Welcome to ACML in Action, brought to you by the Association of California Nurse Leaders. I'm your host, Charlene Kulman. Our guest today is Dr. Chibu Lumbia, founder and executive director of Nurses Bond, a membership organization focused on providing social and educational experiences for nurses. As the name might imply, helping nurses bond over shared experiences is a key focus for Nurses Bond, which makes Dr. Chibu a great person to talk to about the topic of networking. Welcome, Dr. Chibu. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Thank you so much. Thanks for having me.

Yes, it's great to have you on the podcast. And we're so excited to talk about networking, which is a wonderful topic for nurses. And just to dive right into it, I just want to start with saying, you know, networking isn't really typically something that is part of a nurse's job duties. They might not be that familiar with it. But why, in your opinion, is it an essential skill for nurses to develop? And, you know, in your opinion, shouldn't it be enough for a nurse to be good at their assigned role? Or what are your thoughts on that?

Thank you so much. First of all, um, we need to look into what networking is all about. So networking is all about building relationships, be it personal, professional, or social. This can be with the peers, colleagues, patients, or their related. Um, is it an essential skill? Absolutely. Um, nurses are great communicators, and they you can't make an effective impact in the lives of others without having the skills that help you to do that. And networking is one of those skills. And should, like you say, should it be enough for us to be good at what you know in the assigned role? Absolutely not. If you are not learning, you are dying. And if you are not updating yourself with the current trends, you are getting outdated. Why do computers and cell phones get updated every now and then to fix bugs, update new software, and add new developments, right? So it is to nurses. So relying on what you were taught in nursing school alone isn't enough in today's labor markets. So I feel that even the internet alone is bringing new ideas and stuff out every day. So as nurses and even doctors and other healthcare professionals, if you are not um updating yourself, even your patients will even try to educate you on current trends about their illnesses. So to nurses, even in your assigned role, you have to be on top of the game. You have to keep updating yourself to have a competitive edge. I think.

Yes. And you know, a lot of that really sounds like how we as nurses strive for continuous improvement, continuous learning. We regularly update our contact hours and you know, when we renew our licenses and things like that. So a lot of what you're saying here with networking applies, or it sounds like a lot of that translates to that same concept. Absolutely. And yes, and and we also know, too, that when you uh when you excel at networking, you build a nice professional network for yourself. And what would you say are some of those key benefits that nurses can gain when they build this strong professional network?

There are so many benefits, so many benefits, not only for nurses, for other healthcare professionals. So, but I'm gonna give three key benefits that I believe will benefit nurses a lot. Number one is knowledge sharing, the second one is professional development, the third one is career advancement and collaborative activities. For knowledge sharing, nothing is as good as interacting with your peers. It allows for exchange of ideas, experiences, and sharing best practices in the industry. Um, let me give you an example because they say that announce of example is more than thousands of precepts. During COVID, um, I was still working as a director of nursing then, and I later moved to chief clinical officer. We brought in so many traveling nurses to assist us. The first thing that was lacking was the knowledge sharing piece. It was very difficult for nurses to communicate best practices. It was even the first time for some of the nurses to leave their hometowns or hospitals. So going to other hospitals to work and miss with the culture and environment was a big issue. So knowledge sharing is a big benefit. The second one I mentioned is professional development. Engaging with others in the field provides you opportunity for learning, for skills development, whether through mentorship, attending conferences, or participating in workshops. Some of us got to where we are today through networking and mentorship from senior colleagues. That's one of the reasons why Nurses Bond is having our annual E-less conferences to bring in knowledge experts to share their experiences and help others learn and grow in their professional careers. And the third one is career advancements. Building relationships with colleagues and other healthcare professionals always leads to career opportunities, such as job referrals, recommendations, introduction to mentors or leaders. Also, we can get some collaborative opportunities to share your experiences and knowledge, like in a podcast like this, or at a conference, or even in a book. So networking to nurses is beyond the nursing station. I must confess, it's an is as essential as maintaining your license to practice as a nurse.

