Below are some links to background reading that you may find useful -please feel fee to add you own links via the comments section.
Christina Patterson: More nurses, better paid than ever- so why are standards going down? - The Independant
Nursing is no longer the caring profession - The Telegraph
New forum must focus on the future and not look backwards - Nursing Times
It's not just a career, its a calling - Nurse Together
Reawaken your sense of vocationby remebering nursing history - NursingTimes
Summary by Teresa Chinn RN
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Post Chat Summary
The subject
of this NurChat was - Is nursing a calling? The chat started by asking exactly
that and NurChatters initial thoughts: Many felt that it was a calling for them
and some felt very strongly that it is both a calling and a career. Some distinction
was made between days gone by when nursing was seen as a calling and modern day
nursing careers starting with a university based education. A point was made
that perhaps a sense of vocation helps us to be great nurses.
It was then
asked if participants felt that a nurse was something we are as well as
something we do – a noun and a verb? Most participants wholeheartedly agreed
that it was.
It was also
raised if nursing was a personality trait? Some participants felt that their person
centred personalities helped with nursing
It was
mentioned that if nursing was a calling is that the reason for low pay and
would we do it for nothing? Some thought that low wages attracted people who
wanted to nurse for the right reasons, others tweeted that they would nurse as
volunteers as they loved it, and one participant tweeted do you have to do
something for free for it to be a calling? It was further discussed if our
calling may be the reason for our poor pay – in that we would happily do it for
nothing and this gives employers a point to exploit, some agreed with this and
felt that there were always those who will take advantage.
The role of
good mentors in nursing and how this shapes our ability to be good nurses was also
addressed; it was asked if NurChatters could remember a nurse they wanted to be
like? Most could but it was added that there were also those mentors that they
did not want to be like. Some disagreed that mentors did not help make good nurses
but show the way and bring out the best in us. It was also tweeted that leaders
are important and that they should set direction and inspire others and that
caring is infectious.
NurChat asked
if anyone was from a long line of nurses and if nursing was in our soul? many
participants reported that they were from a long line of nurses and some felt
very passionately that nursing is inbuilt in them. Many NurChatters reported that they wanted to
be nurses from young ages.
The X
factor in nursing was discussed and it was put forward that good communication
is vital – most agreed that this was a fundamental part of nursing.
To conclude
the chat NurChat tweeted “so we all came into nursing for different reasons be
it a calling or a career – why do we stay?” Participants had a variety of
answers ranging from it is in their heart and soul, some stated that they would
die happy and enriched, some believed that they were making a difference, some
liked to talk and some liked to see smiles. Most agreed with @Ramck001 when he tweeted “If
heaven exists nursing is probably a free pass for most of us”
This link was shared during this chat
PamNelmes007 This article
by Jenni (nursing times net) struck a chord with me today - adds value to
tonight's #nurchathttp://t.co/I3PPTPnz
Summary by Teresa Chinn RN
Summary by Teresa Chinn RN
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Chat transcript (via Storify)
