This post is the first in a summer ‘Reflections of a Trailblazer’ blogpost series that will capture my thoughts on transformational leadership, nursing research, pursuing work-study-life balance, seizing opportunities and making a difference in the world.
The series begins with a focus on my journey as a mature research student. Future posts will capture my thoughts on juggling a full time career as a senior nurse leader in the NHS, being a mother and general busy body! 🙂
It’s taken years, well decades to be honest, for me to learn to believe in myself. So, I am wasting no time to earn my way to trailblazer status! ‘Earn’ being the operative word in the preceding sentence. Nothing has been given to me, I am proud that I have had to graft all the way.
My hero, Usain Bolt talks a lot about his quest to earn legendary status. Well, my quest is to be a trailblazer who inspires the hearts and minds of future leaders to be better than I could ever dream of being.
Just to recap on my current situation for the new readers of my blog who have not been following me on social media, I have a Twitter commitment, not an addiction! It’s given me the voice I never knew I had.
I’m a part-time research student in my 3rd year at Middlesex University London in the School of Health and Education.
My research will be conducted at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, where I am a senior nurse, and will explore the hospital experiences of patients from Black Caribbean backgrounds on the Acute Stroke Unit using observation of care and interviews.
Having recently received ethical approval from the university ethics subcommittee, I’m now ready to apply for IRAS* approval which will be the final step before I begin collecting data. So exciting! Bit scary! It’s a case of feeling the fear and doing it anyway, with a little help from my ‘friends’.
It’s not about being bright or brilliant. That’s so overrated and, I dare say, mundane. Who wants to be bright and boring? No, I’m drawing on another skill set here, that of drive, passion, determination, tenacity and leaving a legacy as a trailblazer who made a difference to the lives of others.
I hope that sharing my journey will inspire someone somewhere to push a little harder, try one more time and go that extra mile to also positively impact on the lives of others.
Yeah! I’m lifting as I rise. Who’s coming with me? There’s room for all of us.
Please like, comment and share this post with your networks. Tell us how you are also trailblazing. We learn by sharing!
Watch out for Part 2 in this series which will focus on how I respond to unexpected opportunities in my nursing career and how I plan to take my trailblazer skills up a notch or two. 🙂
Lots to share as I live purposely and purposefully! ❤
* IRAS: Integrated Research Application System
Join me on socials:
– Twitter: @mcintoshnichole or http://www.Twitter.com/mcintoshnichole
– Facebook: The Human Touch https://m.facebook.com/thehumantouch0304/ or at Caribbean Nurses Yaad and abroad! https://www.facebook.com/groups/Caribbeannurses/
– Instagram: @maroonmindset or @nicholemcintosh
Photo credits:
Frederick Douglass quote: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/739689
Surround yourself quote: http://www.iliketoquote.com/tag/dreamers
Nichole McIntosh FRSA 