Thank you for these points and perspectives.
Recently on twitter/X there have been 'fulminations' re. Nursing's political voice and power.
I've pointed (predictably) to Hodges' model and its inclusion of the POLITICAL domain.
I still feel guilty, inept, inadequate, an impostor, writing about global health themes from the comfort of Wigan Pier.
Not making excuses but a few observations.
Effective healthcare takes two hands (disabled persons can compensate for this to a degree?) to pick up the politics, this takes us away the caring.
So early in our careers there is a stark choice, but perhaps this is as binary as it appears.
In the 1970s ... nurses used to pride themselves professionally on being an advocate for the patient.
This was often acute in mental health, and difficult negotiation when patients were severely ill and were sectioned.
You were seen as a POLITICAL agent of the 'system' - this is still the case.
More collectively, if we as healthcare professionals, are the 'sticking plaster' for society's and political ills - ALL the determinants of health and wellbeing then how are we to effect the change that is of a different order? Health education, prevention, information and access to information will need transformation of ways of thinking, roles, policy, law(?) to be conducted a demographic crisis in most developed nations.
A member for decades, I've never worked for the RCN, but am aware they and all professional bodies have a lobbying role in health policy.
Clearly this is not effective: ultra-processed foods, alcohol, tobacco - vaping, information, social media (negative), anti-depressants for >400,000 children?
(Euthanasia is picking up momentum and will be a further distraction and challenge to values and ethics for individuals, professions, society and governments.)
I wonder if there is political leverage in the notion of futility, withdrawal of labour no just on pay but IF policy is not evidence-based (but is perverse!?) remains as x, because of:
*false economy (tax revenues, cost to society - quality of life...)
*global health (conflict, arms sales)
*social programs no longer funded (education!! loss of tax revenues - UK projected tax losses on fossil fuels - still to be mitigated)
*impact on human rights: information, well-being, education ...
With geopolitics as it is, plus AI, there is no escape from the need to assure SECURITY - fundamental to health, and education as per the SDGs.
Since first hearing of Lord David Owen's work on hubris syndrome, this must be addressed (anew):
Hubris syndrome: Daedalus Project [Psycho-Political]
https://hodges-model.blogspot.com/2022/03/hubris-syndrome.html
In Hodges' model this brings in the PSYCHO-POLITICAL relation.
(Oxford Monday 8th, Chichester 9th. Hope to visit London soon.)
Peter Jones
Community Mental Health Nurse and Researcher
Blogging at "Welcome to the QUAD"
http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/
HIFA profile: Peter Jones is a Community Mental Health Nurse with the NHS in NW England and a a part-time tutor at Bolton University. Peter champions a conceptual framework - Hodges' model - that can be used to facilitate personal and group reflection and holistic / integrated care. A bibliography is provided at the blog 'Welcome to the QUAD' (http://hodges-model.blogspot.com). h2cmuk AT yahoo.co.uk
