Abstract
In regularly scheduled, informal gatherings of nurses and others who care about the nursing profession, participants find support, encouragement, enlightenment, and hope.
What started 9 years ago as a single evening of discussion about nursing among four graduate nursing students, their instructor, and me has grown into a regular schedule of monthly gatherings with an e-mail list of more than 150 participants. Although most participants are nurses, other friends and colleagues also attend. The only requirement is an interest in nursing and a desire to talk about it.
Each salon is a unique event attended by anywhere from 5 to more than 20 people. There is no carryover (except in people's memory) from one salon's discussion topics to the next. The themes of each salon comprise one or two topics that emerge from the issues, ideas, and feelings the participants bring to share. There is no formal agenda, and there are no minutes and no action steps—just a shared experience of touching the reality of nursing at a depth of meaning that enriches the practice and the experience of the participants.
Over the years, a format has evolved, a function created, and an outcome achieved. The format is a modified Socrates Café, the function is healing, and the outcome is hope.
The Format
There are several key elements to the salon format, which combines the inclusiveness of open-space technology (Owen, 2008) with the good conversation practices of the Socrates Café (Phillips, 2001). Open-space technology involves how individuals are invited and how the event is convened. Information about the salon is passed by word of mouth or online. Individuals who attend a salon are encouraged to tell others about it and to bring a friend next time. There are no selection criteria. To be on the mailing list, an individual only has to express a desire to be “on the list.” People on the list are notified by e-mail of the dates of upcoming salons, and RSVP by e-mail or phone. Salons in and around the metropolitan areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, are listed online on the events calendar of the local Zeta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (http://www.nursing.umn.edu/STTI/Events/home.html), and attendees can RSVP directly from those links.
There is no formal agenda, and there are no minutes and no action steps—just a shared experience of touching the reality of nursing at a depth of meaning that enriches the practice and the experience of the participants.
Every effort is made to keep stress out of this event. There are no requirements or expectations. Dress is casual. Food is provided. No one need worry about preparing something to say, bringing food for a potluck, or being put on the spot in any way. The atmosphere is deliberately low key, informal, and friendly.
The topic emerges from the Socrates Café conversation format. During the meal, attendees check in by answering the question, “What is on your mind about nursing tonight?” An effort is made to keep these comments brief and to refrain from entering into a topic discussion at this time. After everyone has been heard, the group chooses the major topics for the night based on the themes that emerge from the check-in. An in-depth discussion, using good conversation principles, ensues. At the end of the evening, a checkout gives everyone the opportunity to state briefly what is on his or her mind about nursing now.
The Function is Healing
During the check-in, people briefly describe experiences with patients, families, teachers, coworkers, classmates. These comments may be positive or negative. As we enter into a deeper discussion on specific issues, participants experience validation, support, and sometimes enlightenment as others share similar situations.
Recently, many participants have commented on how important it is to process the feelings they have about some of the horrendous experiences they see in their work and how hard this is to do. Few nurses have family members who are available for these kinds of discussions, and there is no time at work to share with other nurses. The salon is one of the few times when nurses can discuss major practice issues in a safe environment.
Humor is healing. Nurses have a wonderful capacity for finding and using humor to deal with painful experiences. At times the salon rocks with laughter— tension is released, and healing occurs.
The Outcome is Hope
Hope is the most frequently mentioned outcome of these events. It started showing up early on and continues to be the most consistently used word when people check out. Novice nurses feel hope when they realize that seasoned staff nurses are still as passionate about nursing practice as they are. Veteran nurses feel the same hope as they see new nurses ‘depth of caring and passion about nursing. It becomes so clear to everyone that nursing is a culture, not just a job.
The original salon has been meeting continuously for 9 years. Meanwhile, two more monthly salons have begun in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In addition, there have been “start-up” events in England, California, and Seattle, with another scheduled in Portland. Information about these events is being collected on a blog titled “Marie Manthey's Nursing Salon.” I hope that this expanding network of salons represents the beginning of a whole movement: a movement of healing and hope for the nursing profession.
Footnotes
Marie Manthey, MNA, FRCN, FAAN, is president emeritus of Creative Health Care Management, author of The Practice of Primary Nursing, and editor in chief of Creative Nursing.