The journey to becoming a Nursing Now Young Nurse and beyond
In May 2019, Nursing Now gave 23 young nurses from around the world the opportunity to meet and take part in a two-day workshop to understand the processes that underpin global health policy development prior to the World Health Assembly.
In this series of case studies, we will get to know the 23 young nurses that took part in Nursing Now’s first Young Nurses event. These case studies will give us the opportunity to understand the motivation of the young nurses, and provide an insight into the motivation needed to become a young nurse leader.
“This desire to help people and relieve suffering is what drives me as a nurse.” Nuruddeen, Nursing Officer, Nigeria.
What is your motivation for being a nurse?
My motivation for being a nurse came from the need I saw for people to provide holistic care to reduce suffering, prevent disease and improve the health of people in my community. This desire to help people and relieve suffering is what drives me as a nurse.
What do you enjoy most about being a nurse?
Being a nurse has given me the opportunity to touch the lives of people in my community in many ways. I really enjoy helping people and improving their general well-being, this is what I most enjoy about being a nurse. I also enjoy the day to day challenges that I encounter in nursing, as they are what make me stronger, make me a better nurse.
What stage of your career are you currently in?
I am in the early stages of my career. I am a nursing officer.
What has helped you along the way?
My experiences in unionism, advocacy and leadership during my undergraduate study helped me a lot in developing ideas to contribute to global health initiatives. Moreover, joining international organisations has also provided me with the expertise and global networking skills that have contributed to my personal growth and development.
How did the Nursing Now Young Nurses Event help you in your career?
The Young Nurses Event gave me the opportunity to learn about healthcare delivery and global health policy. By participating in this event, I was also able to meet like-minded people and gain valuable contacts in the world of global health. I also learnt how young people can play an active role in health policy-making to achieve universal health coverage.
How did it motivate you?
The Young Nurses Event opened my eyes to the bright future ahead for the next generation of nurses, and also made me realise the potential I have as young nurse to be involved in leadership and policy making aimed at improving global health. It helped me to understand the importance of critical thinking in developing new strategies to address the current global health issues globally and locally in my country, Nigeria.
What would you like to achieve in your career?
My dream is that my voice will be heard and that I will be able to provide solutions to the problems that are devastating to the lives of people in my country and the world at large. I am passionate about contributing to global healthcare, especially in the areas that require nursing skills and other nursing interventions. I would like to work for an international health organisation that strives to provide solutions and advocates for policies that can address these issues.
My dream is to make the world a healthier and a better place to live for everyone.
What would your advice to other young nurses be?
Young nurses should identify the potential they have, seek more knowledge, carry out research, and look for opportunities that can help them professionally which could help to contribute to improving global health.
What do you think are the biggest challenges faced by young nurses today?
Young nurses are faced with many challenges which include the following among others;
- There is little to no opportunity for mentorship, career development and professional advancement.
- There is limited funding for local initiatives developed by creative young people to support their projects.
- Poor remuneration in work places and low autonomy in delivering services in health.
- Lack of involvement in policy and decision making in both local and international levels.
Why do you think that it is vital that the government invest in their young nurses?
Investment in young nurses is very important because young nurses are key players in providing creative and strategic solutions to our healthcare problems.
Young people are the drivers of change in the health sector and they possess the ability to innovate, create and develop high quality health services for people in need.
“I love that as a nurse I am equipped and entrusted to advocate for people at their most vulnerable.” Hayley, Student Nurse, New Zealand.
What was your motivation for becoming a nurse?
I have always had a heart for caring for people and serving others. Growing up my dreams and aspirations for the future revolved around the caring/health professions, like a nurse, midwife or doctor. After doing a pre-health year for medicine I realised that was not what I wanted to do with my life. I felt my skills, personality and aspirations were better suited for a more hands-on, relational, boots-on-the-ground pathway, so I transferred to nursing school and haven’t looked back!
What are you most looking forward to about being a nurse?
I love that as a nurse I am equipped and entrusted to advocate for people at their most vulnerable. I am able to channel my passion for equity and justice into caring and advocating for those who, for one reason or another, are unable to do so for themselves. It is empowering to know that I can support people in this way.
What stage of your career are you currently in?
I am a couple of months away from finishing my graduate programme, which is a one year transition-to-practice programme that Registered Nurses in New Zealand can do after graduating nursing school. I am working in primary care across a dual role as a practice nurse in a low-cost access clinic, as well as for a mobile community nursing service that works mainly with Maori communities.
