Introductions Matter

Introducing yourself is a simple action but it can have a great impact and make a difference. By introducing yourself to a patient this helps to build trust and relationships during what can be an extremely stressful and difficult time for the patient.

I have witnessed first-hand how powerful an introduction can be. My Mum had a major spinal surgery last week; there were some complications with the operation which resulted in her spending a few days in Intensive Care. It was very worrying and upsetting for my Mum and for all her family. What made it much more bearable were the nurse’s attitudes and their approach. Whether it was on the phone or in person they would introduce themselves with their name and title and talk us through the progress and what care my Mum was going to receive next.

This helped to build confidence and trust during a very distressing time, I felt safe in the knowledge that when I left my Mum on an evening I knew exactly who was looking after her. I had peace of mind and was assured that if any changes to my Mum’s condition were to occur then I knew who to expect a phone call from.

My Mum is now recovering from her surgery at home. I have so much respect for nurses especially after witnessing all the care, respect and compassion that was shown to my Mum.

My name is Lynsey Oates and I am proud to be working with nurses and midwives on the Transforming Perceptions of Nursing and Midwifery programme.

About the September challenge

As part of the Transforming Perceptions of Nursing and Midwifery campaign we want you to share your pride and enjoyment of being part of the nursing and midwifery profession, let people know who you are and what you do. Your kind actions do make a big difference to not only your patients but also to your patient’s relatives and friends.

This month’s challenge is all about being loud and proud of your nursing and midwifery achievements, and a focus on how you introduce yourselves.

For the September challenge we would like you to add your title and qualification to your email signature and social media bio:

For further information on this month’s challenge please see Bev Matthews’ blog for the launch of the September Challenge.