S5: EP 006: Empowering Nurses in the Workplace - Part 2: New Paths & Possibilities

Speaker A: Hi.

Speaker B: What the. Health tech listeners, I'm your host this week, Justine Abson. This is the podcast where we tackle some of the trending topics, ideas and best practice across health and social care. Today we're joined by a familiar face. We've got Linda Bruebang, a registered nurse, healthcare consultant and co founder of Beyond Nursing. Linda's work is all about unlocking potential, building confidence and helping nurses explore new paths. Whether that's climbing the career ladder, uh, launching a passion project or pivoting into something new. So from brunches to masterclasses, Linda is creating spaces for nurses to connect, grow and thrive, all alongside advocating for safer care. So for anyone that didn't listen to the last episode. Welcome back to the podcast, Linda.

Speaker A: Thank you, thank you so much. It's really good to be back. Um, and yeah, looking forward to kind of having a catch up and sharing what I've been doing in the, in the last year since the last podcast. So really, really excited.

Speaker B: Amazing. I know we were just chatting before we started the recording and realized that it was two years since, since you last came on, um, on here, which seems to have absolutely flown by. So for anyone that missed that episode and didn't and didn't hear that one, can you start just by telling us a little bit about your background but maybe more specifically sort of your journey from nursing into the healthcare consultancy and the strategic leadership side of things?

Speaker A: Yes, absolutely. Um, so I'm Linda, ah, I have been a nurse for gosh, almost 18 years now and I started off as a pediatric nurse, um, before moving into various roles I worked internationally so I worked in the Middle east as well. And then um, I came back to the UK kind of a year into working in the Middle east and wanting to kind of go into doing a Master's which I succeeded, successfully completed. And from doing the Masters I kind of gravitated into um, uh, governance and quality and risk management. And I became kind of really passionate about improving systems and creating impact not only with, you know, patients, uh, lives, um, but also across the organization. Um, and so that led me into senior roles where I focused on patient safety, regulatory compliance and good governance. So, so now through my own consultancy, um, the NCL Solutions, I support healthcare providers with governance, um, frameworks, ah, specifically and ensuring compliance around uh, CQC requirements, um, and also building a safer and more effective organization. So it's been a journey of moving from direct care to influencing care at a higher level, system level.

Speaker B: I think it's amazing as well. And obviously since you were last Here you've launched, um, I think alongside a co founder, but launched some networking groups for nurses, which, I mean I followed it on, um, on your Instagram and I just think it always looks like it's so much fun. But I also know from chatting to you how much everybody gets out of it. So can you tell us a little bit about the vision behind it, um, and what made you actually start that, that kind of networking side of things?

Speaker A: Absolutely. And I would say the transition, um, into doing that. And the inspiration came from my own journey and kind of when I transitioned from clinical into non clinical, I felt a bit isolated and I kind of didn't have anyone to just talk to or have a peer support. I went into it and not knowing. So for me that was the springboard and the stepping step, the stepping stone. I needed, um, to create a space for others because it's not for me. It wasn't easy to get started but I knew that somewhere along the line somebody else might be feeling the same. So I wanted to create a safe space. And alongside my co founder, uh, um, Angela, she's also a nurse and she's moved into the entrepreneurial side and has her own business. But we were kind of coming together to explore that non clinical side and the business side of, you know, entrepreneurship, which we're not always exposed to, um, as nurses. So we know that we've got the skills, we know our skills are highly transferable into various roles. But actually how can we show and share and show and share two nurses that you can do this? Um, so it was about building the community and showing the confidence, showing nurses that they can, you know, they've got the confidence within themselves. They just need a little sprinkle of inspiration to help them get them uh, and see themselves and position themselves as leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. So it's really, it kind of came out of, I feel like we need to do more. You know, myself and Angela were like, we can do more. We can show and share because it came at a time when nurses, you know, there's still always a lot of things happening and um, we want to show nurses that you've got so much highly transferable skills. You might have a passion project you're interested in. You know, let's give you the skills, um, and the ideas and the inspo to take that, whatever's in your mind into a reality.

