As we celebrate the 70thbirthday of the NHS, a new campaign has been launched to transform perceptions of nursing and midwifery. The aim of this campaign is not only to raise the profile of nurses and midwives, but also to improve recruitment and retention. ‘Transforming Perceptions of Nursing and Midwifery’ was launched in May by Professor Jane Cummings, the Chief Nursing Officer for England, and includes twelve 30-day challenges to keep the momentum going for a full year. You can register for the challenges here: https://nhs70.crowdicity.com/category/26150 
The next challenge is to write a blog, and so I’m using this blogging challenge to celebrate this achievement and innovation in nursing and share the word with Phi Mu members about this exciting campaign!
And, while we’re on the subject of achievement and innovation in nursing, I’d like to remind of President Tigges’ Call to Action: Connect, Collaborate and Catalyse. These link so beautifully with some of the 30-day challenges, that I will be teaming up with the Student Nurse Project to host a series of tweet chats, to explore and discuss the wider implications of these, and I really hope you can join in!
At the end of September, in line with the challenge to add your title and qualification to your social media bio, we’ll be tweeting to connect. You can prepare now for this tweet chat, Digital competence for connections in nursing, by following @phimuchapter @SigmaNursing @StNurseProject @PUNC16Felicity and adding a Sigma Twibbon to your profile: https://twibbon.com/support/sigma-nursing Remember, it’s about connection, so reach out if you need help! And remember the hashtags #STTI #FutureNursing #StNProject
At the beginning of November, linking with the senior nurse challenge to have conversations with every team, we’ll be tweeting to collaborate. The title of this tweet chat is Collaboration as an essential leadership skill, and if you can’t wait until November, you can get involved in leadership through Sigma
- International Leadership Institute https://sigmanursing.org/learn-grow/leadership-new/international-leadership-institute
- Institute for Global Healthcare Leadership https://www.sigmanursing.org/connect-engage/our-global-impact/institute-for-global-healthcare-leadership/
And, at the beginning of December, we’ll be tweeting to , promoting mentorship and reverse-mentorship in nursing. This tweet chat, Transformation through mentorship, will discuss different forms of mentoring, including reverse mentoring and peer mentoring. If you’re anything like me, you’ve signed up as a Sigma mentor or mentee, and then sat back and waited for someone to approach you. December 2018 is the month that ends – let’s all lead by example, and request a mentor or mentee this month to transform ourselves, each other, and the perceptions of nursing globally!
Dates TBC, but watch this space and remember to follow @SigmaNursing @phimuchapter @PUNC16Felicity @StNurseProject to find out more!
