“Nurses are humans doing a fantastic job”
When I saw that sentence written on an evaluation form from a professional development session I facilitated recently at a care home, under the question “What was the most valuable thing you have learnt today?” it truly made my day. In amongst the variety of professional issues we had explored, this nurse had left recognising their value. My job that day was done!
During Care Home Open week the RCN is celebrating all the positives of care home nursing - we have been talking to members and will be visiting them over the week, as we work to promote the role and dispel myths around care home nursing. I will also be out and about visiting homes over the week and working alongside some too.
In the past year and a half, since taking on the role of Independent Sector and Community Adviser in RCN Wales, I have had the enormous privilege of connecting with nurses and health care support workers across Wales working in the independent sector and particularly care homes. Hearing their stories, listening to their challenges, and seeing their passion has been a wonderful reminder of what “fantastic humans” nurses are.
I knew this already of course having worked alongside incredible professionals in my career so far. My clinical background is in third sector palliative care services. I have worked in hugely professional and person centred teams caring for those in their most vulnerable end of life experiences. Having spent years nursing in the Independent Sector, I believe it’s important that all nurses, no matter where they work, get the recognition they deserve. When speaking with Care Home Nurses specifically this feeling of being undervalued comes through strongly. This has been felt particularly sharply in the context of the pandemic; where for a period, the work of care homes was highlighted, but still little has changed. Care Home nurses have a real desire to be seen as the skilled professionals they are, delivering person centred care in a home setting.
In my role as Independent Sector and Community Adviser, I have had the opportunity to influence on behalf of RCN members working in care homes and for care home nurses and health care support workers generally, which has been an exciting challenge. I have been able to enable members voices to be heard, sharing experiences on issues such as students placements in care homes and widening access to nurse education.
The need to be the voice for this group and change the narrative and perception of care home nursing is great and one in which I intend to continue investing my energies in. For Care Home Open Week 2022, this seems especially important. We need to help more nurses recognise their own value and shout about what skilled “humans doing a fantastic job” they are.
As I am out and about this week, please keep an eye on out for updates and reflections on social media! Happy Care Home Open Week to all our amazing care home nursing staff.