Discovering those defining moments that embody for you the very best of nursing practice

As nurses, we are part of an extraordinary profession – one that is unique, precious and comes in all different shapes and sizes. Much like diamonds themselves. The Diamond Moment concept, developed by the North Central London Clinical Academic Nexus (NCL CAN), offers a new approach to reflective practice. One that celebrates our profession’s inherent worth and reconnects us with what truly motivates and sustains us as healthcare professionals.

What Are Diamond Moments? Diamond Moments are those precious instances in time that encapsulate the very best of nursing for each individual practitioner. They are the moments behind that hand on the heart, that gut feeling that connects you to why you became a nurse. These moments demonstrate you at your best, connected to others at their best. Diamond moments can emerge even from the most challenging circumstances, as glimmers of light that illuminate and connect us to what drives you as a professional.

Like diamonds, these moments are precious and rare. They come in all different cuts and colours, can be large or small, found alone or as part of a collection. They can emerge under immense pressure but stand the test of time. They are multi-faceted, reflect light and are something to nurture and wear with pride. When we connect to our brilliance through our Diamond Moments, we can identify and learn from the situation in which they were formed.

The power of restorative reflective practice

The evidence base for restorative reflective practice in nursing continues to grow, demonstrating significant benefits for practitioner wellbeing and the care we provide to the people we serve. Restorative reflection helps build resilience, reduce burnout, increase empathy and compassion. It supports nurses to reconnect with the joy and purpose of practice (Baldwin and Kelly, 2023).

The Foundation of Nursing Studies, alongside other leading organisations, champion that reflection supports individuals to continually improve the way they work and the quality of care they provide. They advocate for it being a familiar, continuous and routine part of practice (Foundation of Nursing Studies et al., 2024).

The Diamond Moment concept aligns perfectly with this approach, encouraging reflection from a place of strength and achievement rather than deficit.

Three innovative tools for practice

A small thinking collaborative from across North Central London have developed three practical Diamond Moment tools. These tools facilitate nurses to connect to their Diamond Moments and to understand the personal and environmental components that enabled the diamond to form. By understanding how it was formed, we can proactively create environments where more diamonds can develop within our profession.

1. Diamond Moment Capture and Sharing Tool – Enables individual practitioners to mindfully reflect on and capture their Diamond Moments. Like diamonds these can then be put away for safe keeping or shared for others to enjoy.
2. Diamond Moment Career Conversation Tool – embedding Diamond Moments into a meaningful career conversation enables nurses to gain a deeper understanding of what brings them joy at work. This supports practitioners to seek development and career opportunities that are aligned to what matters most to them, enabling professional growth which is purposeful and grounded in an authentic, individualised understanding of the essence of nursing.
3. Diamond Moment Group Reflection Tool – Creates opportunities for teams to share and celebrate their collective Diamond Moment. In doing so, fostering a culture of appreciation and learning from a moment when collectively they are at their best.

Reflections from practice

Initial piloting  across North Central London has generated inspiring feedback from practitioners who have embraced the Diamond Moment approach:

“Learning from other people’s Diamond Moments. The uniqueness of each individual’s story” reflects one participant’s experience of the collaborative nature of this framework.

“Using these tools enables creating a space and a language to articulate those unique moments and sometimes fleeting moments that are so meaningful and impactful in nursing/healthcare professionals’ journeys. Like the options of the different tools and the flexibility that they can be used.”

“This is a great practical tool and I have used it already and was overwhelmed by the amazing stories I heard from both nurses and midwives – some were very emotional.”

The versatility of the framework has sparked creativity: “Can’t stop thinking about possibilities to use these tools from induction, team meetings, events.”

One colleague shared: “I have shared Diamond Moments in person with nurses from an ambulance service and was very positively evaluated. Also within teaching sessions and regional meetings – all online. A great social movement that can be used by PMAs and PNAs amongst themselves and also their nursing and midwifery colleagues.”

Join the Movement

This innovative concept represents more than just another reflective tool – it’s a movement towards celebrating the inherent worth and contribution of every nurse. As we continue to develop and refine these tools through testing and co-development, we invite you to be part of this transformative journey.

The tools are freely available on the NHS Futures website. All we ask is that you provide us with your feedback. We want to know your experience of using the tools and the impact of them in practice.

Whether you’re a newly qualified nurse seeking to connect with your professional identity, an experienced practitioner looking to reignite your passion, or a leader wanting to foster a more positive culture within your team, Diamond Moments offers a pathway to rediscovering the joy and meaning in nursing practice.

A call to action

We need your voice, your stories and your feedback to continue developing this framework. Share your Diamond Moments, test the tools in your workplace, and help us understand how this approach can best serve our profession. Together, we can own our narrative, celebrate our worth and ensure that the brilliance of nursing shines brightly for all to see.

The Diamond Moment tools and resources are available on the NCL Clinical Academic Nexus NHS Futures page.

Request to join the workspace at  https://future.nhs.uk

References

Baldwin, S. and Kelly, T. (2023) Supporting nursing, midwifery and allied health professional teams through restorative clinical supervision. British Journal of Nursing, 32(6), pp. 258-268.

Foundation of Nursing Studies, Florence Nightingale Foundation, Point of Care Foundation and The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (2024) Regular Protected Time for Reflective Practice in Nursing and Midwifery: A Joint Statement. Available at: https://www.fons.org/news/regular-protected-time/ (Accessed: 28 May 2025).

© 2025. The copyright for Diamond Moments is held by NCL CAN, Middlesex University, and Develop to Thrive Ltd.