Who has motivated/ helped you along the way?
I have been blessed with a number of incredible role models, the main one being my mum who used to be a nurse. The thing that inspires and motivates me the most about my mum is her heart for people. I have also made a number of close friends throughout my time at nursing school who have helped to get me through. I also owe a lot to one of my lecturers, Cindy, who guided me when I felt lost and encouraged me when I thought I couldn’t make it. She is an incredible nurse and an even better mentor. And last but not least my husband, Philip, who has kept me sane and motivated.
How did the Nursing Now Young Nurses Event help you in your career?
I cannot stress how much this experience has influenced the trajectory of my career. Before attending the Nursing Now Young Nurses Event I was passionate about my work and enjoying all the learning that was coming with it, but I didn’t have any idea where I was going with it. I had things I was passionate about and ideas of what I wanted to do, but I was yet to find the right path to channel this energy. Through this experience I now know what is out there in terms of opportunities for me, I have grown hugely in confidence, I have made some incredible connections both in New Zealand and globally, and now have an idea about the next step in my career, and it’s a really great feeling!
How did it help you?
First and foremost, this experience really helped me develop my confidence. Since returning from Geneva I have found myself seeking out and taking on more opportunities than before, like lecturing at my old nursing school or participating in a boardroom discussion with the PHO Nursing Director and clinical nurse leads. I have also connected with the CNO of our Ministry of Health, who has invited me to Wellington to discuss youth/novice nurse networking and the launch of Nursing Now in New Zealand. Lastly, and most significantly, I have decided to go back to university full time next year to take on a Masters in Health Leadership, majoring in Global Health. These achievements and outcomes are all thanks to the connections I made and the encouragement I received while in at the Nursing Now event in Geneva.
What would you like to achieve in your career?
I have a real passion for health equity, as well as empowerment and advocacy, especially in relation to vulnerable populations. Here in New Zealand our most vulnerable health consumers are Maori, Pacific Islanders and refugee populations. My dream would be to use my Global Health degree to work with Pacific countries to develop strategies for strengthening their health services/policies, as well as nursing education. I feel that we have a lot in the way of resources and connections here in New Zealand, that if applied to empowering the communities in these countries, will benefit Pacific people not only when they come to New Zealand, but in their home countries as well, ultimately driving us all towards universal health coverage.
What would your advice to other young nurses be?
Dream big and back yourself! Don’t let what others say about nursing hold you back from achieving what you want to achieve, nurses can be leaders, innovators and world-changers right from the beginning. It takes guts but if you are willing to speak up, put yourself out there, and take opportunities when they arise you will go far!
What do you think is the biggest challenge faced by young nurses today?
I feel the biggest challenge is that the doors not only are hard to open for young nurses, but hard to find. For the longest time I felt like I was stuck at point A, knowing I wanted to get to point B but with no clue of how to do so. I was given an incredible opportunity where the door was opened, but so many young nurses just don’t get those opportunities, or even know they are out there. We often hear people say, “Young people are the future leaders”, but they are also leaders now and need to be given opportunities to have their voices heard and develop their leadership skills right from the beginning of their careers.
Why do you think that it is vital that governments must invest in their young nurses?
I think it is very hard to convince stakeholders to invest in something that is not seen to be worth investing in by the people that hold the power. If governments prioritised and supported young nurse development, then funders would prioritise this also, giving DHBs and education facilities the resources to invest in their young nurses as well. The value that is young nurses needs to be recognised by us first and foremost, but also needs to be shown by our leaders if they really mean what they say about us being the future, which I really believe we are.
“Helping people makes me understand the real meaning of life and what good things we can do for other people.” Karma, Registered Nurse, Bhutan
What was your motivation for becoming a nurse?
My motivation for becoming a nurse was my passion for caring for people. Helping people makes me understand the real meaning of life and what good things we can do for other people.
What are you most looking forward to about being a nurse?
I want to climb the ladder of success through every act of nursing, teaching patients about prevention of disease and motivating young nurses to play an active role in improving global health.
One day, I would like to work as a senior medical nurse, I would like to advise less experienced nurses and help them on their nursing journey.
What stage of your career are you currently in?
I am currently a medical nurse in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH). I have to work 6 hours a day, 12 hours a night and I am a contract nurse.
