Nursing Should no Longer be from Venus, nor MedTech from Mars

We need to work better together

Throughout history the role of nursing has been a fundamental force in shaping new ways of providing patient care.? With technology developing at an exponential rate, turbo-boosted by AI, the role and experience of nurses in shaping the future is more important than ever,

And that means the dance between the innovators (most in the private sector) and those who implement and use the innovation needs to be better than ever.? As we all know, the better the relationship and the more practice put in, the better the dancing.

And that requires nurses to be active in the MedTech / Innovation market and economy as well as directly patient-facing.? Sadly, I have witnessed a pervasive professional snobbery surrounding nurses working in the commercial sector that often hampers their potential impact. In my former role as CNIO at NHS England I met with many nurses working in commercial organisations who truly lived our professional values and wanted to collaborate in service of a better health and care system and better outcomes for individuals. Sure, there were commercial sensitivities, but we all believed we had the experience and skill to negotiate these driven by our shared purpose.?

One prevalent issue in our ability to leverage collaboration across sectors is the lack of professional confidence and maturity when nurses interact with commercial entities. The skepticism amongst nurses about working in the commercial sector often leads to missed opportunities for collaboration and innovation in health and care and ultimately for us to influence investment. This is compounded by the fact that we are not routinely asked to the tables where commercial conversations are happening, we are invisible.

As a nurse who briefly stepped out of the NHS in my early career, I experienced first-hand the positive impact that nurses can have on patient care operating from within the commercial sector. In a role funded by the pharmaceutical industry, I provided essential care and advice, identifying patients who were misdiagnosed and hosting specialist clinics for differential diagnosis and disease management based on British Thoracic Society guidelines. Not only did this improve outcomes for patients, it reduced demand on a stretched NHS. The skills I acquired during this period were instrumental in my professional growth and, upon re-entry into the NHS, allowed me to make more substantial contributions to the NHS.

Nurses working in partnership across these sectors have the potential to be a force for positive change.

Lack of consistent engagement carries significant risks for the NHS?

Over the years, I've noticed a recurrent pattern: the voice of the independent expert (more often than not a branded consultancy) is often given precedence over internal expertise. This can be helpful, the ability of external consultants to pose challenging questions, unencumbered by organisational ties, is acknowledged. However sometimes this can be dangerous especially where there is a lack of understanding of context, especially with respect to the largest workforce, nursing. This has led to poorly designed interventions and the failure of many technology projects.??

The opportunity

The best consultants have a deep understanding of the NHS context and nurses who step back in to consult have the potential to disrupt in a very positive way. It is refreshing as a consultant to see how much more my experience and expertise is valued from this place of external expert, but also a little saddening reflecting a wider challenge of nursing influence at decision making tables. This independence coupled with years of NHS experience, is crucial in addressing current challenges, notably within the evolving landscape of digital leadership roles, underscores the need for capitalising on and sharing existing expertise. It is here that nurses acting as external experts can rapidly bring expertise and enable cross pollination and the sharing of learning across the whole system.

Looking ahead into 2024, my excitement lies in leveraging my recent consulting experiences to propel innovation in both med-tech and health and social care.?

Future Nurse will be leading Nurse/ MedTech engagement

However, it is evident that no one individual's expertise will not be sufficient to support the demand for expert delivery partners across health and care. Future Nurse Consulting is growing quickly with its mission to bring nursing and MedTech expertise closer together for better health and care systems.?

Reflecting on my early consulting experience as a COPD Nurse Advisor and my recent experience as the founder of Future Nurse, the value of partnership working, and collaboration is paramount. Future Nurse aims not only to deepen its relationship with med-tech and other consultancies but also to create a space where nurses and MedTech can hold open, creative dialogue that leads to front-line impact. By bringing together professionals with varied skills from nursing and elsewhere, we aim to magnify our impact, engaging in mature commercial relationships and fostering innovation across sectors.

My co-founder, Calum Macleod brings a network of relationships across consultancy, MedTech and BioTech to Future Nurse as well as helpful experience in growing and delivering consultancy to Healthcare and the wider Public Sector. Together we aim to model what positive Nurse / MedTech engagement looks like. We will keep innovating and sharing our experiences (both good and bad) here over the next few months,?

Get in contact with us

Future Nurse envisions a future where nurse expertise is not confined within the walls of healthcare institutions but is a dynamic force influencing the broader landscape of health, technology, and social care. As we grow, we are looking for people to work with us who have experience, bags of common sense and kindness.

If you are interested in our work or want to join our growing family of associates get in touch.

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