Jan van Elp, ICU nurse at Tjongerschans Hospital, is 62. He actually wanted to quit around the age of 63. But because of the ‘Strengthen your say’ course from V&VN, he has decided to continue for a while. “I have become very enthusiastic about the influence that nurses can exert on the interpretation of their profession and the organization where they work.”
Control, Jan thinks, is a difficult word. “It is too far removed from the workplace. What matters is that nurses ask themselves what they encounter in their work and what they would like to change. And then you don’t just have to wonder about something, but you also initiate changes.”
Jan has been vice-chairman of the Nursing Advisory Council (VAR) at the Frisian hospital for two years. He is also the discussion leader for Moral Consultation. “With such a VAR you can really exert influence. For example, we had an emergency committee that did not include a nurse. That’s special, I thought. There are now also two nurses on that committee. Because our expertise can make the difference in assessing a disaster.”
On January 1, 2025, Tjongerschans will merge with Medical Center Leeuwarden, that is the plan. Jan: “The VAR then becomes a Nursing Staff Board. The intention is that there will be a board in each department that will also include a nurse. We are now discussing this.”
Why is he following the ‘Strengthen your say’ course? “I noticed that I lacked knowledge. You have to know something about legislation, structures and processes in hospitals if you want to change something and if you want people to listen to you. The meetings about control stimulate me. I also expand my network this way. It also makes me more confident. For example, I hear from other students that it is not surprising that only four people come when you, as a VAR, organize a nursing café. Nurses are very busy and not everyone is busy with desired changes at work in addition to their job.”
Jan still has one thing to say as an in-service trained nurse. “Achieving control seems very much aimed at higher professional education nurses. I think that’s a shame. MBO nurses and in-service nurses should also be given the opportunity to discuss their work. After all, we are one professional group.”
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