It was an incredible honour yesterday to attend a Royal reception at the palace of Hollyroodhouse with other Queen’s nurses. When I stepped through the doors of that care home 30 years ago I never imagined it would one day take me to a palace. #CareHomes #RoyalWeek #QNIS
Homeward bound after a productive few days in Aberdeen exploring meaningful activity. So time for some chapter editing on the journey home #PhDLife #ConstructivistGroundedTheory
It’s the book of fire for me this month as my bookclub read 📖 you shall need to let me know what the hidden fires is like #Books #BookClub #Reading
An inspiring hour today always good to connect with passionate care home people, share ideas, make plans for celebrating and showcasing the amazing people on social care.
Here is a better picture of the bookmark it’s adorable. I do have the best friends and colleagues. Enjoy the little things #Fungi #Bookmark
Laptop staying closed all weekend as it’s my birthday weekend and I’ve started the morning sat in the garden. Book, coffee, nature, sunshine = bliss and how cute is my bookmark that I got as a birthday gift from a colleague 🍄 #WeekendOff #NoPhDThisWeekend #Nature #Fungi #Relax #FifeMornings
Off to our managers conference today, a chance to connect, share ideas, showcase projects and gain inspiration. Looking forward to a day filled with insight, collaboration, and renewed energy for the work we do every day. #CareHomes #Teamwork #Collaboration
Two hours of chapter writing before work starts because it’s my birthday weekend and I am taking two days off from writing. So a few early starts and PhD power hours and I should still get some good thesis progress #EarlyStarts #PhDLife #Balance #CGT #ConstructivistGroundedTheory
Happy international nurses day to nurses around the world thank you to all the social care nurses who have inspired me and shaped my career. A special mention also to all my fellow Queen’s nurses who push me to be brave and step out of that comfort zone #IND2025 #CareHomes
#Renaturing by James Canton is an inspiring read. You will be surprised by how much renaturing you’re doing yourself. It was a term I had not heard a lot and now love because no matter how small your space we can all do something to support nature #BookRecomendation #Books #BookClub #NatureReading
Thesis writing is so much easier surrounded by nature. #PhDLife #ConstructivistGroundedTheory #Nature #Fife #Scotland
On the train on my way to the Scottish dementia research consortium conference. Displaying my poster over the two days and presenting tomorrow. Two days of learning, being inspired and networking. @scottishcare.bsky.social @qniscotland.bsky.social #Dementia #PartnershipWorking #Families #CareHomes
Took a quiet walk in the woods this morning and watched the red squirrels. It’s important to take pauses during the PhD process. Came back ready to tackle Chapter 4: methods + the research journey. Sometimes clarity comes when you stop trying to force it.
#PhD #AcademicWriting #CGT #NatureBreak
It’s a favourite for me for this months theme but I always get something new from it 🎩 #BookClub #Hats
A wonderful day today gathering feedback on meaningful engagement and Andrew kindly shared some gardening top tips (images shared with permission) I of course managed to get some time in the reading room as well. I say it all the time but I do have a fabulous job #CareHomes #MeaningfulActivity
The sun may not be shining today but the view from the care home window is beautiful. #Nature #Scenic #CareHomes
Arrived safely in North Ayrshire my home for the next three days. It was a very early start to get here and as expected the last 14 miles was an adventure after taking a wrong turn. #NationalWork #RoadTrip #CareHomeNurse
A walk to clear the head before another 4 hours of reading and writing up. It’s been a productive morning though as I do feel like this chapter is nearly there #PhDLife #ConstructivistGroundedTheory #CGT #Balance #NurseResearch #CareHomeNurse #CPD
Today it’s time to get chapter three to a point where I am happy with it, highlighters are ready, the 3hr playlist is loaded, let’s go! #Thesis #PhDLife #CGT
Well I can’t put it off any longer the new printer needs set up, let the IT gods be on my side today. Let’s get printing or maybe not let’s see 🤣
Early start this morning listening to the bird chorus as I get some #PhD work done before work. Enjoying these little early morning sessions, because it means I can relax in the evening. It’s all about finding what works for you #PhDLife #Balance
Right Wednesday let’s get a few things of this to do list ✅ Have a wonderful Wednesday whatever you are doing and remember a small step is still progress. #InchByInch #Progress #WednesdayWisdom
The mid-week non-fiction read. Chapter 6. - do hard things, is resonating as I push out of the comfort zone this week #Reading #Confidence
Spent some time going through my @qniscotland.bsky.social journals this morning and found all the lovely little notes fellow Queens nurses had written me. A chance to reflect on a Monday morning on what’s changed since I started the journey and the next steps #MondayMotovation #Support #Kindness
After a beautiful day at the Daffodil Festival yesterday, today it’s all about Constructivist Grounded Theory. PhD life is all about time and balance #PhDLife #CareHomeNurse #NurseResearch #CGT
Jumped on this trend, even got the Irregular Choice shoes #actionfigure
Love these lighter and warmer mornings a little stroll around the garden and seeing things start to blossom. Started early today so I can finish earlier and get some #PhD work done in the sun hopefully #PhDLife #Balance #WorkPhDBalance #CareHomeResearch
