Webchat with former nurse and author of The Language of Kindness, Christie Watson on Thursday 17 May, 9pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Author and former nurse Christie Watson is joining us for a webchat on Thursday (17 May) evening at 9pm. Christie worked as a nurse for 20 years and her extraordinary account of life on the front line of the NHS has been documented in her book: The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story.

"In the book readers follow Christie as she nurses a premature baby who has miraculously made it through the night, and stand by her side during her patient’s agonising heart-lung transplant. Later, she washes the hair of a child fatally injured in a fire, attempting to remove the toxic smell of smoke before the grieving family arrive. When life is lived most intensely, Christie is there. She is a guide, mentor and friend".

Christie worked in a variety of healthcare settings, but spent most of her career in paediatric intensive care in large NHS hospitals before becoming a resuscitation nurse. She now teaches and writes and advocates for nursing. Her first novel, Tiny Sunbirds Far Away, won the Costa First Novel Award.

Come and chat to Christie about her experiences of working in the NHS on Thursday evening at 9pm. Everyone who joins will be entered into a draw to win one of three copies of The Language of Kindness. If you're unable to join on the night, post your question for Christie in advance on this thread.

Read our bloggers' reviews of The Language of Kindness and enter our competition to win one of ten free copies.

@AbbyRMumsnet

Hello! If you knew what you now know when you were thinking about becoming a nurse, as well as the way the NHS is now compared to 20 years ago, would you still have chosen this career path?

Hi AbbyRMumsnet - a hundred million billion percent. I am PROUD of our NHS now and then. I think - despite the HORRIFIC financial challenges - it's still one the best healthcare systems in the world. I cannot think of anything that is more true to British values and represents our collective hearts than the tolerance, respect, and kindness to every human being regardless - which represents our NHS.

You must be incredibly busy at the moment, how do you balance your work & family commitments and seeing your friends?

Would you ever consider getting involved in politics? I admire your belief and optimism and the way you can touch a person's heart by telling a story. It's just so frustrating that 'the system' seems to be run by people who don't seem to have a clue. Are you ever tempted to go into the ministry and knock some heads together?

Hello Christie,

I read your story in the Sunday Times. Wow, it was incredible and I can't wait to read your book now. What, for you, was the best and the worst thing about being a nurse? And do you miss it at all now?

Thank you!

@skorpion

Would you ever consider getting involved in politics? I admire your belief and optimism and the way you can touch a person's heart by telling a story. It's just so frustrating that 'the system' seems to be run by people who don't seem to have a clue. Are you ever tempted to go into the ministry and knock some heads together?

Interesting question scorpion and I'd really love to get more nurses involved with politics and policy making. We need a view from the inside not outside. But I am hoping this platform will do some good and although I think I've possibly got too much of a shameful past to be allowed as an MP (Thanks goodness Facebook did not exist when I was a youth) I hope to be political. I've been asked by Lord Crisp to champion Nursing Now which is a brilliant global initiative to raise awareness for nurses and nursing. And along with doing some good the Duchess of Cambridge is their ambassador so I'm hoping it gets me one step closer to a Meghan and Harry wedding invite xxx

Nurses I have met have always been very kind and compassionate, even if it’s just sitting and chatting with their patients over a cup of tea and a biscuit. What’s your favourite biscuit that helps cheer people up?

Six minutes left and I could chat to you all forever! You are the best - right - quick question xxx

@SecretNibbler

Nurses I have met have always been very kind and compassionate, even if it’s just sitting and chatting with their patients over a cup of tea and a biscuit. What’s your favourite biscuit that helps cheer people up?

SecretNibbler you asked the question I was desperate for!!!! GARIBALDI or dead fly biscuits as we used to call em xxx

Thank you for answering my question - as I said before - I am recommending your book to all that will listen. Such a great message in it and applicable, I think, to much more in life than just nursing.

Thank you so so much Mumsnet family. You rock

That brings us to the end of the webchat. Thanks so much to Christie for joining us and to all those who posted up questions. Congratulations to CorvusUmbranox, Secretnibbler and Skorpion who have each won a copy of The Language of Kindness. If you weren’t lucky this evening, then there’s still time to enter our competition to win one of 10 copies.

Thanks again Christie and good luck with the book.

Apologies for missing the chat last night, thank you for answering my question. I too hope to see you doing more political work. We need nurses in policy making and shaping our future.

Thank you, MN and Christie! I missed the live chat, but I'm thrilled about winning a copy.