New student? What's that? You're worried about your finals!

For a new student nurse, mention of your finals, as in, exams - seems a world-away. After a paroxysmal attack of fear (and motivation!), time resolves. "It's fine. I can relax. We're good!"

Especially so in the pre-Project 2000 days (Swaby, 2021), when nurse education was conducted in more local schools of nursing. You could be forgiven for feeling reassured that there's plenty of time; if your first step was to work as a nursing assistant (or cadet) prior to starting as a student.

Then all of a sudden, you can point to many wornout shoes. You've been busy; helped run a ward, a caseload, a team, and raised a family. And, while the NHS, nursing, society, and much else besides have continued their relentless pace of change, change and more change.

You blink,* look again and you're starting what will be your final 3-year period of nurse registration. What this will bring: who knows?

Kelly Swaby (2021) Did Project 2000 fulfil the intention set out by nursing’s leadership to create
a profession of highly educated practitioners. Thesis.
https://pure.hud.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/70492399/Swaby_THESIS.pdf

*'Blink' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f0p5KqdU9U

Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service

Supporting nurses and midwives to promote health, improve care and save lives Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service

The second group of public tickets for the Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service will be available at 13:00 GMT on 24 March. Click the button below as soon as possible after this time, to complete the form to apply. 

You will be able to request a maximum of 2 tickets and you will need to complete the form with your name and email address. If you are requesting two tickets you will also need to give the name and email address of the second person. 

Please note that if you provide guest details they will then receive an email with an invitation and will need to RSVP themselves in order to secure their ticket. 

If you have further queries please visit our Frequently Asked Question page.

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On Wednesday in Waterstones, Deansgate, Manchester, I spotted this book. Opening it randomly - I kid you not - it fell to pp.204-205, and Florence Nightingale's contribution.

The Mathematicians' Library The Books That Unlocked The Power Of Numbers

'At that time, the idea of visualizing data in order to make its messages clearer to non-mathematicians (including politicians) in order to change minds and inform opinions had started to gain traction in Europe but was not common in England. Nightingale continued to use statistical diagrams to communicate stories hidden in data, and while this clearly contributed to improvements in health and mortality in British military encampments at home and abroad (and by extension in the population in general), it is also undoubtedly the case that she helped to popularize the use of appropriate data visualization methods to expand the reach of statistical information beyond specialist audiences. A testament to the influence of her work is that the Royal Statistical Society had the honour of accepting Florence Nightingale as their first female member in 1859.' p.204.

 

Thomas K. Briggs. (2025) The Mathematicians' Library The books that unlocked the power of numbers Hardback. Part of the Libri Historici series. Ivy Press.

 

Previously: 'Nightingale' : 'math' 

My source: Waterstone, Deansgate, Manchester and email Florence Nightingale Foundation.

'The Trip' - learning about Kay Parley RIP

Five prompts drew me to BBC Radio's 'The Trip':

1. the ongoing tenor of 'discussion' on twitter;
2. the ongoing history and future development and evolution of psychoactive, psychedelic medicines as treatments, running concurrently, or not with psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions (PSI);
3. being mindful of keeping up-to-date;
4. what is the temperature within critical psychiatry / mental heath / mental illness / well-being?
5. and how does all this 'sit' within Hodges' model?

As a student registered mental heath nurse, we learned about the historical introduction of chlorpromazine and other drugs, the difference they made to 'care' and the side-effects.

Pharmacology is dynamic. Atypical antipsychotics are now available. But this series, as the title confirms is about psychedelics and history from 08:30.

The episode highlights the importance of how sessions are delivered. Key points, given the additional pressures (UK) upon intakes for student nurse places for learning disability and mental health, plus questions about the status of these courses within university-based nurse education. If not already aware, the episode concludes with the role of a mental health nurse who died in May. Have a listen about Kay Parley.

THE TRIP - BBC Radio

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002gqxs

It would have been marvellous to meet, speak to Nurse Parley. The episode has it's objectives of course, but there are values here. We are all test pilots, researchers.

"The American Journal of Nursing February 1964:

No role, is so welcomed on our psychiatric unit, as that of sitting with a patient during LSD therapy. This indicates that the treatment has value." ...