Who has motivated/helped you along the way?
My parents have motivated and helped me throughout my nursing journey. I will always remain grateful to them, for their untiring help when I am down. They always boosted my energy when I was studying for my nursing degree. My husband has also been a great source of inspiration for me. He is always there when I need him. He is a nurse so he understands the challenges I face on a daily basis.
How did the nursing now young nurses event help you in your career?
The Nursing Now Young Nurses Event gave me a platform to show my talents as a nurse, to share ideas with nurses across the world and to understand different practices and methods of nursing. The Young Nurses Event also helped me to gain confidence to speak, as a female nurse, it is very difficult for me to speak out, but after attending the event, I feel empowered and I have a new-found confidence and self-esteem.
How did it motivate you/help you?
I love learning and I really enjoy this aspect of nursing. Everyday is a new opportunity to learn, and develop ideas.
This event taught me to believe in myself. There are many things that I can do for society, my community and country at large through sharing ideas and learning from those more experienced than me.
What would you like to achieve in your career?
I would like to develop my skills as a nurse, learn new practices so that I am able to deal with patients with ease.
I would like to be a very well respected nurse in the hospital. I would like to be an example for younger nurses and future nurses too. I would like to be a motivational figure.
What would your advice to other young nurses be?
My advice to young nurses would be to always remain calm and patient. They should always remind themselves about the career they have and its significance in society. Without health we have nothing, and without nurses we don’t have health. Nurses are the backbone of a healthy society.
What do you think is the biggest challenge faced by young nurses today?
I think that the biggest challenge faced by nurses today is that nurses have to work under pressure. We work long hours and the work is always intense. Other challenges are social stigma, people don’t seem to view nursing as a good job because they think nurses are doctor’s assistants, washing the cuts and injecting patients, but nurses do so much more and in my experience without a nurse, there is neither doctor nor patient, we nurses are the first person to see the patient and last one to leave them.
Why do you think that it is vital that governments must invest in their young nurses?
I believe that it is vital for all governments around the world to invest in their young nurses, hosting training and workshops for them so that they are always motivated.
Governments should invest in more colleges for nurses and midwifery, so that countries have increased capacity to provide nursing studies and education about health systems.
“If we nurses are involved in leadership and policy-making we can contribute more to improving global health.”
Joe, Senior Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Malawi.
What is your motivation for becoming a nurse?
My motivation to be a nurse started when I was young. I have always aspired to reach out and help people, not only by improving their health but also with other social services. This kind of thinking contributed to my ambition to be a nurse and midwife. I have always wanted to work among policy-makers so that I can easily advocate for the under-privileged.
What do you enjoy most about being a nurse?
Being a nurse should be looked at as beyond just providing basic nursing care to improve the well-being of people. There are some determinants of health that can be addressed through other means like advocating for policy change, innovative thinking or through providing new evidence from research findings. I am enjoying exploring these diverse avenues of the nursing profession.
What stage of your career are you currently in?
I have worked for seven years as a nurse and I am now a Senior Nursing and Midwifery Officer. My focus is on maternal healthcare and I am particularly interested in reducing the transmission of HIV between mothers and their children.
What has helped you along the way?
My Master’s programme was hugely helpful. The knowledge and skills I obtained through my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and Midwifery enabled me to contribute to local health interventions. However, my Masters in Public Health allowed me to acquire advanced expertise and contribute through scientific knowledge and evidence-based research and also to approach health problems holistically. The research skills gained through the studies will enable me to advocate for improved policies and practices through evidence-based approaches and help in protecting people from diseases and improve the health services delivery system in Malawi and the entire Sub-Saharan Region
How did the Nursing Now Young Nurses Event help you in your career?
In May 2019, I was privileged to attend the Nursing Now Young Nurses Event in Geneva. My experience in Geneva helped me to understand that nurses and midwives have a significant role to play if we are to achieve Universal Health Care. This workshop helped me to realise the need to involve nurses including the young nurses, in the decision making process.
How did it motivate you?
The event helped me to understand that if we nurses are involved in leadership and policy-making we can contribute more to improving global health. My experience at the World Health Assembly also triggered a paradigm shift in my perspective of how I look at a problem. I have learnt to be part of the solution, not the problem. I feel this is a very important perspective in addressing many challenges that we face in the nursing and midwifery profession.
What would you like to achieve in your career?
