36 Years Ago - 3rd September 1980

This week (1st September 2016) my 3rd Grandchild was born - Louis

HOWEVER 

It is extraordinary to reflect that ------- 

36 years ago today I walked through the front doors of Kings College Hospital on my very 1st day as a student nurse.

I was 24 Years Old

On that day I could not have imagined

What a journey I had ahead of me....

In 1980 there was no internet, no Facebook, Twitter, Blogs.

There were no Mobile Phones, no Home Computers.

There were 3 TV Channels.We played Vinyls on our Record Players.

I spent 3 Years as a Student Nurse

A New Nightingale

I met my future wife

I became a Staff Nurse

I specialised in Intensive Care Nursing

We moved to Wales

We had 3 Sons

I became a Nurse Teacher

I got a Doctorate

I ran a big University Department that educated Student Nurses and Qualified Nurses

I met Nurses, Doctors, Health Professionals, Patients, Families, Teachers, Managers, Students

THOUSANDS OF THEM

And now I am a Retired Associate Professor of Nursing

AND

A GRANDFATHER

ITS BEEN A JOURNEY !!

Distress and Disbelief - What have we become....

I am not one for Political debate. I consider myself essentially a Humanitarian, a Nurse, and hopefully above or apart from Political affinities. But tonight something happened that kicked me over the edge - and I want to share my anger. But I am tonight tired of diplomacy and avoiding controversy. I am tired of the endless political and media lies - and a lack of humanity towards our sisters and brothers. 

I have watched with growing distress and alarm World events of recent months and  years. The barbarism of terrorism, torture, vicious execution, coupled with the indifference of the wealthy political elite. I cannot believe the turmoil that we find ourselves in, the posturing of absurd pompous self interested politicians and public figures. I am also increasingly shocked by the bias of media, and the corruption of public office.

I have never been so disillusioned with the establishment, and the extreme hate prevalent in our society to the poor, homeless, vulnerable and displaced. Where did we lose our global compassion. Where is our common compassion, empathy, generosity. How have we apparently lost all of these qualities that made us so human.

I am a child of a time of great global revolution, of human rights and equality for all. And yet today I see a social order of injustice, racism, self interest and unspeakable violence. WHY!

As I said - I am not one for Political or Philosophical rhetoric. I have watched quietly and with increasing distress at humans elevating inhumanity to man.  But then tonight I saw an image on Facebook that overwhelmed me. 

I hear the media ranting about "immigrants" and all the social rhetoric that attracts from all parties and political and social parties.

AND THEN I I SAW THIS..... 

I am a Grandfather - I have little boys who sleep next to me, who love me and I love them. They love their Bambi. This could be them - cold and dead on a beach. It turns my stomach....

Don't tell me that immigrants and refugees are a problem. That little boy drowned, scared, frightened and alone - because of some peoples high minded nationalistic and racist ideas - is that OK?. Proud to be British - I think not. 

We're a BIG ISLAND - there is room for the dispossessed, the the homeless. There is money for all if there is social equality. Thee can be NO ROOM for  tolerating and accepting DEAD CHILDREN ON BEACHES - because we are apparently British! 

To be British should be to extend the hand of compassion, care, community, secularism, globalism, inclusivism, equality.... ETC 

WE CANNOT TOLERATE OR OVERLOOK DROWNED TODDLERS AS A RESULT OF SO CALLED IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

I WISH I COULD GIVE HIM A CWTCH.... GIVE HIM A HUG - TELL HIM  STORY 

TELL HIM I LOVED HIM .... 

I TELL YOU WHAT 

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE 

------------------

AFTER THOUGHT 

The day after I 1st posted this I woke up to hear that 50 young people had been murdered in Orlando - because they were Gay - because of who they loved!

Please world - lets stop the violence. the racism, hate, homophobia, sexism. Please world - GROW UP..... 

ONE BIG BLIND DATE - #wgt16 - HOW DID I GET HERE??

#wgt16 - HOW DID I GET HERE??

On the 29th of February 2016 I had the privilege of attending the #WECOMMUNITIES "Get Together" at Salford University. And what an amazing event it was. Hundreds of people, from all walks of life, from far and wide, talking Health, Communication and the impact of Social Media.

