Opinion  

We plan to do more as a team to improve our own lifestyles, and several of us have taken to walking at lunchtime - though our blogs on the QNI website will show that practising what we preach is harder than we thought.

We expected only modest initial interest in the campaign - we had aroused only a few interested glances as we strode about the park with Nordic walking poles and a photographer in tow. But nurses in primary care have surprised us.

We sent out more than 100 starter packs with the Nursing No 1 health journal, t-shirt and pedometer in the first two weeks, but we have now ordered more as demand continues.

This is great news. We were clear that the campaign was not intended to put pressure on nurses to change their ways, only to respond to those who wanted to do something for themselves and their health. That nurses are taking up the opportunity, and paying attention to their own health needs as well as their patients' is really positive.

In times of constant pressure, stress and change at work it is easy to lose the motivation to do anything other than the day-to-day requirements. The will and commitment to do something practical for oneself can easily be overwhelmed.

We hear clear messages that morale is very low in some parts of community nursing as jobs are cut, services re-organised, and traditional roles appear to be marginalised or disposable.

It is difficult to maintain good care, and a professional, supportive approach to patients when this is happening. The fact that many nurses are taking time to consider themselves and their own wellbeing shows great resilience and good sense, and is a cause for optimism. When the going gets tough, nurses, it seems, get tougher.

To order a Nursing No 1 starter pack, visit www.qni.org.uk 

- Rosemary Cook, director, Queen's Nursing Institute.