- Email: [email protected]
It’s good to meet
Journal of Neonatal Nursing (2011) 17, 127
www.elsevier.com/jneo
EDITORIAL
It’s good to meet In this age of multimedia, instant emails and texting, systems to enable communication are not lacking. Increasingly we have all become dependent on these lines of communication, to the extentit has become as routine as switching the kettle on, yet we all know some who resist the temptation to be drawn into the obsession and, through choice, work very well without any of the gadgets. This minority, like past generations not so long ago, communicate and collaborate with fellow colleagues equally well. Certainly progress and the changing revolution cannot be argued with, but It has been suggested that all these electronic advances have led us to talk less and communicate more through messaging services, at times when we need to communicate. As a result we speak less often and when we do meet with others they are friends and relatives with whom we have chosen to meet. It seems, therefore, that there is less opportunity for face to face dialogue with colleagues; that perhaps the only thing we have in common with each other is the work and passion we have for the care of sick neonates and their families that ironically consumes a large percentage of our time. Whether it is the communication highroad that diminishes our need to find out about the latest developments or new areas of research with colleagues face to face; or the terrible roads and the resulting traffic jams; or less opportunities for study leave and funding; or just the lack of spare
time, it seems there is less opportunity to attend meetings and conferences and just listen and talk for a day. Could it be possible that we gradually forget that this is what we used to do and become so absorbed in the media systems that physically attending conferences and meetings will become a thing of the past, or at best an occasional exception. Let’s hope that this isn’t the case. It would be a pity and a great loss. Of course we live in the modern age and need to utilise all the tools available to us to further our speciality within the constraints of our lives. Computer-based learning programmes, resources and similar technologies are fantastic and we are lucky to be able to access them. Nevertheless, sometimes it’s worth taking the time and braving the motorway for a day mingling with old and new faces, leaving relaxed, rejuvenated and motivated; temporarily relieved from the usual hassles and strains. At the time of writing this, Perinatal 2011 is just days away. There is great anticipation that this conference will be as memorable and even better that the first in 2008. To share and meet a good representation of neonatal nurses alongside our medical colleagues will be a measure of its success. Dee Beresford E-mail address: [email protected]
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
1355-1841/$ - see front matter ª 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Neonatal Nurses Association. doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2011.06.002
www.elsevier.com/jneo
EDITORIAL
It’s good to meet In this age of multimedia, instant emails and texting, systems to enable communication are not lacking. Increasingly we have all become dependent on these lines of communication, to the extentit has become as routine as switching the kettle on, yet we all know some who resist the temptation to be drawn into the obsession and, through choice, work very well without any of the gadgets. This minority, like past generations not so long ago, communicate and collaborate with fellow colleagues equally well. Certainly progress and the changing revolution cannot be argued with, but It has been suggested that all these electronic advances have led us to talk less and communicate more through messaging services, at times when we need to communicate. As a result we speak less often and when we do meet with others they are friends and relatives with whom we have chosen to meet. It seems, therefore, that there is less opportunity for face to face dialogue with colleagues; that perhaps the only thing we have in common with each other is the work and passion we have for the care of sick neonates and their families that ironically consumes a large percentage of our time. Whether it is the communication highroad that diminishes our need to find out about the latest developments or new areas of research with colleagues face to face; or the terrible roads and the resulting traffic jams; or less opportunities for study leave and funding; or just the lack of spare
time, it seems there is less opportunity to attend meetings and conferences and just listen and talk for a day. Could it be possible that we gradually forget that this is what we used to do and become so absorbed in the media systems that physically attending conferences and meetings will become a thing of the past, or at best an occasional exception. Let’s hope that this isn’t the case. It would be a pity and a great loss. Of course we live in the modern age and need to utilise all the tools available to us to further our speciality within the constraints of our lives. Computer-based learning programmes, resources and similar technologies are fantastic and we are lucky to be able to access them. Nevertheless, sometimes it’s worth taking the time and braving the motorway for a day mingling with old and new faces, leaving relaxed, rejuvenated and motivated; temporarily relieved from the usual hassles and strains. At the time of writing this, Perinatal 2011 is just days away. There is great anticipation that this conference will be as memorable and even better that the first in 2008. To share and meet a good representation of neonatal nurses alongside our medical colleagues will be a measure of its success. Dee Beresford E-mail address: [email protected]
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
1355-1841/$ - see front matter ª 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Neonatal Nurses Association. doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2011.06.002