As I approach the last 6 months of my term as BAUN President, there is no time more apposite than now to reflect on how we are evolving as an association and the factors, both internal and external, that are driving these changes. More than 25 years ago, enthusiastic like-minded urology nurses first came together to discuss how best to support the educational and development needs of nurses in our specialty and I am fiercely passionate about how BAUN can advance this mission. As an association we have had to rethink our objectives to sustain and grow in order to achieve our aims and continue to be the ‘go-to organisation’ for urology nurses.
During the pandemic 1 in 10 charities have struggled and we have been part of that statistic. Without a face-to-face conference for the past 2 years to financially support our education programme, we have had to adapt to other models of education delivery and sharing best practice. Webinars are certainly here to stay and provide excellent opportunities for learning, but they cannot replace the invaluable opportunity for nurses to take time away from the pressures of clinical work and engage in networking with their counterparts from around the country. It has to be acknowledged that the chat box can never replace the value of conversations and the sharing of experience while queuing for coffee and a chocolate chip cookie!
Developing a fundraising strategy has been an essential and challenging experience for BAUN, but one that has helped us to recognise and articulate our value as the leading voice for urology nurses and our impact on the national healthcare agenda.
The recovery strategy from COVID is an immense challenge, not made any easier by an exhausted workforce that is already overwhelmed and under-resourced. Healthcare delivery is changing and formation of integrated care systems (ICSs) will offer patients equitable access to best practice and high-quality care (NHS England/NHS Improvement, 2020), but the strategic development of how and where services will operate requires expansion of the non-medical workforce. The Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) national programme (https://www.gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk) is designed to improve the treatment and care of patients through in-depth review of services, benchmarking, and presenting a data-driven evidence base to support change. GIRFT has highlighted the crucial role that specialist urology nurses play in service delivery and this provides immense opportunities for urology nurses to develop and expand their practice.
One of my key aims during my term as President is to promote and encourage the development of leadership skills for urology nurses. Not only is this essential in strategic service development and ensuring effective succession planning but it also promotes effective, cohesive team working in a supportive environment. Leadership encompasses the ability to lead, influence or guide and may be viewed as a natural skill. But, for those who often excel in this area, there is a realisation that effective leadership comes from the ability to appreciate the contribution of different styles of working, individual points of view and a great deal of self-reflection. BAUN offers leadership opportunities for urology nurses to work with and contribute to national projects and to develop these valuable skills. Such opportunities and experience illustrate and promote the self-value of the nurse. My journey as a Prostate Cancer UK Clinical Champion has offered an exceptional experience to develop not only as a nurse but also as an individual. Having led a team for over 20 years, I recognise that I have done certain things well and some not so well. Exploring and reflecting on my own personal strengths and weaknesses has enhanced both my leadership skills and my future vision as President of BAUN and as a nurse consultant. I look forward to seeing the self-development of other urology nurses, leading BAUN and keeping it at the forefront of the future of urological nursing.
‘One of my key aims is to promote and encourage the development of leadership skills for urology nurses’