Are you proud of yourself?

Inspired by the recent article by Michelle Mello and Jane Cummings, who asked the nursing workforce what we can do to ensure we continue to improve quality for every individual and highlight our justifiable pride in our profession; my call to action as Head of Nursing in a busy mental health trust, is to share with Nursing Times, the PRIDE nursing message.

We used Nurses Day to launch our key nursing message:

• PROFESSIONAL
• RESPECT
• INNOVATION
• DIGNITY
• EFFECTIVE

Every nurse within the trust was invited to the launch of PRIDE in the form of a series of showcase events delivered by the nursing leadership team and supported by members of the trust board. 

At a time when the NHS is undergoing significant change, PRIDE has enabled nurses in our organisation to take a step back and reflect on roles and responsibilities whilst gathering individual and collective energy to make the simple changes that often make the biggest improvements. We would like to energise colleagues across the nation with our key PRIDE messages. 

But what does this really mean?

We prepared and issued a ‘PRIDE pack’ to all nurses within our trust. This included descriptions of a range of best practice nursing tools i.e. essence of care benchmark for respect and dignity, NMC standards, High Impact Actions, principles of nursing practice endorsed by the RCN, NMC and DH. The PRIDE pack was issued in a PRIDE bag with our PRIDE at the Heart of Nursing logo which nurses now utilise within their day to day activities. 

Our PRIDE reflective learning logs have been developed as a local tool whereby nurses can reflect on their contribution and record their activity as evidence of individual and team contributions as we all strive to continue making a real difference for patients and carers. 

As Head of Nursing, I feel proud to have seen the positive response to the PRIDE initiative from ward to board. The PRIDE packs have been very positively evaluated by nurses.

As nurse leaders we need to consider our call for action and think of straightforward and creative ways to engage our nursing workforce, increase their sense of self-worth and feeling valued. 

Advice for others planning similar initiatives: 

• High energy leadership approach required
• Seek senior organisational support from the outset
• Sense check ideas with frontline staff
• Plan launch events well in advance and engage the wider resources within your organisation i.e. Communications team
• Think of simple straightforward logos and messages i.e. PRIDE AT THE HEART OF NURSING
• Create a practical resource that contains totally relevant information so that nurses find it helpful at practice level
• Ensure you have a good feedback network i.e. PRIDE evaluation sheets
• Ensure that your initiative has a real learning buzz about it i.e. PRIDE reflective log
• Plan next steps and deliver on the plan engaging a Ward to Board approach
• Share the learning across the wider health economy
• Create an award category reflecting your initiative

I cannot stress enough the importance of Trust Board support and am so proud to be able to share in concluding this article that the organisation has now created the Chairman’s PRIDE Award. 

The award will acknowledge those who have taken action to embody the principles of PRIDE – Professional, Respect, Innovation, Dignity, Effectiveness.  Recognising those who take significant PRIDE in their work and have gone above and beyond to help others and demonstrate true commitment and dedication not only to providing the very best in Mental Health services during work, but also in raising awareness of mental health issues throughout their day to day activities.

The PRIDE approach demonstrates my call to action as a Head of Nursing within a mental health trust. PRIDE is here to stay at the heart of nursing. 

Alison Geeson is the Head of Nursing in Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

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