My experience of the IHI Quality Improvement Forum, London, 2024

On 11th April 2024, the Nursing Now Challenge and members of the Challengers’ Committee were invited to take part in the IHI/ BMJ Quality Forum in London. Sana Gul, Challengers’ Committee Eastern Mediterranean Hub Lead, shares her experience below.

It was an honor to be chosen to take part in a panel discussion along with NHS England colleagues and other early-career nurses and midwives at the 2024 International Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Quality Forum at ExCel London.

Taking part in the panel titled “Investing in our next generation of nursing and midwifery improvement leaders” allowed me to share my leadership path as an early-career nurse and gave me the opportunity to highlight the ways in which the Nursing Now Challenge has transformed my professional and interpersonal abilities over the last five years.

The room was filled with senior nursing and midwifery leaders from all over the world, as well as young professionals like me, creating an overwhelming yet inspiring atmosphere. Thanks to organisations like the Burdett Trust for Nursing and programmes like the Nursing Now Challenge, opportunities like this are now within reach for young nurses like me.

Before the panel, I got the chance to participate in workshops on quality improvement projects and processes which further enriched my knowledge, equipping me with practical tools such as PDSA cycles and Run charts. In addition, networking with quality improvement nurse leaders from prestigious institutions and engaging with fellow young nurses and midwives provided invaluable connections and insights. The QI poster exhibitions in the main hall showcased remarkable initiatives led by healthcare professionals, and I was particularly inspired by the ones created by nurses and midwives. I felt motivated to try to implement similar strategies in my workplace in order to enhance patient care. I am eager to share my experiences from the Quality Forum with my colleagues at work and within the Nursing Now Challenge community. I hope to use what I learned to drive inspiration and innovation among early-career nurses and midwives.