Inception – Raising AKI Awareness Campaign
The second in a series of blogs from Wendy Oakes, AKI Specialist Nurse
Part 2? Yes, because this is a reflective blog so let’s start at the beginning – March 2016. Here I am, AKI specialist nurse, I feel a little uncomfortable and it’s not just because of the crisp new uniform but more down to using my job title – I’m not a renal specialist nurse or a specialist anything, this was a new role for me and for the hospital. What am I doing? I’m a critical care nurse, have I made a terrible mistake? I had certainly ‘talked the talk’ at my job interview but now I would be expected to ‘walk the walk’ and I was definitely experiencing The Imposter Syndrome described so well by Hugh Kearns @ithinkwellHugh .
How was I going to initiate a Trust wide ‘Raising AKI Awareness’ campaign when I literally didn’t know anyone? The word ‘infiltrate’ comes to mind, not quite in the military sense that I saw Stockport as the enemy, but more how could I gain access to the right groups in order to influence the way that group thinks and behaves? Of course, now I could draw upon my previous experience and involvement in quality improvement and patient safety projects – my skills really were transferrable! I made a plan, well a list (a very long list) of all the ways I could get my information to the ‘enemy’.
Whilst navigating one’s way around a new organisation initially appeared daunting, I quickly realised that being new did actually have some advantages – I didn’t know anyone but likewise, nobody knew me. I wasn’t hindered or intimidated by any perceived hierarchy because….. you’ve guessed it, I didn’t know anyone!
I brazenly sent out emails introducing myself (including the requisite terrible photo – unforgettable) outlining the urgent need to improve AKI care and patient safety. Data, facts and figures all helpfully provided by the ‘Think Kidneys’ website. I shamelessly played on my ‘new to Stockport’ status, requesting help and advice, and I knew existing meetings and forums would be useful to attend and so I boldly invited myself – this was no time for shrinking violets, I was going into battle, metaphorically speaking.
I spent many hours designing various posters using the Trust templates which all looked very professional and maintained the corporate image. However, I was concerned that they all looked the same – how would staff recognise new information? A quick email to ‘Think Kidneys’ and permission to use their logo was given and a digital image was provided – now my posters were unique!
Realising the power of ‘branding’, the logo was then used on anything and everything AKI related – PowerPoint presentation slides, information on the Trust intranet, Team Brief, my Trust email signature and so on. I wanted or rather I needed everyone to recognise the distinctive orange logo of 
and immediately think….. ‘Kidneys’.
As I visited wards and departments, the staff started to recognise me and exclaimed “Oh, you’re the kidney nurse” or “You’re doing that AKI thing” and curiously, the symptoms of my Imposter Syndrome began to improve.
Okay, so the staff didn’t always know my name, that wasn’t important – but they knew what I was about!
Wendy Oakes
Wendy Oakes, joined Stockport NHS Foundation Trust as AKI specialist nurse at the end of March 2016. Brand-new to the Trust, a brand-new role for the hospital and a brand-new role for her. With a background in critical care nursing, she has a PGCE in adult education which was useful when developing a competency based training programme for nurses providing continuous renal replacement therapy in ICU. She has experience of working at a senior level in critical care to drive quality improvements in patient care and safety.