I want to contribute to improved living standards of the ordinary Malawians. I am passionate about improving healthcare in the area of Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission. I want to help reduce HIV transmission from HIV positive mothers to their infants and I hope to do this by formulating or advocating for policies that can address these issues.
What would your advice to other young nurses be?
Regarding my advice to fellow young nurse leaders, I would say that they need to have an open mind, and be prepared to accept any opportunity that comes their way. Meet new people and drive career progression. It is really important to have self-discipline, be focused and determined to achieve your career goals.
What do you think is the biggest challenge faced by young nurses today?
Over the course of my career to date, I have grown aware of numerous challenges that we face.
- There are few opportunities for advancement and inadequate education. This is a common problem in Malawi, for example, there are a lot of nurses who want to upgrade to a higher qualification but there are limited spaces in the colleges and universities as well as a lack of scholarships.
- Poor pay for nurses this results into nurses moving out of the public sector.
- Difficult working conditions with infrequent supervision and support; lack of essential drugs, supplies and equipment; limited career opportunities caused in part by rigid professional barriers; high and uneven workloads; lack of a clear deployment policy; and inequitable access to training and inadequate housing all contribute to low morale and frustration.
Why do you think that it is vital that governments invest in their young nurses?
It is important that governments invest in their young nurses because a more educated nursing workforce can help ensure that the nation has access to high-quality, patient-centred care. I think it is very important that national governments invest in young nurses because young people are the drivers of development. Young nurses have energy and innovative ideas that they want to bring to life over the course of their careers.
“The world is our oyster, and nursing is a global passport!”
Ciaran, Student Nurse, Ireland.
What was your motivation for becoming a nurse?
Medicine and healthcare were always in my bones. My mother has so many photos of me opening countless ‘Doctor’ sets for Christmas, or performing pretend surgery on my convalescent brother after having his appendix removed. As for nursing especially, I thought I wasn’t going to get the grades to be a doctor, so I made an appointment with my local GP Nurse to ask her advice about different routes into the hospital and she told me all about nursing. I loved everything about the job that she described and that day I put Nursing on my university application form. Over the last four years of training, my experience of nursing has lived up to those expectations and more.
What are you most looking forward to about being a nurse?
In October, I will start my first job as a newly qualified nurse in the Emergency Department (ED) of my current training hospital, St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin. I am really looking forward to the job and everything that comes with it. The ED is my favourite area in the hospital right now. I love the people, the pace, the type of work, the skills and the mind-set required to work there. In the future, I am looking forward to the different career paths that will be accessible to me because I am a nurse, especially in the political realm.
What stage of your career are you currently in?
I have nearly finished my training. I am in my 8th month of a nine month internship required before I am deemed as qualified and can graduate from university. I will qualify as a nurse this September and will start my first job as a graduate staff nurse in October.
Who has motivated you along the way?
So many people have motivated me during my journey to becoming a nurse. At the top of the list is definitely my mother. She is not a nurse, and she didn’t really know anything about nursing until I became one. I’d say she may have stepped foot in a hospital probably less than ten times in her life, but over the course of the last four years, every day after work or on my break when I have called her, she has been there for me, either sharing in the laughter and excitement, or telling me it will be ok, it will get better and to keep going. I couldn’t have got through it without her, because let’s face it, nursing training is tough.
Next on the list it has to be Aisha Holloway. I can’t believe my luck to have been given the opportunity to meet and build a rapport with Aisha. She is definitely the role model I aspire to be. She has opened my mind so much about the impact nurses can have beyond the bedside. Anytime I need advice I call Aisha.
How did the Nursing Now Young Nurses Event help you in your career?
The Nursing Now Young Nurses Event helped me in ways that I could never have anticipated! It has opened so many doors for me, I have been connected with so many fantastic people because of the pre-WHA, and I am now involved in many cutting-edge discussions and projects, working to engage with young nurses and encourage them to practice to their full potential and be leaders in their profession. The motivation to do this came from the encouragement I received from the Nursing Now team at the Young Nurses Event Geneva.
This event made me realise the many avenues available to me in my future, and it opened my eyes to a whole new area I had never even considered pursuing outside of the clinical setting: Global Public Health.
How did this event help you?
I had the opportunity to meet some fantastic people. The excitement and enthusiasm was contagious. We were encouraged to immerse ourselves fully in the experience, and not waste a second. When I was on the plane on my way home, of course, I felt nostalgic about all the new friends I had just made, but I felt overwhelmingly empowered to bring this energy back home and make a difference.
