Our NNCGSI journey: Innovation requires both collaboration and passion
This blog was written by Alenda Dwiadila Matra Putra and Ariani Arista Putri Pertiwi, NNCGSI winners and registered nurses, Indonesia.
In 2019, the Indonesian National Nurses Association proposed “One Nurse in One Village” to the Ministry of Health to improve community health and we wanted to contribute to finding the most plausible model of implementation for this idea. As Nursing Now Challenge launched its second Nursing Now Challenge Global Solutions Initiative (NNCGSI) which focussed on supporting nurses and midwives to create innovative, nurse/midwife-led initiatives to empower communities to create and sustain health, we felt that this was the right moment to bring the “One Nurse in One Village” idea to reality. With a team of nurse lecturers from different backgrounds in the Departments of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia we decided to submit a solution to the challenge.
Innovation requires both collaboration and passion, therefore, even though our team is composed of multiple generations and those from different nursing specialties, we all have the same mission; to improve community health status through excellent education, research, community development and health service.
Two team members, Alenda and Ayyu, wrote a scoping review of community-based nursing case management, which was granted the best presentation at the 1st Virtual International Symposium on Health Sciences in September 2020. This scoping review later served as the foundation to develop the VINCENT (Village-based Nursing Case Management) programme and to analyse available policy and regulation related to community health including health financing, health technology, and health management. The VINCENT programme was developed to serve (especially but not limited to) people in need of chronic care; aiming to enable them to manage their symptoms, help them achieve wellness and maintain their independence.
Since being announced as the winner of the NNCGSI challenge, we have received significant support, and have had many unbelievable and valuable experiences. Shortly after the announcement that we had won the NNCGSI challenge, we were invited to share the stage with extraordinary speakers during Keynote Plenaries – Designing a new world: Insights and paradigms in the 4th Healthy City Design 2020 Congress hosted by SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange.

Alenda presents the VINCENT programme to the HCD Congress 2020
From the outset, the Nursing Now Challenge and the NNCGSI have supported us to set the framework for our solution and to develop our global health perspectives. We have been invited to take part in many different webinars and workshops, in which we have been able to connect and engage with nurses all around the world. Furthermore, the Nursing Now Challenge facilitated mentoring sessions with Lord Nigel Crisp, Nursing Now Co-Chair. We gained many insights from him as the sessions took place. He provided us with different perspectives in planning our solution ahead, especially in the art of negotiation with policymakers. So far, we have held discussions with officers in the Public Health Center and governance at the village level, identifying available financing resources, and conducting further research to support the accuracy of our programme.
By initiating this programme, we expect to improve people’s access to care, health literacy, and quality of life while reducing the cost of healthcare and re-hospitalisation rate. We deem this solution in accordance with our mission, and in the long term could raise the status and profile of nurses, as well as contributing towards achieving Health for All. We hope that the implementation of this solution will create job opportunities for Indonesian nurses and influence health policymaking at national level.
On the frontlines of care, nurses are encouraged to ignite innovative practices to improve existing service and health outcomes. Nurses and midwives in their early career might face resistance to take the first step. The first thing to do is to write it down onto the page where other people can also see it. Then, as the degree of innovation is influenced by organisational values, it is important to find companions by asking whether they have the same concern, share the same values, and exhibit a supportive leadership style, encouraging your innovative ideas. It is important to collaborate and draw on the strengths of your team. Be open to feedback and advice from others. Lastly, as Lord Nigel Crisp said, “Start with low-hanging fruits.” Start to work on your idea by taking into consideration the most easily available resources, stay the course, enjoy the journey, and start NOW!