It has been seven years since I last wrote a blog. I’ve meant to reflect on my journey as a newly qualified nurse for some time. Every time I started, it just didn’t feel right – there was a pressure to enter this chapter as a perfect version of me, with no vulnerabilities or previous motivations exposed. I wanted a fresh start, no expectations, no preconceptions.

I tried to keep my head down, but my values for patient advocacy keep creeping up and seeping out. Over a year in, I feel energised to fight for quality, for improvements, development and to celebrate excellence, prioritising patient care and staff wellbeing.

My platform as a young person improving health care services was incredible and I achieved so much. Sometimes widespread policy change feels easier to achieve than being on the ground trying to show your face above the precipice. Change is slow and much more difficult.

This is my pledge to continue to harness the energised committed kind health care professionals we have and look after them.

To keep advocating for staff and patients.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” -Mother Teresa