When the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, no-one could have predicted how relevant it would be.
Communities have come together to pay tribute to the bravery and commitment of nurses during the COVID-19 crisis, and they are more valued now than ever before.
Today is International Nurses Day, marking the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
To acknowledge the efforts of nurses worldwide in tackling COVID-19, Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, has urged the public to ‘shine a light’ at 8.30pm this evening.
While the work of nurses on the front line is being recognised, it’s also important for nursing careers to be supported and developed.
So Maximus UK was proud to commit to the Nightingale Challenge 2020, which calls for large employers of nurses to provide leadership development for 20 young nurses and midwives.
Maximus employs more than 850 nurses across the UK. Since joining the Challenge, we’ve worked with a group of 20 nurses under the age of 35 from across the business. They are in the early stages of a leadership career, or are interested in developing the skills needed to take up a management role.
The selected ‘Nightingales’ will be given access to bespoke leadership toolkits and a portfolio of online resources, including e-books and audio-visual content.
The Nightingale project’s activities are being supported and monitored by both the Clinical Director and Head of Talent & Development.
Professional development is important to us as a business. Each year, our clinical colleagues undertake more than 100,000 hours of CPD, across a diverse range of topics.
A significant number of senior leaders within our business started in front line roles, and we’re committed to supporting our aspiring colleagues to progress in their career.
That’s why we’re delighted to be part of the Nightingale Challenge. We are reinforcing our commitment to providing leadership opportunities for younger nurses, and highlighting the career development options available to nurses at all career stages.
To find out more about nursing opportunities at Maximus UK companies, visit our careers page.