"Kate Parley passed away in May, so our last words will be hers. Words she would say to her patients at Weyburn, all those years ago.

'You are off on a trip with no baggage, no destination and no compass. That's why I'm here. I can't go with you, but I can be your anchor.

Wherever you go, you'll always be able to see me. I'll be the nurse who sits beside your bed. Taking notes and playing your records.

You'll never lose touch with me. Seeing me, you'll know, you are really in hospital and that you'll be back to Earth about 4 o'clock. I will send you signals too, to encourage your explorations.

I will remind you of places you longed to revisit and events you hope to scan.'"

PARLEY, KAY. Supporting the Patient. AJN, American Journal of Nursing 64(2):p 80-82, February 1964. 

https://www.openurses.org/_files/ugd/52de8b_870deaa149e842d286e76131b1321285.pdf

https://andrewpenn.substack.com/p/in-memoriam-kay-parley-rpn-registered

Todd, Betsy MPH, RN. Supporting the Patient on LSD Day. AJN, American Journal of Nursing 121(6):p 42-44, June 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000753656.16844.a9 

ICN - Definition of 'Nursing' & 'a Nurse'

Renewing the Definitions of
 'Nursing' and 'a Nurse'  

 Defining 'nursing' and 'a nurse' has always had a place in both theory and practice. This is one thing that can bridge the theory-practice gap, but still needs to be explained and made sense of. Especially when the values that underpin our definitions are challenged by social, political, physical and attitudinal change.

 

Of course see the report for the latest definitions. 

Previously:

'nursing' : 'nurse' : 'definition' :

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HUMANISTIC  --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

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PERSON-CENTRED CARE  Ack. Identity of Others Balance Subjective - Objective  Care for and Compensate for Emotional and Psychological Needs Knowledge and (Interpersonal) Skills Emotional labour, Compassion, Courage Self-Awareness - Competence (recognise limits), When/If stressed :: Act for Safety of All, Please See your Strengths too! Commitment Active Listening - Attention Mentor Students - Newly Qualified Nurses Philosophical stance Ethics & Values Exercise Emotional Literacy Collaborate when possible Supoport Self Care improve Health Literacy

PERSON-CENTRED CARE Care for and Compensate for Physical Needs  Skills and Knowledge of Sciences, Technology, Devices, treatments, drugs, procedures, processes Seek Evidence-based Care and Record Observational Acuity Situational Awareness Anticipate Needs Foster SELF CARE - 'See' Strengths, Recovery' - and PLANETARY HEALTH Be aware of Information Disorder Assure Parity of Esteem Document Care - Gather Data for Reporting/Research/Outcomes Consider Patient's/Individual's Journey - Health Career

PEOPLE-CENTRED - Inclusive Seeing Others and Promote Wellbeing of Colleagues inc. All Students/Newly Qualified Professionals Understand (your) Community  as Resource & needing Care Recognise Family - Friends but ensure Confidentiality Exercise Empathy & Rapport Seek Public Involvement Public Safety & Protection Maintain Professional Confidentiality See Person as a 'Whole' - Integrate Care Advocate for Social Justice Exercise Duty of Candour Seek Psychological Safety for all Team Work Relationally within/across  Communities of Practice - Foster Therapeutic Relationships Envision Patient at 'Home' in the Community - Seek re-housing placement as early as possible

SERVICE-CENTRED CARE Advocate for Equity, Equality in Access to Care and Universal Health Coverage Seek to Assure Safety of Self, Colleagues  & Public (1st Rule of 1st Aid) esp. in Conflict Environments - Refugees/Migrants Nursing - Profession - Registered Protected Occupational Title Seek Supervision & Feedback Manage Services Seek to Improve Quality - Monitor Policy Security of Care Environment, Data, Record, Confidentiality (Vigilance across the domains*) Practice as per Professional Standards,  Code of Conduct Ack./work to reduce impacts of ALL Determinants of Health to increase Sustainability Accountability - Transparency Continuing Professional Development Revalidation of Registration/Licensing Advocate for Future Generations - Humanity Population & Biospheric Health

*This is why nursing, being a nurse is 'emotional labour'.

