The application of computational mathematics to articulate nursing practice.

Liz Robb & the Trustees of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, Sue Neville, Richard Beazley,  Judith Ellis,  Mary Saunders, Abi Masterson, Susan Oliver, Paul Trevatt and my fellow scholars.

I’m a scientist and registered nurse. I worked in oncology for many years as a CNS primarily in lung cancer. I have an eclectic academic background in science and medicine but have a particular interest in the physical sciences and mathematics. For the past few years I have been using different math techniques such as looking for patterns in the work of advanced specialist nurses to explain the complexity and value of the work they do and on small projects like such as optimum case-load calculations. I wanted to apply what I had learnt in doing this work to some of the bigger issues like safe staffing, workforce modelling and complexity of care. Encounters I have had with decision makers in this area often left me wondering about the assumptions that were made about nursing care-as a series of tasks done in sequence when the reality is somewhat different.

The scholarship has helped me in two ways. The first was technical. I had reached the limit of my knowledge in the area and so I was able to fund a visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston to take part in the advanced study programme. I got the chance to meet and work with world class modellers in areas like retail, healthcare, science and engineering. The second, was to help me develop as a person. I have had coaching, participated in leadership programmes, returned to MIT to the Sloan School of Management, attended RADA to help me refine public speaking, built a supportive a network and made a huge amount of contacts around the world. I’m now working on different models particularly workforce models and looking at the complexity of care. I’ve also helped build a resource for the specialist community who are often quite isolated called Apollo www.apollonursingresource.com.

I was particularly inspired by the motto of MIT “Mens et Manus” or Mind and Hand. I am concerned that although the virtues of nursing are celebrated the knowledge and expertise is often diminished and this devalues the contribution nurses make to care. I am also concerned that much of the time the profession is silent in this regard. Alongside research and modelling activity I have developed a passion for telling the complete nursing story as one of triumvirate head, heart and hands.

I don’t fit into a conventional “box” and the fact that FNF still supported me is truly inspirational. The scholarship has been the most rewarding time in my career.