Speaker B: Yeah, it's really exciting and I think what's really nice about it is the way you've kind of, you've put these brunches together as well. Certainly from viewing it from when I've seen looks like everybody's come together and it almost looks like a group of friends, um, when you look at it from the outside, like a group of people that know each other that are having like a fun brunch. Um, yeah, exact. I think that's what's really exciting about it is to see actually all these people with similar skill sets but can learn from each other as well. But in that environment, I think it's really nice the way it's never something. It isn't something I've seen before in terms of it being in that sort of environment.

Speaker A: Yeah. So, um, we've run two brunches, um, and the first brunch was just after the new year. And you know, you know, after the new year, you know, you're thinking, you know, what goals am I going to set for the year ahead? And we thought it would be a good time to, you know, have the first Beyond Nursing brunch, um, to really bring nurses together. And we had a variety of nurses in different stages. And the good thing is they were left really empowered. Um, and I still talk to a lot of the nurses from, from that day and you know, just to have catch ups, you know, you know, what are you doing? Where are you finding yourself? And a lot of them say, you know, I needed that push because I didn't know I had it in me to do X, Y and Z. And there are, um, nurses from that brunch who have, you know, gone on to our master class, which I'll talk on about a bit later, um, who have started a business, you know, um, and are really leveraging the skills that they have and are living in their purpose as, as well. They're still, you know, some of them are really much very clinical, um, and do things part time. But it, for me it was realizing that you've got so much potential. You know, let's tap into that, let's touch on.

Speaker B: I know you touched on the master class, so let's, let's talk a little bit about the masterclass because I think that came after the, the brunches that you'd organized, didn't it?

Speaker A: Yeah. So the Beyond Nursing Masterclass, um, and it again, it came out of there's a need to carry this conversation on. There's a need to move the branch into a more formal structure, um, as per se, but to give, um, nurses guidance. So with the Beyond Nursing Masterclass, it was an eight week program, um, and we met with nurses Weekly and we had a range of uh, topics that we covered. Um, and we looked at imposter syndrome, we looked at mapping out core skills and even to crafting elevator pitch. You know and nurses were like what is an elevator pitch? And ah, it's the things that will help them position themselves in, in whether it be moving up into a senior role, into a role within business, but really being able to personally brand yourself as well. Um, so, so within the Beyond Nursing Masterclass, um, there was a workbook. I laughed because it was um, a long creation of the workbook but it was about over 50 pages. But it literally broke down everything that I uh, went through with the nurses, with my co founder Angela as well. We were committed. We wanted nurses to have the skills to know about marketing themselves, about you know, having it's okay to have imposter syndrome but don't let that paralyze you as per se. So it was a real intense eight week program but the nurses felt so much enriched. Um, and the follow up conversations we could see that. Well actually yeah, I really needed that. I needed focus, I needed to get within a community to understand how I can leverage my skills um, in going into a senior role in pivoting in being an innovator um, as well. So from the Beyond Nursing Club, beyond uh, nursing Masterclass, we've moved on to um, actually showing and sharing other um, healthcare professionals who have started um, a business uh, as well. So the last kind of networking we ran was in central London and it was showing and sharing how a nurse has started a business in central London. And we went through you know, the CQC requirements and nurses could see actually the reason why I do audits and the reason why I you know, do um, risk assessments. Because within the, the business side of um, acquiring um, registration, compliance registration, they could see I've done all this, you know, I've done all this. Now I understand if I was to go down that path, how relatable and useful it is. So it was really connecting um, the dots and, and for nurses to see other nurses in positions that potentially they could be in as well.

