Passion, Pride and Commitment: the 6Csy way
Joan Pons Laplana, RGN - Proud Nurse, NHS Change Day Care Maker
Something magic happened in Leicester on the 23rd January. A 6Cs event that rather blew the socks off all who attended…
A 6Csy day
We know the NHS is going through a tough time, and one of the biggest issues is the lack of engagement and low moral in its frontline staff. We constantly reminded that we need to work more efficiently and effectively, to do more with less; managers are asking us to go the extra mile on a daily basis, but unless the frontline staff feel supported and engaged, this will not happen. Why? Well, when you ask frontline staff how they feel, a word keeps repeating: Stress! When your stress goes up, your passion automatically goes down, and the ability to go the extra mile disappears.
My intention with 6Csy day was to reignite the passion in frontline staff. The event was designed with two sections. On the 1st floor, the speakers inspired everyone; tears and goose-bumps were a feature of the day! We talked about all the hot topics; equality, diversity, the new NMC Code, resilience, social media, change and Mental Health...
Downstairs was the ‘Action Area’, comprising exhibitors who were there to help empower frontline staff and unleash their full potential. The only requirement of delegates was that they committed to at least one of these actions:
- join twitter
- join HCVoices
- become a PFD Champion or a Care Maker
- enrol on a Leadership Academy Course
- make a pledge for Change Day
- become a Change Agent with the School of health and Care Radical
- do your profile
...Basically I wanted to create a sense of community.
My hope was that the ‘upstairs’ crowd would spark the passion of the delegates, while the ‘downstairs crowd would give them the tools to try to sustain the passion and make you feel proud of what you do. My intention was to empower all of you. As health workers we have the power and make a difference and transform lives - that’s why I became a nurse in the first place.
The whole day allowed people to connect with each other, creating a group of people with a common set of values and beliefs; we didn’t know each other, but somehow we all shared the same values and we all cared. And when you surround yourself with people who believe what you believe, something magic happens. Trust emerges, and when we have trust we become more confident, we are able to take more risks, experiment and explore knowing that somebody in your ‘community’ will watch your back, help when we fall and be there for us. That is the true power of a community and I am a clear example.
People came from all over the country, and to my delight, nearly all were frontline staff. My fear that the room would be empty was unfounded! The day showed me that people still hunger for events like 6Csy, that the passion and commitment still there. I haven’t stopped smiling since.
And this all relates to the 6Cs – they are for everyone, and they are everywhere. At this event I wanted to show that they are related to everything we do. For me, they are the values that somehow I lost during my career, and have helped me to fall in love again with my profession. They are not an add-on, they are the pillars of our profession. Without them it doesn’t make sense, you getting lost in the complicated labyrinth that is today’s NHS. While they may be akin to Marmite – you either love them or hate them. I love them, but I respect the people who are dubious about them - they are not a panacea, but they definitely had help people like me that otherwise will have left the profession.
Conclusion
My intention was to put the fire back onto people’s tummy and start a journey together to try to reignite our passion and create ripple effects. I wanted to remind them why they become a health worker in first place. Looking at the incredible feedback I had from the day I can say that I accomplished that mission, and that the people went home with their tales wagging. The photographs speak for themselves…
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8b7wnz1f0qixhob/AACxEewLoHkXmwD7mmTF56GKa?dl=0
As do the Tweets:
But that was the easy part. As Deborah Glover said during the event, it’s very easy to sustain the momentum for a short period, but the problem is how to sustain the passion and excitement for the long-haul? (there goes my gong for services to nursing…, Deborah)
I am on a mission to turn the healthcare system upside down and empower frontline line staff & patients to lead together but I cannot do it on alone. I need all of you. Together we can make a difference. Want to join me?
The Editor’s View….
As Joan said, something magic happened in Leicester on the 23rd January. No, the Tigers didn’t play, nor were any further bits of King Richard found under a car park; what happened was something I haven’t felt or seen at a conference in a long time.
PASSION!
Since qualifying in 1983 I have attended many, many conferences and study days, and over recent years, I have the impression that some delegates are attending because they feel they have to. Or because it’s their speciality and it’s a good opportunity to just catch-up with co-specialists, and who cares about the speakers – after all, we know this stuff already. So yes, conferences and study days can feel quite flat and ‘what’s the point’ sometimes.
But this one was different. I’ve already alluded to my change of heart regarding the 6Cs (https://pcnr.co.uk/articles/125/what-have-the-6cs-done-for-us-with-apologies-to-monty-python), so was delighted when Joan asked if PCNR would like to come and exhibit. I had already quietly registered as a delegate, but welcomed the opportunity to show how PCNR was supporting nurses. To be honest, I was expecting another ‘same old, same old’, although I knew that Joan (and Maria Davison!) was going to be Tigger-ish based on his emails prior to the event.
But hey! It wasn’t as I expected at all (apart from the Tigger behaviour). What a great atmosphere, what a great buzz. Nurses were smiling and laughing, engaging with both the exhibitors and the speakers. So many questions to ask and so many comments to hear. If it has been a 48 hour event, there still wouldn’t have given enough time to deal with them!
I came away feeling proud to be a nurse – indeed, I almost felt compelled to go back into practice until I realised that my general decrepitude wouldn’t really inspire confidence in sick people…
So, what I sincerely hope is that those who signed up to an action undertook that action, and those that just came away feeling good about nusing and the NHS can keep that momentum and passion alive in the face of the nay-sayers, and show the world what nursing is about.
Well done Joan, Maria and everyone else involved.
People came from all over the country, and to my delight, nearly all were frontline staff. My fear that the room would be empty was unfounded! The day showed me that people still hunger for events like 6Csy, that the passion and commitment still there. I haven’t stopped smiling since.