Yes. And I just want to repeat those three key benefits you mentioned. And the first is the knowledge sharing, the second is the professional development, and the third is the career advancement. Those are some wonderful benefits that can really support a nurse throughout their entire professional career. And I wanted to ask, too, do you have a personal story of your own for what made you so interested and uh such an expert with networking yourself? Was there any kind of key moment that made you realize how beneficial it was in your journey?

Absolutely. Um, you know, um, once I came to the United States and started practicing nursing, I just um noticed that nurses here are like frenemies with doctors and other healthcare professors, like only frenemies. Like we pretend to work so hard with the patient, immediately that is gone, we are gone. Sometimes you can see your fellow nurse or your colleague at Walmart or Thergate or every other place, and you don't even say hi to them. And I said, no, this shouldn't be. Apart from work, we are more than our job. So we have to do something. So that's how I even created nurses bonding with other healthcare professionals, minus the job, minus, you know, our badges. We are human beings. How can we connect? How can we collaborate? How can we network with other healthcare professionals? Because there are so many benefits to it. That's exactly how nurses bone started.

Yes, and it's interesting that you mention the phrenemies because it is interesting. There is this kind of paradox between how nurses and healthcare workers treat and respond and talk to their patients. But then when they kind of talk with their own colleagues, it might be a very different type of way that they communicate or talk with them. It might not be the same warmth or, you know, it might be a difference. And, you know, there's a lot of reasons that could contribute to that. It might be the competitive edge, but it could it could also be that we don't learn networking in our different healthcare, you know, healthcare training programs and education. But I do agree with that uh observation.

Thank you.

And it it is really inspiring to hear your story too, of how you built Nurses Bond and how important that was for your journey. Because I think that people might, you know, when they hear the word networking, they might just think, like, oh my gosh, like I don't, you know, I don't need to do that. It doesn't, it doesn't relate to me, but it could really change how you even show up in your own um work, in your own organization. So that was uh really great to hear your story on that.

Thank you.

And I'm wondering too, what are some effective strategies for nurses to build and expand their professional network? You know, what are some things that maybe you've tried yourself that have been effective? Or in general, what are some um strategies that have been really effective for nurses to build and expand their network?

Okay, thank you. That's a great one. And um everyone needs to hear that too. Number one thing, um, based on my experience, is joining professional organizations. You know, there are so many organizations out there for nurses, like the ANA, like the ACNL, AONL, even Nurses Bond. Okay, and also some specific specialty organizations. Um statistically, I have found that nurses find it very difficult to join professional organizations. But these organizations are avenues to learn and grow their professional network and skills. Um, for example, I run nurses bond and I know what nurses tell us when we reach out to them to join our organization. That's one of the reasons why we even get burned out easily. Some even have low work satisfaction rates because they don't have avenues to recharge other than working over time or adding more shifts to their day on their days off. Joining organizations is the key to getting refilled, not rejuvenated, recharged, to continue providing care in an excellent and efficient manner and have the satisfaction for yourself and also the patients or the clients that you serve. Another one is attending conferences and workshops. I have seen so many nurses that can't even attend conferences or workshops unless it is paid by their employees. The fact remains that, you know, to better yourself as a nurse, you don't always have to rely on your job. In my own case, I go to so many conferences, you know, I just try as much as possible to update myself. And in my coaching sessions, I always tell nurses that you are not your jobs, you are yourself. You know, when you update yourself or your skills, okay, for you to be more effective and even more marketable. Even when organizations have continuing education funds for nurses, you see that nurses don't even use it. I have been here, I know it. So to build and expand your professional networks, you have to seize every opportunity to learn and grow for yourself. Your hospital or your organization doesn't get burned out. It's you, the nurse. So it is important to update yourself and your career through attending available conferences and workshops that are out there for you. And like I said, some nurses will not even use the available fund for them. And the third one I want to mention is joining alumni networks or utilizing social media. Okay, some, if not all, alumni organizations are powerful tools to stay connected with your peers and your colleagues. They can assist you to get a mentor, to find a job, to expand your knowledge and experience. Okay, and meeting or staying connected with new and old friends. Social media is also another powerful tool. So many jobs and opportunities are right there. So many people, you know, get jobs from LinkedIn and all other social media platforms. And LinkedIn learning is also a great tool. There are relevant groups in all social media platforms that discuss and share insights that will benefit you as a nurse. In fact, I met a nurse the other day. Um, she told me that she's not in any social media platform. And when I asked her why, she said there's so much chaos going on there. I told her that not everything on social media is for you. Okay, you go to the communities that benefit you. It's a great tool. Okay, I have super close friends that I met through LinkedIn today, and I'm building more. And I know that so many people will reach out to me after this podcast. Please do. Let's collaborate because social media is a huge, is that you know, it's a great platform to network and connect.

