. Abstract/Summary
This summary is ordered into 4 key headings: –
- My personal leadership development
- The patient care improvement project
- Career leadership objectives
- Personal Reflection
1.1 My personal leadership development
During the course of the year I have had an objective to develop resilience specifically ‘resilience in professional leadership’ in relation to not only my day to day work but delivering the strategic element of my role. This has required a review of both myself as an individual and as a professional.The on going work requires me to ensure that individual staff remain a central part of the process of any change required and that the Trust as a whole will engage in sustained development and change, whilst at the same time looking to the future.1.2 Influences on clinical practice
During the course of the scholarship I have developed a number of key areas of practice, which have been due both technical and experiential learning through the courses undertaken as well as a successful study tour to Australia. Having spent a considerable time with staff at all levels looking at the way in which they approach their day to day work, as well as with executive leads, with a focus on the strategic direction of nursing I believe I have a better understanding of the changes required to advance professional practice and my role within this.
The progression of the registered nursing workforce highlights for me how we currently assume that by placing a uniform on an individual they are capable and competent to work at the next level. I realise that this is far from the truth and that as a profession we must seek to challenge and change this.
I have reviewed a number of posts within the health care system both here and in Australia, which really seem to develop staff and were aligned to specific areas but focused on professional clinical skills. This has made me consider how we model our responsibilities and what we can do with both our existing roles and vacancies and currently feel that developing a programme of improvement might be better placed in a broader way. Culture is key to this, which is about making ‘things right’ for staff and ultimately patients who are central to skilled compassionate care.
In the development of this wider vision a couple of key areas have been developed. The year has seen the development and embedding of values based recruitment and also Schwarz rounds. Both of these areas have been developed during the course of the year to offer support to the wider picture of making the trust a place where people wish to work.
Because of the interdependencies it is critical to look at both the ‘safe’ professional / career development within the whole nursing workforce but also the retention of staff. The key to this is ensuring that staff feel that they have career progression, share the same values as the organisation and feel supported to do what can be challenging roles.
1.3 Career leadership objective
One of the points in my learning contract was to seek opportunities to develop myself and my career, which I believe I have done, however, I still have more to do. I have been able over the last 12 months to look at my performance and strongly believe that this programme has enabled me to develop and structure my thinking to enable me to work at a higher level, however I believe that in order to sustain this development I need to look at a programme of coaching with scholarship money.
This will enable me to see how I can ‘step up’ with the ability to think more clearly and strategically, with clarity of my own strategic direction and vision.
The purpose of this will be to seek fresh perspectives on my current personal challenges at work. I also want to look at enhancing my decision-making skills, greater interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence. I envisage the outcome of this will be appreciable improvement in productivity, satisfaction with life and work, and the attainment of relevant goals.
1.4 Personal Reflection
Having considered the learning from my Australia study tour and the challenges of the year at work, I feel privileged to have been able to step back and reflect on the achievements and challenge! I have felt that at times the balance of the work that has to be done versus the strategic pieces has significantly impacted on my ability to undertake the creative elements. This has frustrated me however although is may take a little longer the creativity cannot be stifled for long!
I have been asked on three occasions to meet with groups outside of the trust to discuss my work both with the Florence Nightingale and my Burdett Scholarship and this has been a privilege and honor.
I now realise that I need to step back and have ‘down time’ away from the trust by enabling others to own and lead agenda’s. It does did not fall to pieces and there has a genuine welcome on my return from the teams. I afforded myself the luxury of talking with people and having space and time. I realise there is creativity in me that has not seen daylight for some time, however the challenges of working in the high pressured arena currently has led me to question the ability to make changes that I feel need to be done but will not yield immediate returns. I think this is about my compelling story, but I need to ensure that those listening believe and hear what I say, and sign up to the longer-term vision.