60 Seconds With…. Natalie Elliott

We caught up with advisory board member Natalie Elliot, a CVD research assistant and registered nurse at Edinburgh Napier University, and asked her about her career, her views on the profession, and why she’s supporting Nursing Live.

How and why did you become a nurse?

I am an accountant by background, a profession I only joined because it was expected of me. And while nursing was something I’d always wanted to do, it never seemed to be the right time. But in 2015 my personal situation changed dramatically, with one of the positive consequences being I could finally pursue a career as a nurse.

What inspires you most about nurses and the nursing profession?

The creativity, passion and strength of nurses always inspires me. And while it’s not a great time to be a nurse currently, I love that even in the most challenging of situations nurses still have a burning passion inside them to carry on.

What is the biggest challenge nurses are facing?

For me, staffing is the main issue. Not just a lack of numbers, but also a poor skill mix. The consequences of this are not just the incredible pressure being put on nurses, but also an increased risk to patient safety. We therefore desperately need to find ways to retain experienced staff, and look for ways to encourage new people into the profession.

Do you have a message for nurses?

We need to be respected and listened to. We have been living with the “angel” and “hero” rhetoric for too long, and the truth is we can break because we are human. We deserve to be safe at work, and we deserve to be compensated sufficiently to do our jobs as highly educated and highly skilled professionals. We also need to invite kindness and self-compassion into our lives, so we can deliver our authentic self to both our patients and colleagues.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

There is no such thing as a wrong decision, and you can’t know everything. As someone who suffers from anxiety, and regularly struggles with a fear of failure, I find it reassuring that that no-one knows everything, and that we can always learn from the decisions we make.

What are your reasons for wanting to be involved with Nursing Live?

The healthcare profession has been through a challenging time, and there doesn’t appear to be much light at the end of the tunnel in the immediate future. I therefore think Nursing Live will be a fantastic event which will allow nurses to come together to support the profession, connect with others, and just have some well deserved fun.