Speaker B: It's a really interesting point that, about things like audits and risk assessments and things like that because they're not just things that happen within hospitals or other healthcare organisations but for businesses generally. Um, so actually for nurses to see that that's not just part of their day to day role whilst working as a nurse in the hospital, but actually it can be transferred elsewhere as well.

Speaker A: Oh absolutely. And it was a light bulb moment. I mean I've always known the importance and I always talk about governance in the content that I share my important. But for nurses to see for themselves that, uh. Oh, actually, yeah, you know, doing an infection control audit is important, I get it. But actually it's given me the skills and, and the knowledge and the know how to do it elsewhere, um, as well and to, to use all of that, um, in, into things that they didn't even think was possible and to also influence change, um, uh, as well. So it's really been, uh, a busy year, uh, but it's been so, it's been so good. And I regularly, even just yesterday, um, one of the nurses reached out who I mentored and she said, I got the job, I got the job. And I was like, uh, and I was shouting, she was shouting, we were all shouting. I know that journey and a lot of people and I, I get so emotional and like it. It's such a humbling feeling for me because I know the feeling of, you know, not having someone to guide you and then when you have someone to support you, it's a win, win for everyone. So it was, it was so nice when, you know, she reached out and said, I got the job. And we'd been working together for two, three years prior and they'd been working on um, acquiring the skills that they needed. They knew where they wanted to go. And I kept saying, you know, apply for this role, keep going if this is what you want to do, keep going. Um, you know, and they got it. And for me, honestly, that's just it. I can't describe that feeling. And that's what makes me want to keep going and going. And I always say pay it forward, you know, um, you know, let's carry on the, the work so other nurses can see that it is doable. You know, it is doable and to believe in themselves.

Speaker B: Yeah, it's really interesting actually because we've um. Also, um, I think Sarah's episode of the podcast will have gone out before this one on season five, so hopefully people have had a chance to listen to it. But, um, I interviewed or spoke to um, Sarah Hambridge from Leeds Teaching Hospitals a few weeks ago and again, similar kind of thing to you is all about empowering nurses. Um, paying it forward was something, was a term she used as well. Um, and it's just really exciting to chat to people who really want to like drive people forward and actually um, a championing um, for other people as well.

Speaker A: Absolutely. Because nursing is not the largest workforce kind of uh, within healthcare. So what we can do if we empower one another, and not only the impact it will have on patient lives, um, but also the personal impact in confidence in building their mental health and well being, um, but ensuring that, actually. Yes. And they've got the confidence and the know how to do what they need to do as well and to turn any of the, the things they're going through. Sometimes, I know it's not easy. It's not easy for nurses, but if they've got that passion, uh, or if they're, if they're in, if their pain, that they could turn their pain into passion, um, that will be the driving force. And that's why it's so important for me. And I always say, you know, move past the fear. Don't let the fear paralyze you. Um, and something that, uh, my co founder says as well, Angela, is you feel the fear and do it anyway. Because that's what we're saying, you know, feel the fear, do it anyway. And I always used to give examples of when I started creating content on governance, you know, having a camera in front of me and then speaking, I was like. But then, you know, I was like, I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna feel the fear and do it anyway. And then, you know, over, over time, you perfect your craft and you just keep going. So I do share the same with nurses. You know, just feel it. You know, there's a reason why you feel that adrenaline or that, you know, that uncertainty sometimes, but, you know, push through it. Um, and the things that, you know, some of, uh, the nurses who we've, um, worked and coached and mentored are doing is phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal.

Speaker B: Yeah. Oh, that's amazing. And you have to start somewhere as well, I think, don't you? It's the first time you ever do anything. You know, I look back at the first podcast we did and, and it's completely different to what it is now. Um, but if you don't start somewhere, then you'll never, you'll never kind of get to that point of being able to fill that fear, I guess, either.

