An interview with , Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences
1. What is your current role?
My current role is that of Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. My role as Dean is that of encouraging and promoting the quality of the educational programmes for all Departments within the Faculty, promoting research and acting as an advocate for the Faculty within and outside the University.
This means that my focus is not solely on nursing but on that of encouraging interdepartmental and inter-Faculty collaboration in teaching, learning and research to enhance the quality of programmes offered. This means it is very much about inter-professional collaboration across all the health care professions and professions which can contribute to health care although indirectly.
This role includes other aspects such as the development of new programmes of studies, quality assurance of programmes offered, resource (including financial) management as well as overseeing innovation and ongoing progress of each of the professions within the faculty.
It is a very satisfying role to be in and I am grateful every day for being able to contribute to my Faculty and University; it is truly a privilege to do so.
2. What does nursing mean to you?
Nursing to me is about providing person-centred care which is based on evidence based knowledge. This care also needs to include the important element of compassion, that is that of being present as a person to provide comfort at some of the most difficult times of the person’s life. It is about using your mind, spirit and self to provide the best available care to the person, ideally lead to recovery or if that is not possible to a peaceful death. This needs to take place in collaboration with all other healthcare staff and thus is not an activity which takes place in isolation of others.
It is also about taking into consideration the person’s family, friends, the wider community and also all professionals who care for the person. We have seen lately with the COVID-19 pandemic that the greatest impact besides the high death rates was the anxiety caused at a community level, the psychological scar left of the relatives of patients who could not say goodbye to their loved ones and the burnout experienced by professionals. These aspects are all aspects which nurses need to contribute to. Nursing is also about learning to care for yourself.
3. In your role (e.g. as Dean of the faculty and a nurse yourself) how do you promote the theme "Nurses a Voice to Lead"?
I believe that the best way to promote the theme ‘Nurses a Voice to Lead’ is that of preparing the up and coming young generation of nurses to be able to work with others to provide new ways of addressing health care challenges which evolve within our society as well as being able to shape health care policy. Their voice is needed to shape the future of our profession in new and creative ways which new graduates can inspire us to seek.
The aim is not simply that of seeking to lead, but that of leading to an exciting and new vision for our profession which results in a better future for our profession and our population. Over the years, I have been inspired by many such young professionals who have demonstrated this ability to move the profession as well as the health care system forward.
4. Today, we celebrate nurses as heroes, what message would you like to deliver to all nurses out there?
This year was identified as the year of the nurse; a time for us to make the public aware of the important role of nurses and to make policy makers aware of the importance to promote the status of nursing, the current challenge with shortages of nurses on a global stage and identify ways to attract more persons to this profession.
The COVID-19 pandemic has however taken care of these goals; for there is no better way to promote a profession than to witness the work of the many individuals who have selflessly and bravely provided their service to all those who needed it at this time, without looking back, not matter the consequences to themselves and the sacrifices imposed on their families, such as long times away from home to avoid exposing those closest to them.
Never more than now have we hear reference to nurses across the globe being made with nurses, together with other health care workers being acclaimed as heroes. Indeed, Bansky has dedicated a painting at the University of Southampton hospital depicting a nurse as a superhero toy in a child’s hand.
My message to all nurses out there is that of gratitude for what each one contributes on a day to day basis, which makes me proud of belonging to this profession.
