Show your true colours

It’s not easy to stand up in front of your peers and share with them something that you are doing and maybe even doing well. The reason that it is not easy is that you risk the chance of being challenged or worse being told you are trying to be elite. (An elite-est) if there is such a word. And so, you choose wisely your audience. Our peers can be our harshest critics but also our most avid supporters, you just have to choose who you spend your time with and your energy on. 

Actually I would prefer to see this as; I am ambitious and want to do something different to what has historically been the norm. I want to push boundaries and ask the hard questions. I can see ‘other ways of doing things’ and I am prepared to put my neck on the line and give it go. In my experience the most important focus is what underpins your desire to push on despite the challenges! For me that desire has been to deliver health care to a community from a nursing philosophy/ lens.

The challenges have been great and sometimes seemed insurmountable BUT the drive is greater. Over the last five years I have questioned the need to continue with a mission that has cost me my health to a degree, some acquaintances and most obviously TIME! Time from family, friends and myself. BUT the vision was to have a general practice that was owned and operated by myself as a nurse practitioner with a nursing philosophy underpinning the delivery of care. The nurses who work in the practice share this philosophy and know that safe, effective and robust health care can be delivered in a ‘different ‘ model. Being a nurse led practice does NOT mean at the expense of the historical ‘Doctor care’ model but that the expertise of such is required on a ‘prn’ (pro re nata) basis rather than 90% of the time as has been the way in the past. Some of my most avid supporters are Doctors. 

Five years later, after trial and tribulation the model not only exists but is growing and continues to develop. I share my experience with a range of different people in the sector who are interested in the model and how Nurse Practitioners can work within PHC and benefit the practice both clinically and financially. With the loss of GPs in many areas this is a model that can work well to meet the needs of the population and preserve the health service. Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!