Speaker A: Absolutely. And I always say, you know, to nurses, if you love what you do and you do what you love, it will be, it will become second nature to you. You know, once you become, um, more comfortable doing whatever it is that you're interested in. You know, hopefully over time it'll become, um, more natural to you. Like me creating content now. Okay, I think I've got, uh, a good grasp now. So it's okay because when I started I was, I wasn't even smiling and I'm a smiley person. But I was so nervous, you know, talking about why you should do a, ah, risk assessment, why is it important and putting that out on tick tock, you think who's going to be interested? But actually a lot of people were because they, they wanted to have the know how but they didn't understand why it was so important. So it made me relax a little to be like, oh actually yeah, people, people want to know why you need to do an audit or the importance of X, Y and Z.

Speaker B: And yeah, it's about making it digestible as well though, isn't it? I think the reason, part of the reason why people are so interested as well in, in some of the content that uh, I've seen you put out is you turn these topics that are quite, can be quite complicated or sound quite complicated, um, into like short 30 second or a minute, you know, really digestible chunks which again, especially if you're a nurse or somebody in healthcare just starting out as well, then that's, that's such a great way to be able to kind of digest that uh, that really important information rather than sitting through, you know, a training course for an hour or something like that to hear more or less the same thing.

Speaker A: Yeah, no, absolutely. And the feedback that I get is, oh, this has helped me into it in an interview. I didn't, you know, realize and I've got the job and, and I, and I sit back and think, okay, yes, then I'll carry on doing it. You know, I'm gonna learn, you know, you're gonna learn about risk assessments so you've got to learn about audits or you know, um, specific governance frameworks. And I know, you know, people can turn to social media to have a break from some things that work, but some people also turn to it to kind as a, uh, a resource. So if I can help and support being a resource for someone, then by all means I will carry on doing it. So yeah.

Speaker B: Oh, that's great. Have you, what did you see? Quite a sort of diverse group attend kind of the brunches and the master classes and things like that in terms of their skill sets and maybe whereabouts they are within their nursing career.

Speaker A: Yes, it's interesting. So looking at the, the breakdown, there were a few student nurses looking for a bit of direction into where would they like to go and wanting to be around other nurses, um, nurses and specialist roles feeling potentially quite, in their words, quite tunneled, um, into how can, if I'm in a specialist role, how can I kind of move out? Um, and, and it was a range from five band fives to band sevens on that. And I use um, the, that scale because I think people recognize um the band five, band six, band seven. But yeah it was, it was within kind of that range as well. For example. So um, if I take uh, dermatology nurses and you know we had a few that attended the master class, you know, we gave them the tools and, and um, ideas to, to look into to roles such as. Okay, so if you're a dermatology nurse, have you thought about you know going into aesthetics, um, have you thought about leveraging um, new technologies and working with tech companies in innovating products? Um, you know it is um, how they can see that, utilize what the skills that they have into roles that they never thought they could potentially going. So that was the workshop, um, that was the brunch, sorry that highlighted our uh, our cohort of nurses that we're seeing. A lot of specialist nurses. We saw a lot of theater nurses, um actually as well. Yeah it was interesting. We saw a lot of theater nurses and you know um, one of the things that we shared at the branches as well how look at your robotics in theaters. You know, who are your, the companies that are coming in, are they looking for you know some subject matter experts who work in theaters? You know and a lot of them were thinking oh actually I didn't, I didn't actually think about that. Um you know, so it was given the, the know how and, and to think beyond what they thought would leave them kind of tunneled and actually no, it creates so much opportunity is understanding how to leverage your skills um and your know how and grow your network um as well. So yeah, so I'd say it was a mixture, um, student, um, nurses. We had specialists mostly. Um, yeah and a lot of theatre nurses. Interestingly.

Speaker B: Yeah, I just think it's really interesting to see kind of different, um, different nurses, different kind of backgrounds, um, different skill sets. It's really interesting to see that how they can look at those opportunities that they might not have already noticed because I think sometimes you sort of have an idea where you want to get to career wise or anything like that or maybe some goals that you want to, to kind of um, achieve but sometimes you do get really stuck and going but how do I get to there? Especially when you are doing your day to day role as well. How do you kind of get to that? You know, whether it be the next level or just something different that helps you develop. Um, so I think it certainly sounds like the sort of thing that actually they've probably learned quite a lot from chatting to, to you, to Angela, and to obviously the other nurses that were in the room with them as well.

