Part of nurses’ evolving role

Nurses are becoming more involved in public speaking because of the way the nursing role has evolved, says practice nurse Donna Loose of Birchwood Medical Practice in north Walsham, Norfolk. ‘Nurses have become more specialised, are involved in educating a wider population, are leaders and managers, and expected to present on, say, service improvements,’ says Ms Loose, a Queen’s Nurse who specialises in women’s health and nurse manager who supports recruitment and career development of the nursing team in general practice.

However, the prospect of public speaking can seem daunting. For some, the idea of addressing a large audience is such a terrifying prospect that they will try to avoid the experience altogether.

A lack of self-confidence can be an issue for those tasked with speaking in front of an audience, says Ms Loose. Nurses also lack training and a network of support in this area, she says.

Public speaking becomes less daunting for nurses if they consider that effective communication is at the heart of what they do every day. ‘Speaking in public is our “bread and butter” – it’s part of our job,’ says Ms Loose.

How to prepare and what you need to consider

Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) chief executive Crystal Oldman says: ‘Preparation is key when doing public speaking. And knowing your subject really well is critical.’

Use visualisation to help you present yourself with confidence

Picture credit: iStock

If asked to speak on a topic, nurses need to consider if they are the best person for the task or if they know someone better suited that they could recommend, Dr Oldman advises.

Professor Dame Anne Marie Rafferty

‘Be open to questions at the end of your presentation, and as part of your preparation ensure you have left time for your audience to ask them,’ she says. ‘And look at the learning outcomes – what you would like people to know by the end of the session.’

Donna Loose

Consider timing, and don’t try to cram too much in

Practising your presentation in front of a colleague can help you to prepare and obtain some honest feedback, says Dr Oldman.

Timing is everything when speaking in public, she adds. ‘You can have fantastic content and a wonderful way of speaking, but if you don’t get the timing right you’re going to be cut short. So make sure you don’t overfill your session. You can’t cover everything, so just pull out those important messages you want the audience to remember.’

You also need to allow enough time to familiarise yourself with the venue space before giving your presentation. Ms Loose says: ‘I allow 30-55 minutes beforehand to feel the space, see where the tables and chairs are, set out my visual tools, and have a glass of water ready.’

While Dr Oldman loves public speaking, there are still some nerves, she says. Those nerves and the adrenalin running through your body are important, because they mean you are concerned and care about wanting to do the best for your audience, she explains. ‘People are giving their time to listen to you, so it’s important to get it right.’

To help keep nerves in check she recommends visualising yourself confidently going on stage. It can help to do some deep breathing before you go on stage and to remember ‘nobody in that audience wants you to fail – they want you to do well’, she says.

Having notes written on paper as a backup gives added confidence and avoids potential problems, for example, due to a tablet failing, she says.

Understand the audience you are speaking to

Ms Loose says you need to understand who you are presenting to – including how many people and their general profile – to help ensure your presentation is targeted to your audience. Presenting to clinical colleagues with a focus on research data, for example, will be different from a jargon-free approach for the general public.

Dame Anne Marie Rafferty, professor of nursing policy at King’s College London and past president of the RCN, says: ‘Put yourself in your audience’s shoes. Consider what they want to listen to and how you can connect with them.’

PowerPoint presentations are a common way of presenting content. ‘But don’t be a slave to slides,’ says Professor Rafferty. ‘Don’t put too many words on them. Use them as a backdrop and an aide-mémoire. Talk around the slides. And look at the audience – not at the slides – to help feel connected with them.’

If you are planning to use slides, don’t crowd them with information

Picture credit: iStock

How to make your audience sit up and listen

• » Preparation is key

• » Knowing your subject is critical

• » Find out about your audience and target your presentation to them

• » Plan your content for the time allowed, including time for audience questions

• » Do not overfill your presentation slides – use them as a memory aid

• » Consider using stories to illustrate points

• » Calm your pre-presentation nerves with some deep breathing

• » Observe and learn from your public speaking role models

Picture credit: Annette Taylor-Anderson

Ways to present and illustrate your points

Using stories in your presentation is a brilliant way to illustrate your points, she says. ‘And you can tell a few jokes. Speak from the heart and about your own experiences and how they connect with other people – that’s very powerful.’

Dr Oldman says that to keep your audience engaged you could consider using a variety of ways to present your information, such as including pictures as well as text on your slides, playing a short video or asking the audience for a show of hands on whether they agree with a particular statement.

‘Vary the pace and tone of your presentation so you’re not constantly speaking,’ she says.

Look at what you can learn from observing other people

Professor Rafferty says: ‘Know your limits and play to your strengths. Consider what you enjoy talking about, who you enjoy listening to, look at who your role models are and what tips you can learn from observing other people.’

Remember that different ways of presenting suit different people, Ms Loose says. ‘Whichever style you choose, you’ve got to be comfortable.’

Public speaking can be a frightening prospect, but she advises nurses to remember that it is something they do all the time when speaking to patients and families.

‘You have public speaking skills – you just need to apply them to a different environment. Don’t be frightened of public speaking. Embrace it, let people know you’re going to do it and be proud,’ she says.

Nursing Standard podcast: A nurse and conference speaker’s advice on becoming a confident public speaker rcni.com/pod-public-speaking