Page 24 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

22 The Gazette QARANC Association
Florence Nightingale Foundation Army Nurse Leadership Programme
2019 saw the launch of the Army Nurse Leadership Programme which is a bespoke personal development course for QARANC nurses. Ten QA’s from across the Corps brought a smorgasbord of personal backgrounds, military rank, and experience, both from inside and outside of the Army, to be shared amongst the group. This opportunity was gratefully funded by the QA Association and took place over Spring of this year in London.
Comprised of three stages, initially, the Army Leadership Programme offered targeted self-awareness tools using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and the NHS Leadership Academy’s 360-degree appraisal system. This provided an in-depth personality profile to help us understand how our inherent personality traits affect our leadership styles and suggested subtle ways to improve out outputs professionally.
The course then moved on to a
two day residential period which
focussed on co-consulting skills and
contemporary issues in leadership.
This put into practice what we had
learnt about ourselves and offered an
opportunity to apply concepts, such
as courageous leadership and effective
decision making, to our own personal leadership style. At this stage, we also devised future action plans using our newly acquired skills and made personal pledges to pioneer change and improve health outcomes.
The final aspect of the scholarship was a workshop facilitated by the Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts. This delivered training on how to impact upon others and was delivered by Jonathan Guy Lewis (of London’s Burning fame). Whilst the thespians amongst us took to this like a duck to water, the group’s self-identified introverts were presented with more of a challenge. We implemented everything that we had learned about ourselves, using vocal projection tools and impact strategies, to stand up and inspire others with our leadership journeys. Staff Sergeant Brown, one of two mental health nurses on the programme, found that it equipped her with the self belief to communicate effectively with a new- found confidence unlocked by the training she had received. It is a huge privilege being a FNF scholar and part of a wider network of likeminded professionals.
Our cohort was also invited to the Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service at Westminster Abbey. This was to celebrate the work of the Foundation across the profession, but also commemorated the centenary of Edith Cavell’s funeral, a nursing heroine who died in the service of others. Her military connection provided this occasion with extra significance to us all. Additionally, Sergeant Muzvidziwa was
2019 Florence Nightingale Army Nurse Leadership Scholars
(from L-R) Staff Sergeant Davies, Major Cording, Corporal Keilaus, Lieutenant Parkes, Sergeant Mwaura, Captain Connolly, Staff Sergeant Brown, Sergeant Muzvidziwa, Major Harvey, Captain MacDonald Not present: Lieutenant Colonel Rickets
invited to present to the Windrush generation nurses and to accompany the FNF Chief Operating Officer to Singapore for the International Nurses Convention, demonstrating the opportunities the FNF opens to its scholars.
For me personally, it is one of the most valuable opportunities made available in my career. The access to professional networking is unparalleled and the relationships forged between the scholars will last a life time. From rousing guest speakers to vocal coaching, the opportunity to bear witness to some of the challenges presented to our most senior leaders was awe inspiring.
On behalf of the 2019 intake of FNF Army Leadership Programme Scholars, I would like express a huge thank you to the QARANC Association, without whose funding and support would not have made such a fantastic opportunity available to the Corps serving personnel.
‘Florence Nightingale Scholarship... an opportunity not to be missed’. Captain Adam MacDonald
‘the after-dinner speeches given by some the highest in the Corps gave me a leadership blue print for success. I am so lucky to have had this experience’. Staff Sergeant Bea Davies
Major Danielle Cording Additional contributions from: Captain Adam MacDonald Staff Sergeant Jessica Brown Staff Sergeant Bea Davies