Speaker A: Yes, absolutely. And I always say, you know, do a SWOT analysis. Let's keep it really simple. You know, do. Do a simple SWOT analysis and take it from there. Um, because you've got the skills, you've got the know how. Just map it out. If you see a role or a job description or, you know, you're interested in a specific, um, uh, area of business, map it. Map it out on a SWOT analysis. I really keep it simple and then let's build it from there. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What could be opportunities? What could be potential threats? You know, um, and then, you know, they say, oh, yeah, I learned about this before. And I say, well, let's utilize it because, you know, it. So, yeah, it's really about leveraging what they. It's the know how and knowing how to move on to it. So, right, you've identified that. Now let's move on to the next step. You know, what is out there for you to tap into, essentially?

Speaker B: So, yeah, what about standout stories and things like that? Have you, I know you've touched on, obviously some people have kind of gone set their business up and things like that. Have you got any sort of standout stories or moments that have kind of really struck you over the last sort of year or so since doing these?

Speaker A: Um, one in particular. Um, and again, it was someone, uh, who, ah, attended our brunch, went on to our master class, and then had been toying with the idea of, um, going into aesthetics. They wanted to go into aesthetics because they really enjoy skin, um, and wellness. And they'd been sitting kind of on the idea for like two years. They attended our brunches and I said, right, what's the hold up? And, you know, we just had an open conversation. And they said, you know what? I'm gonna start. And I'm gonna start. I said, okay, how are you gonna start? And it was, you know, I was asking the why, how are you gonna do it? And I think they, they didn't have someone in their corner before. Um, you know, just being. Just helping them and supporting them and, you know, driving them. And, um, literally six months later, they have a really well established business. They still work part time, um, and clinically, but also part time. And they have the balance that they wanted for home work. Um, and for me, they came back to me and said, you know what? I wouldn't have started or I wouldn't have got to where I am if one, I didn't meet you, I didn't attend the brunches, I didn't meet Angela. And just seeing for myself what is possible because I see it in others and they're doing really well, working with brands now and all in the space of six months. And I said, this was all you. I just said, you can do it and you did it. So for me, that was. That's one of the moments that's really stood out for me this year, um, because I've seen the journey and I've seen them evolve and develop in such a short space of time, and they're going from strength to strength. So it was really nice. It's really nice to be able to support that journey as well.

Speaker B: It just shows that, doesn't it, that it's, you know, having a person in your corner or having somebody kind of that, uh, believes in you to do it. You might have the idea, you might have, you know, whatever you kind of aim and strive for, but I think everybody needs that person to, to believe in them and to sometimes to push them that little bit. Going back to that fear side and that imposter syndrome, you know, when you've not done something before, stepping out of your comfort zone a little bit is. It's scary. Um, so to have that person is. It is sometimes the push that you need to go, right, actually, I can do this.

Speaker A: Yes, absolutely. And as I always say, you can do it. Always remember to pay it forward. And that's what they're doing and they're helping others. And that's how we can really grow the community, the. Grow the community of nurses. To feel empowered as well.

Speaker B: Definitely. Um, I think the other bit as well that I think is quite interesting from all of this stuff is obviously people developing in their clinical roles in kind of, um, even if they're not striving to kind of move out of those roles or to move even up the ladder necessarily, but just to kind of self develop themselves, to feel more confident in those roles and how that can impact their day to day as well.

Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. And that was one of the reasons, you know, we've. When, uh, Angela and create. Angela and I created the Beyond Nursing Masterclass, you know, we wanted to put the skill, or just put the skills that they need to know at the forefront, like elevator pitch. How can you you know, present yourself in 30 seconds if you're at a networking event, you know, um, and even like you say if, if they want to kind of just grow self, um, their self for self awareness, self development, what do I need to do now? And let's give you those skills. So it was really important um, for us in terms of you know, have your elevator pitch ready, your 30 second pitch to say who you ah, you do um, as well because if you go to networking events within the speciality that you're in, you know, you really want to stand out and have people remember you. So that's why you know, even the skills that we um, put in the masterclass, um, we wanted to ensure that it was across the board so you could use it at any point in your career.

Speaker B: It's just really important as well, isn't it? You know I went to a marketing um, event a few weeks ago, um, and it's one of those things that I kind of go oh, it's a full day out. Have I got time to do this? Yeah. I came away from that event absolutely buzzing with ideas, was really excited. I'd learned so many little things that I could take away that I can then input. Well I've already started to input into like our team and, and how we do things and what we're doing and it makes you realize when you actually go and do it how important these kind of networking are more kind of uh, business type of events um, are really, doesn't it?

Speaker A: Oh yeah, yes. And it, and the one thing we don't do as well and that's not all nurses, that some nurses is networking. So one of the things I said listen, you're gonna have to network. I said I've been to a variety of networks. I'm not even healthcare ah related. I just wanted to get myself out there. I went to a tech gaming just because I wanted to kind of get out my comfort zone and just, just speak to you know, just another industry professionals. But that was one of the things and that's one of the things I said, you know, just you know, look at what's out there and network. Go out and network and say who you are, uh, what you do and why you're there. You know, so it's. Yeah. So I always feel like it's such an important thing to, to start doing as nurses and I really encourage nurses to start networking or to continue networking if they do. Is so many doors have opened up for me through networking. Um, and I always say to um, nurses that you know, network if you can. I know if you're doing shift work, it can be tiring and things, but, you know, just think about where you want to be in your career and how you are, ah, um, using your skills and yours and your path to get there. So how can you ensure that you carve out time to, to network and go to events and meet people as well?

Speaker B: I was just going to ask you about, um, advice for anyone that kind of wants to climb the ladder or you know, pursue a passion project or pivot or anything like that. But I think you might have just answered that with um, with your networking. But if there was any, anything in additional to that, maybe like the top three things that somebody listening is thinking, can I do that? What would kind of be your top three sort of pieces of advice that you would offer?

Speaker A: Oh, I'd say the first one, probably my biggest one, is don't box yourself in. Um, real nursing has given me a really strong foundation into leadership, communication, critical thinking, um, entrepreneurship. And nurses, you know, should realize actually the skills that they learn are gold. They're gold for me. Um, and I always say be curious as well, um, network as well, but be curious. And that's what's led me into, um, a lot of spaces because I'm professionally curious about things and I always say to be professionally curious, ask those questions, um, you know, if you're interested in area, ask if there's shadowing available, um, or take a short course. Join, um, communities. We've got the Beyond Nursing community, also called the beyond the shift community. Um, and just take that first step. You will feel so much, um, better within yourself because you've pushed yourselves, um, as well. So those are kind of my, my top three.

Speaker B: I love those. I think they're definitely things that people can take away as well, which is kind of one of the aims of the podcast is always to try and same with events, networking. I think it's one of those that if you can take one thing away from the, from things like that, that's what, that's the objective of it, other the goal of it, I guess. But I want to chat to you a little bit about collaboration with other companies. So, um, I know kind of you've mentioned before about partnerships, getting organizations involved with supporting nurses and things like that. So I just wanted to kind of touch on that a little bit and chat about more what, what's kind of involved with that or what you'd like to see going forward.

Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. Um, I guess for beyond the Shift, which is what we're called, uh, we'd like to work with forward thinking organizations who recognize the value that nurses bring. Um, so it could be, you know, healthcare providers, tech companies, leadership organizations, um, you know, just to co collaborate and work with um, the organizations to help us move forward and move the, move the message forward as well, um, partnerships. So for us that looks like um, you know, sponsoring events, providing opportunities to train nurses into different areas, um, and actually creating pathways for nurses into maybe corporate or non clinical roles, um, as well. So it's really about co creating um, opportunities specifically uh, because I really do believe that when nurses thrive the whole healthcare system benefits. So yeah, those are the kind of things, so partnerships and opportunities, working with other um, healthcare providers and beyond and anyone who's really um, interested in our mission to pay it forward for nurses.

Speaker B: There's so many organisations in that field. There isn't. If you think about all of the things that you know are within the healthcare organisation that helps it run every single day, how many, you know, whether it's technology, whether it's equipment, whether it's um, you know, resource training, um, there's so, so many companies that could kind of offer that, I guess that guidance and things like that as well.

Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. And that's what we're looking for. You know it's, it's great that myself and Angela, excuse me, are in, you know, this role where we can help but in order for us to kind of scale, you know, we'd look to uh, having that partnership and, and that more um, brand awareness for us as well. So hopefully, fingers crossed, watch the space. We'll, we'll have something up in the pipeline um, soon.

Speaker B: Very exciting. And that brings me on to my, the last question that I kind of want to touch on is what about you? What's, what's kind of next for. I mean you've just touched on it very slightly with, with a bit of that. But what's next for you for the network? Um, you know, anything that you've kind of got in the pipeline that you're really excited about, but also you personally, you know, kind of. What, what are your goals for the next, next 12 months?

Speaker A: Oh, good question. So for beyond nursing, um, and um, beyond the shift, we are hoping to expand our branches. Ideally we like to go across the uk. Um, we are working on that because we, we realize we currently run them kind of in London but we've had, you know, when, when are you going to do it in Birmingham or when you're coming up to Manchester? You Know, so that's on our mind to do as well. So we're looking for some spaces there. Um, we want to do workshops because that's what we feel, um, nurses need. But actually the practical workshops of. Okay, so, you know, marketing 101. How do I market myself if I'm interested in moving to opening a business or. Right. I am interested in, in a, you know, a director role in, um, X, Y and Z. How can I get myself there as a band 5? What is my trajectory? So it's looking specifically at how we can create workshops to support, um, nurses to develop, um, uh, as well in whatever area they'd like to do. I think for me personally, I'm looking at, um, launching more digital resources to support, um, including kind of compliance toolkits and um, E guides, uh, because I, I also get a lot of feedback to ask, like, you know, do you have some information on this and this? So I realized that actually that's. That's a gap that I could easily fill. So I'm working on more digital products, um, to support, um, healthcare providers, um, nurses as well, if they're interested in, you know, moving into certain roles as well. So that's up and coming. Um, I'd say longer term, I'd love to see the beyond the SHIFT network evolve into a global platform. So we'll be able to connect nurses worldwide. Um, and hopefully that will draw out, um, more opportunities for nurses who are interested not only in entrepreneurship but potentially governance or, you know, working, um, globally somewhere in a leadership position. There's lots happening, um, in the pipeline. So, yeah, over the Next at least 12 months, we're looking to do more brunches, workshops. I'm looking to go into more digital products to support, um, uh, healthcare providers with resources that they need as well.

Speaker B: Oh, that's super exciting. I love that. Yeah.

Speaker A: Ah, genuinely excited. Yeah. So It's a busy 12 months, so it's good.

Speaker B: Yeah. I think that digitally guide stuff. That sounds really exciting. I know I'm a member of different marketing groups. Groups and things like that. You know, kind of I get some various different templates sometimes and bits and pieces where sometimes I go, oh my gosh, that is exactly what I've been looking for. Um, so I think that sort of thing sounds really exciting for finesses, definitely.

Speaker A: Oh, yeah, absolutely. They have asked and I am one to deliver. So I put it on the pipeline.

