A Once in a Lifetime Gathering: A Recap of SBNH Partnership Grant Final Meeting

The partnership grant that brought together a group of almost 30 researchers and involved nearly 200 healthcare leaders has been monumental, to say the least. After more than 5 years working together, partners of the research initiative Transforming Nurses' Work Environments Through a Strengths-Based Leadership and Management Training Program led by Professor Laurie Gottlieb and supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), gathered on November 6^th and 7^th for their final meeting. The energy was palpable and there was a sense of accomplishment and excitement for the future.

The day began with Professor Gottlieb celebrating the success of the grant and highlighting how far the Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare (SBNH) approach has spread in the last decade. She reflected on the humble beginnings of SBNH and the collective journey of the partnership, emphasizing the achievements and the impact of collaboration. Indeed, the research initiative’s key output, the SBNH Leadership Program, not only trained 121 healthcare leaders but set the stage for growth and development well beyond the program.

Throughout the day, various researchers and working committees presented. Notably, the Evaluation Committee presented their encouraging results on the impact of the SBNH-L Program. Their findings, which will be published in the coming year, were overwhelmingly positive. Key impact factors focused on workplace satisfaction, stress in the workplace, leadership capabilities and leadership style.

The day continued with a round table discussion featuring leaders from the five clinical institutions involved in the project (CIUSSS West-Central, CIUSSS Montreal West Island, McGill University Health Centre, Hospital for Sick Children and Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Hospital). They discussed their SBNH implementation stories and ways to continue the momentum, including concrete strategies to integrate SBNH into everyday activities, projects and processes touching all aspects of clinical practice, education, research and leadership. Animated by former Chief Nurse Executive of Holland Bloorview and co-investigator Marilyn Ballantyne, the round table reinforced the partners’ desires to continue the momentum and broaden SBNH within their institutions.

Throughout the day it was clear that the collective achievements of this Partnership Grant have contributed to fostering a community around SBNH values. This effort to mobilize knowledge and create implementation strategies ensures the impact extends beyond the immediate scope of the grant, reaching many academic, clinical and leadership institutions who can benefit from these experiences and findings. This was demonstrated in two presentations on different follow-up studies coming out of the partnership: one SSHRC-funded study to explore the integration of SBNH leadership in nursing practice and one study on the impacts of establishing virtual communities of SBNH practice with nurses and healthcare workers around the world.

The success of this project was only made possible by the dedication and motivation of a fantastic and strengths-based multi-disciplinary team. Lead by Professor Gottlieb, this journey has been marked by the unwavering commitment of each team member, who brought their unique skills, perspectives, and energy to the table. The collaborative spirit that permeated the partnership meeting is a testament to the strength of this team and the merits of interdisciplinary research amongst academic researchers and clinical leaders, fueling our energy for rich collaborations ahead.

"The joy is in the journey, the struggle is part of the joy, and the final destination is not an end but another beginning of another journey." - Kathy Boyd Fellure