I spent a deal of my time discovering SoMe Friends in person - meeting for the 1st time - old and new virtual friends, face to face in real time. It was like a huge "Blind Date".

Let me offer a challenging perspective on this! There was a lot of inspirational commentary. Not only were there the days "delegates", but we were also a community "On-line" - Virtual - to a huge SoMe audience -  we were "TRENDING". We talked about cutting edge communication, crossing new boundaries, and changing the face of professional communication.  There was a lot of (dare I say) inspirational talk, of new paradigms, and challenging "change". 

Now those of you who know me well will also know that I do not take life too seriously, and hope fervently that people do not take me too seriously. I reflected carefully on this paradigm shifting perspective. I asked myself some simple questions.

Why (for example) did I engage with Social Media? Was it to change the world? Was it to enact a communication revolution? No - it was because I was human - I was curious. What was "TWITTER" - and why were so many people using it.... I discovered a world where I could could talk to people all over the world.

 What fun..... !!!!

I MET PEOPLE and made plans and projects that I would never have entertained without Twitter.

I am 60 years old in a few weeks. I remember Black and White Television, and 3 TV Channels. I remember a time before the Internet and before Google, Apps and Smart Phones. And I ask myself why does an old man like me use Twitter and Facebook. And the simple answer is that because it is the most fun I have ever had... I am not "Inspired" or "Driven" - I am enjoying communicating with my family, friends and new friends. That this may change the world is simply a useful spin off to the most basic of human skills - the ability to communicate information, emotion, care, ideas - in all the diversity that humanity is...  

"For millions of years we lived just like the animals. Then something happened that unleashed the power of our imaginations. We learned to talk and listen. "

Professor Steven Hawkings 

"WE" Communities
This is not a "Revolution" - it is an "Evolution". All we have to do is make sure we keep talking!!

That was the Year that was..... !!! Goodbye 2015

2015 - Yes indeed - that was the year that was!!

2015 I will not forget in a hurry. It was a year of polarities, of huge optimism and occasional despair.

I started 2015 with a surge of hope, retirement just around the corner. Jan and I plotted that future, this best illustrated by us acquiring a very nice and very expensive motor-home. It was in this that we were drive into the future, adventures on the road.

My long employment as a Nurse and Teacher drew to an end, and there were many "lasts". The final meetings, lessons, conferences, marking. And in April the day came - and I retired, not without a deal of reflection.

And then the world turned - my partner,wife Janet of some 35 years was to fall ill. She had been experiencing some nasty episodes of back pain. Our first real adventure in our new mobile home had us travelling to Yorkshire for a music festival. And then her back gave way! There was a terrible night of terrible pain. Home to Swansea - and admission to Hospital with a badly slipped disk. Jan was in Hospital for a week and spent the next 3 months on high doses of Opiates and other medications, and only able to mobilise with the use of a wheelchair. Despite this she was stoical and determined and I was delighted to note that by December that not only was she walking freely but she drove a car for the first time in six months.

And then there was my Mother in Law - an ageing 88 year old with dementia. In April she falls at home and is admitted to hospital. And then another fall results in a hip replacement. Months of hospital care and eventually she is in a EMI Nursing Home. The family have travelled this road - it has been a difficult one. The final outcome is, at this time, the best we could have expected. Sylvia is receiving the care she needs.

And then there was Sam and Izaak. Sam - my 28 year old son and father to one of my glorious grandsons Izaak, moved back to the family home. Izaak would be spending about 3 nights a week with us. A two year old with attitude this was both a delight as well as a challenge.

We lost an old dear friend - Chris passed in tragic circumstance. We travelled to his funeral in Edinburgh, travelling in our Mobile Home and stopping en route both there and back.

There have been some personal achievements - I saw two books published, I engaged as a patient user, and undertook work for the RCN and Welsh Government.

Yes 2015 has been a very busy and occasionally tough year.

As for the Future ???

Well that bit is easy - JANET, my Children and their partners, My Grandchildren - My Family.....................................

