After gaining my Nursing Diploma in 1997 I undertook a degree in Management of the Critical Care Patient and then worked in various very busy A&E’s around Barcelona. Work was intermittent, so I decided to pursue my career in England.

Unfortunately, my English was not good enough to be working in A&E, primarily because, in my opinion, they speak another language in Yorkshire! I therefore worked in the intensive therapy unit (ITU), where the ventilators, pumps and gadgets played to my interests. However, my primary focus was technology; I became very ‘Competent’ but Care, Compassion, Communication, Courage and Commitment were not my priority.

All that changed one weekend when I was allocated to take care of a young lad who had been in a car accident. He was being nursed in a cubicle; his body was battered red, with multiple fractures. At the time, he was the ideal patient for me as my nurse vision was primarily performing tasks. But towards the end of the shift he asked me what was outside the little window at the end of the cubicle. The following day he again asked me what I could see from the window, and if I could move his bed close to it. Initially I thought he was joking, but he was dead serious. I told him it would be physically impossible.

That night I went home and I couldn’t stop thinking about his request. I asked him if he wanted to see the view. I still remember his face; it lit up with a big smile from ear to ear. It took me nearly two hours to manoeuvre all the equipment safely around the room, but I was determined! We finally made it, and like a miracle, a ray of sunshine came through the window and illuminated his face. He asked me to sit on his bed next to him, and for the next half an hour we were sat in silence holding hands. It was a powerful moment and we both ended up with tears rolling down our cheeks.

For the first time I understood what Care and Compassion meant. On that day I fell in love with nursing; my job became my passion. I still remember that immense feeling inside me that on that day – I made a difference to somebody. For the first time I was proud of being a nurse.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last – the following day I was called to the Matron’s office and reprimanded for ‘breaking all health and safety rules’ and ‘putting my patient at risk’

Time went by and progressively I felt constricted by the hierarchic system that was task orientated and I felt I couldn’t be myself or express my ideas properly. I went back to my safe mode of performing tasks, but I was constantly looking for ways to experience the same feeling again but I became frustrated. I went home at the end of every shift demoralised, deflated and sad. My nursing career began to drift and I ended up working on the nurse bank, where I became even more detached and unappreciated.

Then towards the beginning of 2013 something magic happens. A combination of 3 factors that together changed my life forever:

1.- The 6cs.

One day a copy of the Compassion in Practice document appear at work. I start reading it and I immediately felt hooked. That day, I went home smiling. Suddenly there were a change in culture and I fell in love with the vision and the idea of person centred care. The 6Cs reminded me of my marriage vows, and from that day I try to live and breathe the 6Cs.

I was so inspired by the 6Cs I decided to join the Care Makers programme and I am now an ambassador for the 6Cs, spreading the word, enthusing others and embedding the 6Cs in my daily role.

2.- NHS Change Day

I came across with NHS Change Day by chance in February 2013 and together with my team we did a pledge for NHS Change Day 2013. Who would have thought that would be the catalyst of my transformation.

Jackie Lynton invited me to the launch of NHS Change day 2014 in London to present our project in front of an audience. Beforehand I had never spoken in public and I was terrified.

For the first time I was told that it was ok to be yourself and try to change things. I wanted to get involved and I became a hubbie (Change Day volunteer) for the chance to encourage other frontline staff to make a difference and to convince them that you don ́t need permission to initiate change.

3.- Twitter

One of the main issues that the NHS faces today is lack of engagement and low morale from its frontline staff. For me, the solution is easy: TWITTER!

Social media allows NHS organizations, patients and staff to engage directly with each other without hierarchy. It is the most effective way to share information including news, events and public health messages.

Twitter has brought me opportunities that I could only dream of and has enabled me to work on amazing projects and to reach out to new people. It has empowered me and helped me become a better nurse.

What has transformed me is not Twitter itself, it’s the people behind it, the amazing people who have supported and encouraged me on a daily basis. The power of Twitter lies in the community behind it.

Before Twitter I thought I was alone trying to change the world. I was on my crusade and for a lot of years I didn’t manage to make any progress. That’s now changed.

In conclusion

I have been a Nurse for nearly 20 years but it’s only been for last 4 years where I have managed to make a difference. The 6cs gave me my values back that somehow I lost on my way, NHS Change Day gave me the license and approval to peruse my ideas and try to change things for the better and finally Twitter have given me a voice. Twitter have connected me with amazing people and given me fantastic opportunities.