A 30-day writing challenge was developed as a precursor for two nurses embarking on a research journey. The idea for the writing challenge came from the work of Tara-Nicholle Nelson, creator of the ’30-day writing challenge for conscious leaders’ (taranicholle.com). This idea was supported by knowledge of the importance of allowing learners to create their own insights and understanding by engaging in creative activities. Journal writing has historically featured widely in the literature as an effective tool for developing self-awareness (Cornish and Cantor, 2008; O’Connell and Dyment, 2013). The hope was to stimulate self-reflection, which would lead to a sense of self-worth and belief that conducting research was achievable.

The writing challenge asked exploratory questions surrounding beliefs about research, previous nursing experiences, values and perceptions of self. A daily purposeful question provided the structure for capturing thoughts and experiences. Finding a way to create a space in which the nurses could make sense and meaning from their words and thoughts was important (Dewey, 1997; O’Connell and Dyment, 2013). Both nurses were able to gain an appreciation for their own skills and knowledge and this led to a realisation that they had already been engaging in research and could make valuable contributions to the project.

This article by Nicola Drayton, Kirsty Blake and Tracy Gilbert is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 License.