NURSING - IN PRAISE OF TODAY'S NURSES & NURSING

And a Reality Check on the THEORY / PRACTICE GAP

Ok - I am feeling irritable - let me explain why this ageing Retired Associate Professor of Nursing is not happy.

I have just read the following Abstract...

http://www.nurseeducationtoday.com/…/S0260-6917(15…/abstract

The Abstract States that:

"Nurse educators must review their current curricula to ensure that there is clear articulation of nursing's professional philosophical stance, and use this as the framework for pre-registration curricula to support the development of neophyte nursing students towards a clear and focused understanding of what nursing practice is."

HOWEVER - TODAY I had the privilege of interviewing prospective Student Nurse Candidates at Swansea University Department of Nursing.

3rd Year Student Ambassadors were there - proudly in their purple uniforms. They spoke in glowing terms of the quality of the course and of their pride of being prospective qualified nurses.

There were professional clinical nurses assisting at the interviews, all stating their commitment to the future of the profession and their support for pre-registration education.

There were service users there sharing their experiences as patients with the young hopefuls.

There was a mass of committed highly educated Nurse Teachers guiding the selection process - from all walks of Nursing Practice.

And there`was over 100 young people, many who had traveled hundreds of miles, who were desperate to become student nurses - BECAUSE - IT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPIRATION IN THEIR YOUNG LIVES. They articulated the Philosophy of Nursing in their belief in its intention - to "Care".

A candidate smiled and said to me "I want this so much......"

SO THEORISTS - RESEARCHERS - EXAMINE YOUR DATE - AND PLEASE TELL ME WHAT NURSING HAS GOT SO WRONG????

Today I had the joy of seeing my life long profession safe in the hands of the next generation - philosophy and curriculum

NMC WeNurses

Nursing philosophy: A review of current pre registration curricula in the UK - Nurse Education Today

To view the full text, please login as a subscribed user or purchase a subscription. Click here to view…

NURSEEDUCATIONTODAY.COM

Retired 6 Months - And.........

It is 6 months since I retired. I thought you would like an update......

Well it wasn't quite what I planned or expected folks.

I am afraid life has conspired a series of unexpected disasters that have made retirement (so far) a rather colourful, and occasionally, trying time. However, none of these crisis are (thankfully) life threatening, although some issues are rather personal and thus I will not discuss them in detail.

However - the basics....

My middle son Sam returned home to live in the family home.and we have his son, my lovely grandson Izaak with us 3 nights a week. That said I had forgotten just how busy a 2 year old can be.... 

A real crisis arose when Jan my lovely wife gets a bad back - seriously prolapsing a disk at L5. We have to leave a festival in Yorkshire in a real hurry, this followed by an emergency admission week in hospital, and 4 months in a wheelchair. 

But we fought back... Sam is now in College and doing voluntary work. My other 2 sons Tom and Robert are doing brilliantly in their careers. My other Grandson Dafydd is growing and flourishing. Jan is improving - slowly... 

I lost a good friend to premature death. But then we traveled happily across the UK in our Mobile Home, going to Festival, and other beautiful places en-route, to get to Edinburgh for his perfect and poignant funeral. 

And I am getting used to "being retired". I am writing, thinking, reading... I am rested, focused, and tired, all simultaneously. I am reflective and engaged - it is the next phase of life. And it takes a little getting used to - you have to find a "new routine" to to life after a lifetime of work.

I sat with Izaak this evening, he perched on my lap, watching the Frog Song - his little hand intently gripped my hand. I kissed his soft hair and I surged with a sense of permanence and love. The sun sank over Fairwood from my back garden.  

Despite all that life throws at us - everyday is a new beginning............ And life is as always complicated. 

A LIFE THAT MATTERS

Live a life that matters 

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. 


There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. 


All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. 


Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. 


It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. 


Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear. 


So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire. 

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. 


It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end. 


It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant


Even your gender and skin colour will be irrelevant. 


So what will matter? 


How will the value of your days be measured? 


What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. 


What will matter is not your success, but your significance. 


What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught. 


What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. 


What will matter is not your competence, but your character. 


What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. 


What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you. 


What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. 


Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. 


It's not a matter of circumstance, but of choice. 


Choose to live a life that matters.