In My Day: Using lessons from history, ritual and our elders to build professional identity

Drawing on the power of ritual, storytelling and lessons from history and our professional elders, nursing academics at the University of the Sunshine Coast organised a three-hour event on International Nurses Day. The aims were to model to students the importance of producing their own nursing stories and to celebrate and stimulate conversation about the diverse, rich, local and national history of nursing. The event included: an oration from an influential guest speaker; video footage of nurses telling their stories; an historical display of nursing artefacts; opportunities for participants to record their stories; and opportunities for students, staff and the local nursing fraternity to engage with each other. The event received very positive evaluative feedback from participants, and we formulated recommendations for future events and student education: (1) ensure an adequate planning period to book a suitable venue and elicit sufficient financial and marketing support; (2) establish a local retired nurses association that could provide mentoring support for student nurses; and (3) integrate the annual event and the mentoring program into the curriculum of a course within our Nursing Program. We conclude that such professional development events can provide many benefits for all sectors of our nursing community.