Christine Dunn looks at how nurses can play an important role in making standards work

A few years ago my daughter, then about ten years old, was writing an essay entitled ‘My parents’ work'. She had completed her account of her dad’s occupation, and very glamorous it sounded too: ’Travels to different countries... meets lots of interesting people like Boy George,’ she enthused for two full pages. Mum’s career proved to be quite a different tale. At the top of a separate sheet were two short sentences. 'My mummy’s a nurse. Nursing makes you tired.’