As we look to strengthen nursing and midwifery we need to encourage more men in nursing and midwifery, however we all need to support and retain gender equity in both the professions.
A focus within Northern Ireland is Valuing Diversity “Men in Nursing”.
This project was a bottom up approach, identified by young male nurses in Northern Ireland in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing.
Breaker Breaker Truck Show was an event in aid of Men’s Mental Health in particular Lorry drivers, to raise awareness among this profession and men’s health in general. It took place at Nutts Corner, Crumlin on 24 August.
This has been a very active group in promoting Health and wellbeing within our communities and promoting nursing as a career with school children.
As part of our International Nurses’ Day celebration in Northern Ireland, and Nursing Now Northern Ireland, nurses worked in partnership with our primary schools to promote nursing as a career with our children.
We had a number of events with school nurses and school children from each Trust area as part of the International Nursing Day celebrations to raise the profile of nursing.
These were fun, enthusiastic and exciting events working with primary school children. Have a look:
Restart a Heart Campaign
The sixth annual Restart a Heart campaign and the second annual World Restart a Heart (WRSAH) campaign took place on Wednesday 16th October 2019. An informal awareness day educated the students of St Mary’s Grammar School, Belfast, on the importance on early CPR in the event of cardiac arrest and the students were given the opportunity to gain practical skills in administering CPR.
In her address to the students, the Chief nursing Officer, Charlotte McArdle, advised the students that “Survival rates in the UK for individuals who have a cardiac arrest out of hospital are around 10%. 
In other developed countries it is as high as 25%. In N. Ireland we have approximately one out of hospital cardiac arrest each day and this ‘Restart a Heart’ initiative is designed to improve the chance of survival from this tragic event.
As young people you have an extremely important part to play in your school and the wider community.
You are the leaders of tomorrow and will go on to provide a valuable contribution to society by realising your potential and inspiring those around you. 
Some of you may even consider a career in healthcare and in particular the profession of nursing. Nursing is an extremely worthwhile career choice and opens a wide variety of career pathways.”
The students were supported in developing their CPR skills by several ambassadors of nursing and were able to take the opportunity to speak to them about a career pathway in nursing and the rewarding opportunities that this profession can offer them.
The students were supported in developing their CPR skills by several ambassadors of nursing and were able to take the opportunity to speak to them about a career pathway in nursing and the rewarding opportunities that this profession can offer them.