Nursing, a profession known for its compassionate care and dedication, is witnessing a new wave of innovation driven by exceptional nurses redefining what it means to advance beyond the bedside.
These trailblazers are pushing the boundaries, seizing opportunities, and introducing transformative ideas that have the power to reshape the entire nursing profession with their expertise, creativity, and leadership skills to break barriers and drive transformative change beyond the confines of the bedside.
In this enlightening interview series, we shed light on the remarkable journeys of these innovative nurses, exploring their groundbreaking initiatives, entrepreneurial ventures, research breakthroughs, and advocacy efforts.
Prepare to be inspired as we delve into the stories of these remarkable individuals leading the way towards a brighter future for nursing, leaving an indelible mark on the profession, transforming healthcare and inspiring generations to come.
Read the first part here.
Name: Oladejo Christianah.
Working Experience: 4 years.
Specialty: She has not yet gone for specialty but she would love to go for Oncology Nursing cos she is inquisitive and curious about how cells proliferate and become malignant to cause cancer. She is also passionate about giving hope and life to cancer patients.
Location: Ibadan, Oyo State
What inspired you to pursue a career path beyond bedside Nursing and what motivated you to continue on this path?
The desire to solve a problem and be exceptional about it. Passion for what I do and the Word have been my motivating factors.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your field of expertise and how have you been able to overcome them?
The biggest challenges will be 2 of many things:
- Combining nursing with business. I overcame this by setting structures and processes for my schedules.
- Relating with clients. I overcame this by gaining a unique perspective into the mind of a typical client, following mentors and reading books on relationships.
What do you see as the future of nursing and what must nurses pay attention to so as to be featured in this future?
I see nursing going beyond the bedside and nurses taking their place in every sector. I believe anyone who will be featured in the future must prepare for it and be determined to be exceptional at it.
Nurses who are considering going into entrepreneurship must know that it is challenging but rewarding. They must count their cost, seek counsel from mentors, read books before starting and set up structures for their expertise
Are you open to mentoring young nurses willing to go on the same path as yours? And If yes, how best can young nurses connect with you?
Yes, they can connect with me via phone or my social media handles.
Name: Daniel Faleti
Years of Working experience: Over 10 years.
Nursing Speciality: Mental Health Nursing.
Location (City, State): Horley, Surrey, South Eastern England.
What inspired you to pursue a career path beyond bedside Nursing and what motivated you to continue on this path?
I have always been inquisitive since growing up and have a passion for discovering, exploring and being exposed to new ideas, concepts and challenges. All these features fit into the world of research, which nursing as a profession cannot do without in this current dispensation.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your field of expertise and how have you been able to overcome them?
As a mental health nurse, my biggest challenge has been in the management of the mentally unwell, which can be physically and psychologically stressful. However, with patience, attentiveness, endurance and resilience, I have been able to manage this. The use of positive coping strategies has also been a key factor in managing the challenges.
As a nurse researcher, the challenge has been the lack of interest of nurses in research, which has made intra- and inter-professional collaboration difficult. However, this has actually improved in recent times but more is needed. Overcoming this challenge has been through constant education, training and mentoring of nurses interested in research.
What do you see as the future of nursing and what must nurses pay attention to so as to be featured in this future?
I see nursing in the near future as a profession whose voice will be reckoned with when making critical decisions for the progress of healthcare. There is a need for nurses to infiltrate every area of the healthcare industry and beyond. They must take charge, broaden their knowledge, acquire relevant skills and gather experiences through the right exposure and active participation in diversification.
What advice would you give to other nurses who are interested in walking on this same path as yours?
My advice is for nurses to be resilient and determined to surmount every challenge on this path.
Are you open to mentoring young nurses willing to go on the same path as yours? If yes, how best can young nurses connect with you?
I am open to mentoring young nurses and can be connected through networking platforms.
Name: Emmanuel Adesuyi.
Years of Working experience: 11 years.
What’s your Nursing Speciality: Public Health/ Nursing Education.
Location (City, State): Crewe, Cheshire East, Northwest England, United Kingdom.
What inspired you to pursue a career path beyond bedside Nursing and what motivated you to continue on this path?
