25 Years on the Register: My Top Tip for New Nurses
It wasn’t until I received a WhatsApp message from a former colleague that I truly realised the significance of the milestone I’d reached. Twenty-five years. A quarter of a century since I first joined the NMC register as a qualified nurse. My training cohort was organising a reunion to celebrate this achievement, and it prompted some deep reflection on what this journey has meant—both personally and professionally.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Shortly after this realisation, I was invited to speak to a new cohort of nursing students in my capacity as an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Salford. These students were in their final placements, about to qualify and join the register themselves. As I prepared my remarks, I found myself asking: What are the key lessons from my quarter-century in nursing that I could pass on to the next generation?
A Journey of Unexpected Opportunities
Reflecting on these 25 years, I’m struck by the incredible diversity of opportunities that being a registered nurse has offered me. I’ve worked across multiple organisations, at system and academic levels, in environments I never imagined when I first graduated—from acute and community care to prison healthcare settings.
When I first qualified, my primary ambition was straightforward: become a Band 7 nurse and stay in clinical contact, delivering hands-on care. However, once I reached that role, I discovered something profound: my ability to create meaningful change grew exponentially through influencing and leading others within organisations.
The Unexpected Wisdom I Shared
Standing before that room of eager final-year students earlier this week, I could see the anticipation in their eyes. They had their pens ready, papers prepared to capture what they expected would be profound clinical wisdom from someone with 25 years of experience in senior NHS roles.
My first tip? “Find the annual leave book and book not just your next holiday, but the one after that.”
The ripple of laughter that went around the room was exactly what I expected. This wasn’t the clinical pearl of wisdom they were anticipating. But here’s why it was perhaps the most important advice I could offer.
Leading Yourself Before Leading Others
One of the most crucial lessons I learned—unfortunately, later in my career than I would have liked—is the fundamental importance of leading yourself before attempting to lead others or organisations.
If I couldn’t prioritize my own needs, give myself time to reflect, restore, and recuperate—time to fill my own cup—how could I effectively support others? The emphasis throughout my early career was always on being kind to others, but rarely on being kind to yourself.
Had I known this when I first qualified, had I understood that supporting myself to thrive creates a ripple effect that supports others and organisations to thrive, my journey might have looked very different.
The Transformation Through Leadership
I was fortunate to learn this lesson through exceptional leadership. A skilled manager led me with a coaching style, supporting my curiosity—not just about nursing practice, but about what I needed as a person and professional. Through coaching, self-reflection, and personal development, I discovered the transformative power of self-leadership.
The impact has been profound. When I learned to support myself properly, I found myself thriving. This, in turn, gave me the energy, capacity, and creativity to support others in stepping into their own leadership space and to help organisations flourish.
A Call to Reflection
As we celebrate milestones and prepare the next generation of nurses, I’m curious about the wisdom our profession collectively holds.
What would be your top tip for nursing students about to join the register? What wisdom would you share from your own decades in nursing?
The future of our profession lies not just in clinical excellence, but in our ability to nurture ourselves and each other. Sometimes the most revolutionary act is booking that annual leave and everything that represents about valuing yourself as much as you value the care you provide.
Ways to connect with Jenny:
Email: jenny@developtothrive.com
Website: www.developtothrive.com