is our time, as students, to make positive changes and to move forward with a fresh attitude towards patient care and doing our best for people.

The next day we checked out of the hotel early and headed back to the Circle. We started with Nigel Harrison, Dean at the University of Central Lancashire, who talked to us about his own journey into nursing. This was a wonderfully personal account and it was a real privilege to be able to listen to someone, with such an extensive career, still talk so enthusiastically about nursing. It was really heartening to listen to him with so much passion and drive. Adele Nightingale also spoke to us about resilience and I felt it was invaluable to get advice on this now. I feel this topic should be discussed with all students, as it could help us remember why we come into healthcare and that our focus, whatever our reason for this choice, should be for the good of our patients. Bouncing back is important, it is our ability to be resilient in a situation which reminds us it is not about us, it is about the patient we are looking after.

I feel the leadership programme, so far, is giving me the confidence to want to ‘sit at the table’; To bring and share my ideas and be part of an ever-changing healthcare system. I have learnt skills that I will use for the rest of my career, but more importantly, skills that I will be able to share with others to help their development. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to consider and work towards the type of nurse and leader I want to be and look forward to whatever the future brings.

Pippa Chillman