International Nurses Day: Celebrating the Contribution of Nurses Globally
To celebrate International Nurses Day, we caught up with Professor Ann Marie Cannaby, who sits on BT’s Clinical Advisory Board, where she joins a team of clinicians with decades of experience in frontline care, helping make sure BT’s solutions meet the needs of the NHS. Ann-Marie is Group Chief Nurse at The Royal Wolverhampton Trust and Walsall Healthcare Trust and Deputy CEO at Walsall Healthcare Trust.
1) What does International Nurses Day mean to you? “
I recognise International Nurses Day as a global celebration of the remarkable contribution that nurses make to our society. The NHS is facing unprecedented pressures, so it’s important to acknowledge the people who make immense sacrifices that keep the ship afloat.”.
2) Staff shortages are one of the big challenges currently facing healthcare – how does this impact nurses specifically? “
The healthcare industry heavily relies on its people. Workforce shortages are felt across the health and social care sector, impacting nurses directly through increased workloads. To ensure health and social care access is maintained at sufficient levels for the population, we must promote nursing as a rewarding career. It is essential to grow the nursing workforce and offer development and support opportunities to keep this industry empowered and thriving.”.
3) Robotics is a hot topic in the healthcare space currently, specifically for its potential use in augmenting nurses and doctors with the execution of lower-level, structured tasks. Can you elaborate on how this could work?
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the frontlines of healthcare and have seen dramatic changes in our technological infrastructure over the years, so naturally, I envisage significant potential for robotics and automation in assisting clinicians. In nursing, there are many tasks where assistance may be useful, such as answering common queries, arranging hotel services, voice recognition software for notetaking, transportation of medication, and many more. These tasks can and should be automated to reduce workload and allow nurses to focus on patient care.”.
4) What big misconceptions exist around nursing? What issues do you think deserve more attention?
“Nursing is a fulfilling career that offers a range of opportunities. However, misconceptions around nursing still exist, particularly around workload and inadequate reward for such a high volume of work. It is crucial to highlight the value of nursing and the diverse range of clinical skills and knowledge required in the profession. Additionally, issues such as work-life balance, mental health support, and career development opportunities continue to receive more attention. This way, we can challenge these misconceptions, and people can enjoy careers where they can travel the world, work with amazing people and access education, just like I have been able to do.”.
5) What steps can the NHS and other organisations be taking to encourage what you call ‘digital minds’? Can you elaborate on what this means?
“I believe in encouraging and supporting digital transformation in healthcare. Encouraging 'digital minds' means offering training and development opportunities to healthcare professionals to help them understand how technology can assist them in their work. It is about providing clinicians with the tools and knowledge to make their work easier and more efficient, leading to better patient outcomes by challenging the status quo of traditional processes.
6) What other challenges do nurses face today, and where does technology factor into that conversation from your perspective?
“Nursing is a dynamic profession that continues to evolve, with nurses today requiring a diverse range of clinical skills and knowledge. My team appreciates the importance of technology in supporting nurses, including online diagnostics and virtual and remote ways of providing care. We believe that using AI and automated processes can assist nurses in their daily activities, elevating both staff and patient experiences.
7) What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a nurse personally, and how did you overcome it?
“Nursing can be a challenging profession, and I commend all nurses for their hard work and dedication. Personally, navigating the Covid-19 pandemic sticks out, but there have always been challenging points throughout different stages of my career. I’ve always said that taking one day at a time and recognising that continual improvements is essential to overcoming challenges. Importantly, the sense of community derived from working in nursing definitely helps you get through those tough days.”.
8) What advice would you give to a nurse starting out in the industry today?
“I recommend new nurses be open to learning and seek mentorship and support from their peers. There’s a lot of information to consume, so don’t shy away from asking for help from more experienced staff.
9) In an ideal world, what will the future of nursing look like in 1/3/5 years?
“I can envision a future where nursing thrives as a profession, with a growing workforce of dedicated professionals. In the next 5 years, we hope to see a significant number of students entering pre-registration nursing education – with the right support, the future of the nursing industry in the UK is bright.”
To find out more about the work of BT's Clinical Advisory Board, visit this page
Ann Marie, Group Chief Nurse and member of our clinical advisory board