What would you like to achieve in your career?
With nursing, there are so many options! If I have learned one thing over the past few months, it’s that plans can change in a heartbeat without warning. One thing I know for sure is that as per my clinical practice, I am not done with Critical Care for now. With that said, I very much hope to see the UN and WHO on my CV in the next ten years.
What would your advice to other young nurses be?
My advice would be “Go for it!” and “Don’t be afraid to branch out!” So many times I have heard people say to me, “What do you know about politics/ policy, you’re a nurse!” Well, what I say to those people is, why not?! Why wouldn’t nurses branch out and develop non-traditional expertise! Nurses are natural-born leaders, they just have to be reminded of that. The world is our oyster, and nursing is a global passport!
What do you think is the biggest challenge faced by young nurses today?
I think one of the biggest challenges is lack of autonomy in practice. I think nurses in general, especially young nurses, should be encouraged to practice to the top of their licence, and should be encouraged to think and practice autonomously, which is contrary to what I’ve seen in some practice areas where nurses are expected to leave almost all of the decision making responsibility to their medical colleagues, out of fear of being held accountable or making a wrong decision.
Why do you think that it is vital that governments invest in their young nurses?
I think nurses are an undiscovered resource. Nurses have so much to offer if they were only encouraged to explore the bigger picture.
“I feel equipped with the skills to make sure that my voice is heard.”
Tracey, Student Nurse, Barbados.
What was your motivation for becoming a nurse?
As a child I loved watching TV programmes about hospitals and medicine. In my teenage years, I realised I was interested in becoming a nurse. I liked the idea of having hands- on, daily interaction with patients, and being able to nurse them from sickness back to health.
When I saw my aunt deteriorate very quickly due to Breast Cancer, I became even more motivated to understand how the disease process works and how it can be treated.
What are you most looking forward to about being a nurse?
I am looking forward to watching my patients get better, and seeing them functioning on the optimal wellness end of the Health- Wellness continuum.
What stage of your career are you currently in?
I am going into my 4th and final year of the BSc General Nursing at the Barbados Community College, in Barbados.
Who has motivated you along the way?
A lot of my motivation comes from my faith. In addition, my spouse, family and friends have also been a great source of inspiration.
How did the Nursing Now Young Nurses Event help you in your career?
The Nursing Now Young Nurses Event changed my life completely and I am absolutely honoured to have been a part of such a prestigious event. My thinking and approach to global issues and challenges changed immediately. Having taken part in this event, I am more aware of the process of policy development and how to influence global health policy makers. I feel equipped with the skills to make sure that my voice is heard, and I now have a better understanding of what it takes for young individuals to be involved in global health.
How did this event help you?
It helped me to be more aware of the process of policy development; how to influence global health policy makers; how to make my voice be heard; what it takes for young individuals to be involved in global health.
What would you like to achieve in your career?
In my career, I am aiming to become a young nursing pioneer and excel in the fields of midwifery, research, education and administration. I would like to raise awareness about the wonderful profession of nursing in order to ensure that the nursing fraternity continues to grow. I would like to contribute to improving access to educational tools, which includes research based projects that promote continuous evidence-based practice and increased leadership programmes for young nurses.
What would your advice be to other young nurses?
Being a young nurse is often a challenge. We now have the difficult transition from being a student to a practising nurse. My advice would be, do not let the thought of this challenge deter you.
I believe that when an individual pursues a profession in nursing, they are doing so as a calling. They are very caring, passionate, patient and understanding. Intelligent and capable of carrying out medical procedures and calculating medication, and kind-hearted and empathetic to cry with a patient who has been diagnosed with a fatal disease. Nursing is a prestigious profession, keep at it and never give up!
What do you think is the biggest challenge faced by young nurses today?
I think the biggest challenge is the lack of support from senior staff at the local and international level.
Prior to the Nursing Now Youth Event, I wasn’t aware of any platforms for young nurses to come together as a group to discuss issues, share experiences and best practices. The lack of leadership opportunities within nursing is definitely a challenge.
Why do you think that it is vital that governments invest in their young nurses?
I think that it is vital for governments to invest in their young nurses. Young nurses are the future and they are the ones who will lead the way and care for the ageing population. Investment is essential to eradicate the current nursing staff shortages around the world.