I have always had this passion to acquire knowledge and impart knowledge. Before I found myself in nursing, the future I envisioned was one where I was studying, researching, and impacting lives through my work. It was not clear to me what platform this would be, but I knew I wanted to make a difference in health and social care. God used so many circumstances to orchestrate how I got into nursing. And of course, for every young nurse, you need to get a feel for what true nursing is at the bedside. It was an intriguing experience.
Even though I love the clinical area, I still knew I was wasting away because there is still more that I can do in nursing. I knew I was made for more. I don’t want to leave the bedside, but I want to be fulfilled, and my fulfilment lies in doing what I have always wanted to do. I believe learning, researching, and impacting knowledge is not only a form of fulfilment for me, but it would also help shape nursing into the picture of nursing in my heart. This led me to seek higher degrees and academic positions in nursing.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your field of expertise and how have you been able to overcome them?
I wouldn’t say that I have been in this field for a long time to be able to rightly answer this question, but I would say that I have faced several challenges in navigating this path and staying. I don’t understand what you meant by “biggest challenge,” as I don’t know how to quantify them, but I’ll talk about the most obvious. It is people around and ahead of you calling you what you are not, perhaps for fear of you becoming better than them or taking leadership positions ahead of them! Some of them do not only call you names that you do not bear; rather, they try to frustrate you from reaching your goal. The field of nursing is large enough for everyone, there is room for everyone. So, I do not approach my work with the mindset of overtaking others or being in charge… It’s not about competition, contribute your quota and I contribute my quota, then let the result judge. I connect with the right people who can appropriately mentor me and try to be humble enough to listen to people, yet I still stand tall lest anyone despise me.
What do you see as the future of nursing and what must nurses pay attention to so as to be featured in this future?
I have always seen nursing under God as a vast land of opportunities. It is an uncultivated land. We are the ones who must use our uniqueness to shape nursing. There is room for everyone in nursing, and as many as will still come. Nurses are already doing great things all over the world. I have been privileged to meet a few nurses whose contributions to nursing continue to shape the profession. And you don’t need to be in academia to accomplish this. I see young nurses rising, taking their place, and taking the lead in every area of nursing practice.
What advice would you give to other nurses who are interested in walking on this same path as yours?
Nursing is currently experiencing quantum leaps all over the world, and nurses must be equipped in light of these global realities.
The world around us is constantly changing with the advent of technology, which has led to the discovery of new diseases/disorders. And these changes come with new challenges that our training curriculums are not entirely capable of preparing us for.
Nurses must intentionally walk toward their dreams. I would advise whoever desires to walk this path to dream big, acquire knowledge, speak with those who have gone ahead of you, and go for it.
Do not take NO for an answer, do not allow the requirements for that position/job to scare you or deter you from applying. Do not make your career decisions solely based on present realities.
One of the things that God gave freely to every LIVING human is a DREAM. DREAMING is free for all, please dream!
Dreaming has not yet been declared illegal; please dream. And do not allow your geographic location to determine or limit your dream. Nothing is impossible! The future belongs to those who see beyond it. If your dream speciality is not currently within your reach, do not stop dreaming; the world is now a global village with information and computer technology. Speak with someone who has just enough information.
Are you open to mentoring young nurses willing to go on the same path as yours? And If yes, how best can young nurses connect with you?
Interestingly, I am still a young nurse. And yes, I’m open to anyone who needs guidance or information. People have been contacting me through my social media handles, mainly Twitter (@cyrusunik1) and LinkedIn (Emmanuel Adesuyi). These social media platforms and my email are open to everyone
About TNN
Trailblazing Nurses Nexus is a platform dedicated to highlighting the exceptional work and achievements of nurses who are breaking traditional barriers and advancing the nursing profession through their innovative ideas and unwavering drive for excellence.
Trailblazing Nurses Nexus seeks to create a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about nursing and are committed to supporting and uplifting those who are pushing the boundaries of the profession.
Through our platform, we showcase the stories of nurses who are making a difference in their communities, driving change in healthcare, and inspiring others to pursue their own dreams and aspirations. We believe that by sharing the stories of these trailblazing nurses, we can inspire the next generation of nursing leaders and help shape the future of healthcare.
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