Yes, beautifully summarized. And and I can really resonate with what you said because I think that nurses may not realize how much opportunity exists now on all of these platforms that are essentially free. And a lot of them are really, really ripe opportunities for meeting people, building lasting connections, and just learning. And I think that LinkedIn is a great example of that. And I know you have a great presence on LinkedIn. Everyone should definitely follow Dr. Chibu on LinkedIn. If you have a, you know, if you don't have LinkedIn, definitely start one. Um, but there are so many benefits to nurturing your professional network, including online. Um, and and I wanted to ask too, were there any other barriers that you saw that might prevent a nurse from joining some of these, you know, some of these opportunities besides, besides maybe their mindset on on like social media or things, or maybe it's time, or were there kind of other barriers you noticed that might prevent nurses from kind of taking advantage of some of these opportunities?

Number one is it starts from the nursing school. Okay. I am a professor, I teach in school. You know, in nursing school, they don't always teach nurses the social media part or the networking parts. It's all about you do this, you do that, you save your patient. Minus your patient, you also have a life to live. You also have a life to you have to connect and do other things that are not just only nursing. So that's a barrier. By the time um nurses get out of nursing school, they're already tired. They just want to walk. And even when they get to work, they bury themselves in the work. They just want to walk. They they feel that getting that nursing license is just enough. And in today's world, I stand to tell you that your nursing license is not just enough. Like I've mentioned, if you are not learning, you are you are dying. If you are not connecting, if you are not updating yourself, you are getting outdated. So these are some barriers. So I encourage nurses, you know, think out of the boards, get out there, network, get to learn other things other than nursing. It will help you. So I think these are some of the barriers that are making nurses just to stay one place and you know, they don't want to network. They feel that, hey, what why should I need networking? If I need something during my days off, I will just go and do overtime. And, you know, working in the hospital and doing overtime is not all there is. You have a life to lead. You need to network. And I think we're still going to talk about some other things that nurses can do to get out there instead of just working.

Yes, we'll definitely get into that. And I want to ask, too, once nurses have established a nice network for their professional focuses and their professional network overall, how can nurses maintain and nurture those existing professional connections over time? Are there any kind of uh strategies that you like to use when you're thinking about how to maintain those professional networks?