Speaker B: So, yeah, no, that sounds brilliant. Um, and there's so much we've talked about today. Like, I always love chatting to you, um, and there's so much that I think people can take away as well from this, which is super exciting. So, um, I mean we had you on two years ago, so imagine what you'll have done in another two years when, when we get you back on again.

Speaker A: Absolutely. I cannot wait.

Speaker B: But as you'll know at the end of every episode, we always ask someone to share our guests to share their what the health tech moment. So, um, this can be anything that's kind of resonated with you, um, recently. It can be a moment in your career, can be weird, wonderful, funny, emotional. Um, so Linda, what's the what the health tech moment that you'd like to share with everyone?

Speaker A: Okay, for me it has to be discovering and really leaning into the new wave of AI agents. Um, and I say that because life is busy, things are happening, but really it's, it's allowed me to be more efficient in what I do. Um, and basically it's my new virtual assistant and I've trained a AI agent to help me with everything that I do on a day to day. Um, so I think for me the actual work what the health tech moment is being able to be more efficient. Um, with my time I have a little bit more freedom because I'm to, able, able to you know, trade an AI agent to, you know, help me with my emails, um, and uh, really automate things, um, especially as I have so much going on kind of running, uh, different things. So it just means I can focus on more strategic and creative and human side of my work and I'm not drowning in admin. So for me it's like, you know, creating and utilizing the wave of AI at the moment. But creating an AI agent, um, that's my little secret as well which I'm sharing. Um, we won't tell anyone, it's fine. Um, but it's really helped me honestly become a lot more efficient in what I do and be able to spend more time doing things that I enjoy because I've automated a lot of things. So it's just, it's show me how quickly technology is evolving and how if we embrace it, it can really genuinely transform the way healthcare professionals and business owners manage their time, energy and even their well being. So that's a real what the health tech moment that in literally the last couple of months I've worked on developing, I'm learning prompt engineering, you know, creating the right prompts in order to, to get the right output using AI. So yeah, I think watch this space in terms of that, uh, evolving AI Agents and how businesses use it. But for me, firsthand, I seen how efficient it's made me.

Speaker B: That is. Do you know what? That's a super exciting, what the hell moment, I think as well, based on a lot of the stuff you've said, um, previously in, in today's episode, a lot of that is, you know, a lot of people are really scared of AI, um, but that, again, feel the fear kind of, um, that fits in that. But actually what you're doing is using it so in the right way in terms of training it properly prompts, um, using it for the right things, which again allows you that more time for the human side, which for me is the most important thing about AI. Um, and the, the absolute key thing where it can help with efficiencies and things like that to free up that time to allow you to put it into those other really important areas.

Speaker A: Absolutely. And I think now that I'm, you know, I'm, I'm not pro at it, but I'm just learning, um, how it can really just transform the way that I do things to allow me again to spend the time that I need on other things. Uh, so for me, the what the health tech moment is literally a wow moment because I, I can train an AI agent to support me in doing X, Y and Z. So yeah, so that for me is, it's a lot of, you know, online tutorials that I'm doing just to try and figure it out. Um, but so far it's been, been really beneficial, um, for me and what I do.

Speaker B: Oh, that's amazing. Um, yeah, absolutely love that and really excited to see where, where the kind of next, next year or so takes, takes you. And let's see where AI is in the next next 12 months as well. So, um, it'll be super interesting to, uh, to see all of that. Um, so thank you so much for joining me again today, Linda. Um, I've absolutely loved it. Um, for those interested in connecting with you, um, and you know, find out more, we'll add all the details for kind of connecting, um, the nursing brunches, the beyond shift and things like that. We'll, we'll make sure that's all included in the, in the notes on the, on the episode. Um, thank you to everybody for listening. Um, don't forget to join us next time for another new episode. And if you've got any questions for us or our guests, please email what the healthtechadarhealthcare.com.

Speaker A: Sam m.