Hodges' model can be embedded within the SPIRITUAL, as per cultural and situational context.

P.S. By the way, if anyone asks - you can just be 'a nurse'.

White, J., Gunn, M., Chiarella, M., Catton, H., Stewart, D., (2025). Renewing the Definitions of 'nursing' and 'a nurse'. Final project report, June 2025. International Council of Nurses.
https://www.icn.ch/resources/nursing-definitions/current-nursing-definitions

... Feathers ... Light ... Corners

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I love you mum You named me 'Peter' ... Grief, is indeed -	Yesterday, I saw a kestrel and a sparrow hawk .                          . - a thing with feathers
... but it was always you, you are still - the rock - my rock - the reason I'm a nurse ... family community humanity	... and why I will continue to explore and follow ...

"Using Hodges’ model to prove light can travel around all the methods corners" ...

I cannot see you but I know you are there Crux.

Book: "In Search of Mary Seacole"

 INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC -----------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

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Community - GROUP - Population   

Mary	In Search of Mary Seacole
Seacole "Known by the British Troops in Crimea as 'Mother Seacole', she was a nurse, pharmacist, humanitarian, businesswoman and patriot."	The Turkish Order of the Medjidie French Legion of Honour British Crimea Medal

 

Photo taken in Richard Booth's Bookshop, Hay-on-Wye, 19th February 2022.

Owolade, T. (2022) The myth of Mother Seacole, Culture, The Sunday Times, 13 February, p.22.

 

Raymonda ...

... Care Aesthetics :: Care Architecture :: 

Care Choreography :: Care Design :: Care Journeys ...

"An epic journey of love and courage.

Taking inspiration from the ground-breaking spirit of Florence Nightingale and the women who supported the war effort in Crimea, Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, creates a new version of the classic story ballet, Raymonda.

England, 1854. Raymonda runs away from her comfortable life to become a nurse in the Crimean War. There, she becomes engaged to a soldier, John, but soon develops feelings for his friend Abdur, a leader of the Ottoman army. As turmoil grows around and inside her, who will she give her heart to?

Starring a huge cast of dancers and a full orchestra, this lavish adaptation keeps the best of the 19^th-century original – its glorious and sensuous score by Alexander Glazunov and the classical choreography of ballet genius Marius Petipa – and updates it with a dramatic new story.

Introducing a heroine in command of her own destiny, and celebrating the courage of nurses and women who fought for emancipation, this beautiful production is guaranteed to thrill, move and inspire.

The original Raymonda is very rarely performed in the UK, where no dance company performs it in its entirety. This highly-anticipated version marks Tamara Rojo’s debut in directing and choreographing, building on her illustrious career as dancer and artistic director.

..."

https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/raymonda/

The Trailblazing Nurses of the Crimean War

My source: RCN Bulletin 394: Winter 2021, p.26.

 

Petition "Protect the title Nurse in UK law"

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	"The term nurse can be used by anyone in the UK. They can use this term to offer professional advice and services even if they have no nursing qualifications, experience or have been struck off a professional register." More details

My source (and signed):

Anyone in the UK can call themselves a nurse. Even if they have no nursing qualifications or experience. They can even call themselves a nurse if they have been struck off. This is a #PatientSafety issue
If you are concerned too please sign #ProtectNurse https://t.co/FD9MS1JZpu

— Prof Alison Leary 💙 (@alisonleary1) June 15, 2021

Health for All Film Festival still available c/o GANM

Dear Colleagues,

WHO HQ is delighted to share with you that the Health for All Film Festival still available for replay at www.who.int/film-festival in three languages, and would like to call your attention to the GRAND PRIX, an animation about a dedicated nurse (Phosphoros)? A student from El Salvador made this emotional film.

The above link contains a player with the six sessions of the event being accessible directly, and this helps now the public look at the portion they are interested in. You can easily access the playlist of winning films at:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9S6xGsoqIBWS_JUFdjXpdvLL86R_8VQq 

Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centers for Nursing and Midwifery Secretariat
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205
E. son-whocc AT jhu.edu
W. globalnetworkwhocc.com

Source: https://groups.ibpnetwork.org/g/global