Okay, number one is to be proactive. Okay. I always tell my students to always be a giver and not only a user. And I know if one of my students or some of my students are listening to this, they will smile. Because while you are a member of an organization, you try as much as possible to be relevant there. Look for volunteer opportunities to in those organizations and serve. Through those services, you nurture and grow your professional connections. I always tell people, you have to be willing to sacrifice. And three things you have to sacrifice either time, money, or your energy. So that's number one way to be relevant. Two is to engage in community service events. Look for community services in your area and join them. It might be joining some religious organizations to check blood pressures or health work. It might be joining a medical mission abroad, whatever, and in whatever capacities that you think you can contribute towards helping, please join. These are great opportunities to connect with healthcare professionals, connect with community members, and even remain relevant. The third one is joining support groups and mentorship programs. Okay? There is fulfillment in giving back. Everybody knows you you just have to give back. So participating in mentorship programs as either a mentor or mentee facilitate professional connection. And it also provides valuable guidance and supports your career development. There are so many new graduates, no graduate nurses out there seeking for mentorship. So it is important to show them some level of support, encourage and help them to remain in the profession. You know how so many people want to leave the profession right now. But with your guidance and mentorship, you know, this new grad, these new nurses, we see that yes, you know, they can have that fulfillment. Even as a nurse leader, joining support groups that leaders or colleagues, you know, that can hold you accountable is a great way to nurture your network over time. Because these colleagues will be able to build a bond around you or with you and help you to achieve your desired goals.

Yes, those are excellent tips and excellents, excellent strategies. And I could say that for my own nursing journey, I have used a lot of those tools and they've helped me far more than I could ever imagine. I think that the possibilities are endless, really, when you connect with other nurses on so many different platforms, organizations, social media. There's so many ways to reach people. And something that I've really found too is that people are really interested in supporting you. The nursing world is a very tight community and they actually do want to support you and see you become successful. And I think that people listening to this, you know, knowing that could feel encouraged because it it might feel overwhelming to make all these different decisions and to get yourself out there. But the benefits are really, really immense.

One day at a time. So it's gradual, it's a gradual process.

Absolutely. Yes, just one day at a time. It doesn't happen overnight, but all these connections, you know, connections that I've built from years ago, I still maintain, I still nurture. And that's been a connection that's been very, very helpful throughout my journey too. So uh there are so many benefits that you could see when you nurture that professional network over time. And you never know where your journey goes. You might be working with some of these folks someday, right?

Absolutely. You never can tell. So just be there to help. That's what nurses do, anyways.

Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, we did talk about how nurses can use their professional network to get ahead. But what about when it comes to finding new career paths that they may not have considered before?

You know, um, that's the power of networking right there. When you attend conferences, you would be challenged in different ways. You know, nurses have the most, you know, nurses have one of the most diverse specialties in healthcare. You know, one of the ways to find new career products is to learn from experiences of those that have done it before. For example, like I've mentioned, I teach in a college, and so many colleagues have asked me how, you know, they can become adjuncts or how they can become professors. So why I choose that path over my nursing leadership role, they they usually ask me that. You see, you don't know what you don't know until you get to ask questions or see people that are doing things that you have interest in. So I tell people to always connect. You never know. You cannot, or I cannot over-emphasize the relevance of conferences. So many nurses are entrepreneurs today after attending conferences and seeing some areas they never thought they could go into. But because they attend conferences, they see some of their colleagues doing things that they know they have power to do, but they never knew how to do it. So they got into other career paths. So networking is super important. Attending all these conferences or wash-ups is very important to us, you know, looking into those um career paths.

That's very true. You never know what could come of a network that you, you know, nurture and that you nourish. You really don't know what opportunities could come up from the other side. So a lot of the times when you meet people and get to know them through these organizations, through conferences, through mentorships, people really think about you and your skills and your interests, and they think about you when some of the new opportunities come up. So it could really open doors that you never knew existed. So I think that's a wonderful, wonderful um insight to share with our listeners here. And I did want to talk about uh how the how you mentioned too that networking could give you access to additional industry insights and mentorship. Can you talk a little bit too about how nurses can really, you know, leverage and utilize their network for more informational purposes and educational purposes?

