The inspiring, empowering and leading impact of ARNS
by Nicola Roberts - Committee Blog
I joined ARNS when I was at a particularly low point: I was having difficulty getting some research funding and being constantly told I didn’t fit. Now, just to get that out there, I am not a nurse; my background is in biological sciences and toxicology always focussed on respiratory but mostly playing with bits of lung in a lab but I changed job after my PhD nearly 20 years ago researching how respiratory care is delivered and haven’t looked back. I ran around our respiratory clinics at Charing Cross hospital, trying to get patients to help with the way we write letters, developing pictorial asthma action plans, and so on. Although I have always been passionate about respiratory, my PhD was on looking at the upper and lower airways in COPD, my mum was diagnosed with COPD in my second year of my PhD and that also changed things for me. I always remember her telling me (much later) if she was admitted to hospital – “That lady over there doesn’t know about rehab can you go and talk to her”. She loved her rehab! I moved back to Scotland and in 2011 I joined GCU and started working in a nursing department for the first time and those experiences need another blog: huge learning curve!
Anyway, back to ARNS, I saw the tweet/advert for someone to represent Scotland for ARNS in 2017. My thoughts were “Well they won’t want me I am not even a nurse but I am in a bad mood I’ll email anyway!” Although, somehow, they said fab come along to our committee meeting and I have stayed, despite my constant imposter syndrome! ARNS isn’t just for nurses.
They have been so welcoming, the actual hugs on arrival (must be a nurse thing) made me feel part of the ARNS family. I have had so many opportunities to do things on behalf of ARNS, staffing the stand at conferences to try and get new ARNS members which also meant I could attend conferences that I wouldn’t have got funding to go to. I have written in the Guardian supplement for Respiratory Health campaigns but more importantly I felt “seen”, these are the people who care about the same things as me. I can email any of the ARNS team and say “What about doing this or can we do that?” (which I constantly do).
ARNS has given me the confidence to get involved and apply for some many other things that I wouldn’t have considered. Now those who know me well know that I am also passionate about promoting and progressing our respiratory nurses. Having watched from the sidelines, I know that respiratory nurses are the do-ers: not out for recognition but there to support patients. This sometimes means they are hidden away, not very good at telling the world of the wonderful things they are doing. One way of changing practice for everyone is doing a bit of research (don’t groan). Now I am not saying you are going to run out and start doing randomised controlled trials, but even thinking about the quality improvement work you have probably all been involved in or audits are a great way to start thinking differently (and then come and present at our fab conference). Now it’s not for everyone and there are other ways you can promote yourself and that is what ARNS is here for, how can we help you, how can we support you, how can we inspire you? But for those of you who want to dabble with research, policy or promoting respiratory nursing get in touch, even if you don’t think you fit!
I am proud to say that some of the students who I have supervised for their Master dissertations, have presented at ARNS and other conferences and one past student is now on one of the ARNS sub-committees (my work is done!). I am always encouraging everyone to come, join and present at the conference it is a great way to find a new home even if you think what you do is not quite broad enough or too niche. I had so many conversations about research and studying at the conference which is amazing and for anyone who wants a chat do let me know. I am always happy to be distracted from marking!
After 5 years I have decided to step down from the research and education committee, it was a really difficult decision but there is only so much time in the day and I need to focus on respiratory research. The good thing with ARNS is you never really leave, and I have instead found a family of friends who have my back and have supported me for the last 5 years. It is lovely to be leaving on a high, after receiving my amazing award from ARNS for respiratory researcher of the year (my mum would have been so proud). This is something I will treasure, but it is not just for me alone, I work with fantastic people who inspire, empower and support me, and together we’ll continue to spotlight the amazing work respiratory nurses do.