The Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) develop nurse and midwife leaders at every career stage enabling them to stay, thrive, lead and transform health and care. We have opportunities for nurses and midwives across all bands, and health and care sectors.
Over the course of the next week you can find out more about our leadership programmes and the impact they could have on you, your patients and communities.
Today the spotlight is on our Emerging Leaders programme, for nurses and midwives working at Bands 5 and 6. Hear from FNF’s Head of Academy Operations and registered nurse, Debbie Preston, about why this programme was launched a year ago and why it’s so important to her.
Step Up to Leadership
“The motivation behind the Emerging Leaders programme was simple: we wanted to empower and inspire shift leaders, specialist nurses and midwives, and those working in front-facing patient or community-centred roles.
After over a decade working as a critical care nurse and clinical educator, I’ve both experienced and understand the importance of strong shift leaders and team members – those who are often responsible for teams of healthcare support workers and students. They are often some of the longest serving team members and a consistent and reliable presence within their departments. These nurses and midwives have enormous potential but are often overlooked as a ‘leader’ due to them not being in a role that requires line management responsibility. Quite often they are waiting for permission to grow and develop. Too many will not get the chance to see their worth as a leader due to their position in the wider organisation and that’s why these programmes exist. They’re designed to give every nurse and midwife, regardless of role, background, or organisation, access to the kind of development that help people stay and thrive in their roles – and that can genuinely shift a career.
"Leadership shouldn’t be something you ‘earn’ only after you’ve already stepped into a senior or management role. It should be something you’re supported to build from day one."
Debbie Preston – Head of Academy Operations, FNF
At the recent graduation event for this programme, I said something that still feels true every time I meet a new cohort: we created these programmes because the profession is full of people who already have the capability, they just need the confidence, the language, and the space to use it. And when you give nurses and midwives that space, they don’t just stay and thrive, they lead and transform teams, services, and patient care.
What’s been most powerful is seeing how quickly participants on the programme connect with one another. The sense of belonging, the shared understanding, the relief of being in a room where you don’t have to explain the pressures you’re under. That community is part of the magic. It’s why people leave the programme not only with new skills, but with a renewed sense of purpose.
Another pride point for me is receiving the quality improvement project presentations, demonstrating that every nurse and midwife who has accessed this programme has engaged with their line manager and implemented a small change to their area of work which will positively impact the patient/service user experience. From reducing pressure ulcers, to optimising nutrition of frail older adults admitted to intermediate care units, to reducing enteral feeding incidents in schools – we saw a huge range of projects and real impact across different health and care settings.
Ultimately, the Emerging Leaders programme is an investment in the future of the profession. We need to unlock leadership at every level, amplifying voices that haven’t always been heard, and ensuring that the people closest to patients and service users feel empowered to enhance the system they work in.
“Doing the QI project as part of the programme taught me that improvement is a day-to-day day thing and not a one off. I have learnt how to appreciate data and how to use it to bring about positive change. It has made me interact with the team more. My major reflection would be knowing that data beats my opinion as it serves as a major benchmark rather than my emotions.”
Adesola Oriola – Emerging Leaders Programme alumna – Deputy Sister, York and Scarborough NHS Trust
Recent graduate of the Emerging Leaders programme, now FNF alumna, Adesola Oriola, shares the impact the programme has had, you can read her experience here.
