The IFNA – UK and Ireland Chapter Executive Group spoke with Dr Simon Stones, who was awarded one of the International Family Nursing Foundation-funded scholarships to support his attendance at the virtual 15th International Family Nursing Conference. During the conference, Simon delivered a presentation about his PhD research. Here is what he said…
“I was thrilled to receive a conference scholarship, funded by the International Family Nursing Foundation, to support my attendance at the 15th International Family Nursing Conference earlier this year.
Initially, I was reluctant to apply, given that I do not have a clinical background; however, I soon learned how inclusive and supportive the IFNA community are of people from various backgrounds working to advance family-focused care. Therefore, you can imagine the delight on my face when I received the news that I had been awarded a conference scholarship!
The conference was a fabulous opportunity to network with the entire family nursing community… from fellow postgraduate students to distinguished clinicians and researchers. I particularly enjoyed getting to know some of the other PhD students and finding out about their research, which I always find fascinating. Regardless of your speciality or focus, there is always something to be learned through networking.
I was also provided with a 15-minute section of the programme to present some of the findings from my PhD research, as well as the methodology that I used. The feedback received was incredibly useful, and it certainly gave me the emotional ‘boost’ that I needed… especially since I presented a couple of hours after submitting my thesis for examination!
The conference also provided ample opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills through a variety of different sessions. The virtual nature of this year’s conference meant you could dip in and out of different sessions based on your interests, as well as being able to revisit different sessions on demand after the conference, which I found really useful.
I am so grateful to IFNA and the International Family Nursing Foundation for awarding me with a conference scholarship, and I would recommend anyone to apply for such opportunities in the future!”