2013 is going to be a big year.
Over the last 12 months or so we have seen a huge growth in medical social media connectivity. The breadth and depth of high quality educational materials (or MEDucation as it is often now referred) available to us now for free is astounding.
And its not just education. Nurses are engaging with each other, sharing ideas and experiences, arguing and joking…and perhaps for the first time on the internet, we are seeing some first glimpses of something, I’m not really sure what to call it…. a deeper interpenetration between the separate worlds of nurses and doctors as we soak in each others experience… perhaps?
I have no doubt there are interesting times ahead.
The whole FOAM (Free Open Access Meducation) concept is growing from its recent nascence into a game changing movement. It is still wide-eyed and a little foal-wobbly right now but it is fast finding its legs. Make no mistake, it has gumption, and it has pedigree.
I think the following year will also see some interesting developments as the general public, patient advocates and regulatory bodies all become more aware of the much more overt nature of medical social media streams, and more astute at accessing (and interacting) with this body of information and conversations.
So what will 2013 mean for impactednurse.com?
Well, I am active on quite a lot of social media streams right now, but this site is my heart and hearth.
In 2013 I will really be working hard deliver lot more ‘stuff’ on this site.
As has always been the case, I have a few boundary issues here.
I struggle to define exactly what it is that impactednurse.com is trying be, and hold it up in comparison to some of the other most excellent websites out there, who seem to know exactly who they are.
But I, on the other hand, have always wobbled around all over the place.
On more than one occasion this site has been called quirky, which really used to make me bristle.
Quirky?….oh no, no, no, no , I put a lot of work into this place….its not quirky dammit!
But guess what. The Q word.
Clearly, when I try to be what I think I should be I just trip over myself.
Did you know that I often (very often) scrap posts because I imagine they are not what others may be interested in….or because I feel they do not meet the standards of other medical sites, or because I fear the judgment of those who I know and respect who might read my thoughts here?
Especially that last one. Yes boundary issues and self confidence issues.
Despite this I have always tried to capture a little of the art and soul of nursing on this site. As with all art (and most souls), the result can sometimes be confronting, other times (surprising even myself at what has just appeared on the page) deeply moving……and sometimes just plain bad. Way wrong bad.
I see this as my strength. Bad bits and all.
So for 2013 my resolution is to write down whatever splashes out as my heart, my head, and my spleen crazy-chase around this tank of skin.
Just write.
Just write.
My other project right now is Nurse+
I would really like this community to grow into a core of regular contributors and I will be working hard to nudge it along, and to convince nurses to regularly visit as a useful alternative to the (oftentimes) froth and bubble of Facebook.
So. 2013 will be a big year methinks, and I will try my damnedest to snag you along for the ride.
I love this post. It kind of reminds me of myself. I’ve been blogging for about a year now. Sometimes I’m not sure what I should be doing. I have thoughts like, ‘Maybe change the name of my blog? ‘ Probably start a fitness blog? Start a video blog? Anyway, I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who has these questions:)
Yes Ian, just write, write, write! Open access means that we can choose what we use. And sometimes what is useful takes a while to become apparent. Your quality control/self-censoring may have adapted over the years… and due to your habits of writing, writing, writing, we have had the benefit of learning with you. ! Happy 2013!
Happy New Year and keep up the good work Ian.
You help renew my faith in nursing
Go for it Ian
You’ve been a front-runner in taking nursing online and have inspired many nurses (myself included) to join you.
In 2013 us online Aussie health professionals will need to keep a close eye on what becomes of AHPRA’s aborted social media policy. It’s important that we continue to build blogs, Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, YouTube channels etc that even risk-averse Luddites can appreciate as positive contributions. We’re all exploring spaces and ideas that weren’t even possible a few years ago; let’s not be afraid to take an occasional wrong turn – dead-ends still provide valuable mapping information.
Happy New Year
Paul
Hey Ian,
So you are thinking of growing impacted nurse, I highly suggest getting other nurses that write on the interned to contribute to your website. Have multiple authors. And don’t be afraid to trust others.
Also never be afraid to write from your heart, do the things that you love.
Good luck, I’ll be there reading your work.
I’ve so appreciated the things you post and the way you write about them don’t go changing stuff just to change them. You write out of your heart; it’s great and it shows. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled across you and your sites. Best wishes for a great new year. R
Your purpose is to beam with pride, the awesomeness of the nursing profession. This makes us feel good and inspires us to keep learning and be hungry for more of the stuff (not guff or duff) that you so professionally relay to us each day.
I will be sitting at the front of the bus Ian! Love your site (including Google+) because of the ‘bad’ bits; there are too many people already who are too scared to stick their head out and voice their opinion. I value yours and we are all old enough to agree to disagree. Keep on writing!