In this post, Carolina Henriquez, a registered nurse, current Master of Science by research student and part of the YARNS Transitions team, will share her experience as a presenter and participant at the RCN International Nursing Research Conference 2024, held in the city of Newcastle. Here is a glimpse into her journey at the conference, the insights gained, and how it shaped her future career in nursing. 

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First time attending at the RCN International Nursing Research Conference

My first impression upon entering the building at the University of Northumbria was a mix of nerves and enthusiasm. I was eager to start meeting with fellow nurses and learning from experienced professionals around the globe who are leading figures in the field of research. 

 There was a range of presentations and workshops well organised by the conference, which allowed discussing and debating on the importance of nurse-led research and its contribution to the healthcare system. I was particularly interested in attending workshops related to qualitative research exploring nursing care, as this is what I am currently working on, which helped me spark new ideas and perspectives, think critically, and improve the development of my own research.  

A standout presentation for me was the study by Fiona Bastow and the experiences of early-career registered nurses who leave nursing. She used a narrative approach to focus on individual stories of leaving nursing to elicit in-depth first-hand experiences, the findings highlighted the dissociation between the values and reality of nursing, lack of autonomy to improve care, high-pressure workloads, and a sense of failure, reshaping professional identities. Some of these findings are similar to the ones found in my literature review, exploring the role of nurses in neurorehabilitation, where high demands and working conditions (time, physical structure, and relationship between the rest of the healthcare team) impact the quality of care and the motivation that nurses possess to carry on with their activities.  

In addition, Ms. Bastow inspired me on how to present and make the audience interested in her topic, the passion and knowledge she showed was a real inspiration for my future career as a researcher. 

Presenting at the Conference

Dr. Catherine Clarissa gave me the great opportunity to present part of the research findings on “A realist review of psychosocial interventions in neurorehabilitation for young adults post-acquired brain injury”. Dr. Clarissa used Pawson’s (2005) realist review method, resulting in the formulation of 19 initial program theories (IPT) then this was refined into 10 program theories highlighting the need for strategies and activities to help young adults manage acquired brain injury consequences and the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to address such necessities. This review is part of the YARNS Transitions project, which I am proud to be part of, and guides the current stage of the project – data collection process. 

The experience to present was scary, exciting, and challenging, but mostly rewarding. It was an honour for me to be part of this presentation and gain such valuable experience and confidence when presenting in front of experts and enhancing my public speaking skills. 

Final thoughts 

Apart from the presentations, the conference provided the instance to connect with fellow nurses and share experiences about their journeys, exchange ideas, and talk about how challenging can be to work in research, especially as a novice researcher. This made me feel I am not the only one and made me feel more inspired and motivated to continue my own journey. 

This conference reinforced my belief that continued research is crucial for improving patients’ outcomes and that nursing knowledge is essential to improve patient/family-centred care. I have widely encouraged other nurses to engage with research and attend conferences like this one, as it is an opportunity to learn, grow, and shape the future of nursing. 

References

Pawson, R. et al. (2005) ‘Realist review  –A new method of systematic review designed for complex policy interventions’, Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 10 (SUPPL. 1), pp.21-34 is an opportunity to learn, grow, and shape the future of nursing. 

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