Okay, um, I've mentioned before um knowledge sharing. So Nurses Bond started by organizing, you know, what I thought social nights, healthcare professionals networking events. And the whole idea was to bring nurses and other healthcare professionals together to share ideas and values at professional levels and beyond. Through this event, so many nurses are able to get into real estate, you know, find life insurance that are right for them, get into healthcare businesses, and share knowledge or ideas that are not only connected to nurses, but the whole being in general. So, nurses are human beings too. We have families, we need to live lives outside of work. And networking helps us to think outside the bus, meet other People and learn from diverse experiences. So it's super important that we connect, we think outside the bus. We, you know, we connect with other people that are not even in nursing profession or connect with other healthcare professionals to open our minds to live our lives.

Yes. Yes. Thank you for sharing that. And it you're absolutely correct. When we do expand our network, we also expand the access that we have to these other industries. And then we learn more from other people who could be outside of our nursing profession, outside of our nursing specialty. So it really expands the knowledge that you can gain from so many people who could be outside of your direct network. So a lot of opportunities there. And you did mention nurse entrepreneurs earlier. And what would you say about how the role of networking or how does that role of networking really play into the success of nurse entrepreneurs? Could you expand a little bit more on that?

Yes. You know, when you network, you meet people with the same mindset or people with similar ideas. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. You have to leverage the existing platforms, you know, to assist you to get ahead. You also need an audience to share your products and or services. So if you don't network, it might take you longer to build clients because people must know who you are. Then they have to know your products or services. And one of the fastest ways to get this done is through networking. So that's why networking is number one, okay? To help nurse entrepreneurs become successful.

Yes. And the more that you're out there, the more people know who you are, and then they can connect you with other people. And, you know, it is there's actually a really great uh connect community of nurse entrepreneurs too that are online or that you could find in different organizations. And so they could really uh they could really be the gate to other types of insights and other opportunities. And I do agree that when you do make use of that network, you could succeed faster in whatever goals that you're trying to achieve.

Yes.

And what would you say in terms of how nurses can really use their professional network to launch their own entrepreneurial entrepreneurial ventures? What, you know, if someone's interested in wanting to start their own business, how can they use their networks to help them get started on that?

Um, like I've mentioned today, joining support groups, joining an organization and becoming relevant there. So when you become relevant, you start reaching out to those that you have met through networking events. Um, I always tell people even when you reach out, you have to be humble, ask questions. Nurses are good and generous, you know, people. Okay, they will show you the way. Again, it will be it will be very difficult to get paid if you don't know how to pay others. So patronize your colleagues, attend conferences, buy their books, support them in any way you can. So you'll be supported as well. You know, when you're always working and you don't want to attend events because you don't want to spend money. Budget is tight, I know, unless it is to buy clothes and shoes, then it will be difficult for others to buy. It will be difficult for others to buy your own product. It is a natural law, and I'm sure that other entrepreneurs will agree with me on this. So the best way is to support people, support other uh entrepreneurs, right? Buy their books, like I've mentioned, attend conferences, learn, give so that you will receive.

Yes, that's such an important message. And and there are so many nurses and healthcare entrepreneurs out there now. I think it's more than ever before than that uh than we have ever seen in in our history. So I think that now is a great time to not only start a business, but to connect with all those other entrepreneurs, like you said, and to help support each other because it's really a unique calling um for all of us in healthcare. Uh, and can you share about your story too, with uh how was your journey in building Nurses Bond and how, you know, how how did you overcome some of those obstacles when it came to launching it and, you know, really using your network to support that?

Thank you so much for that. You know, um, I've dedicated 10 solid years in networking and building relationships, you know, especially with nurses bond. Number one thing is that when you start, people might not believe you. Or they just want to see you start and fail, or they just want to come when they have known that you've started and you have not failed. So those are three categories. So the one one of the major things that have kept me in, you know, building, I don't even call Nurses Bond a business, it's just like helping people grow, is that I tend to deliver. So Nurses Bond is built in three different worlds that are very important. Number one is authenticity, the second one is intentionality, and the third one is vulnerability. So when I meet people, I am very authentic, I'm very intentional, and I'm vulnerable. Vulnerable in the sense that I tell people my journey, I tell people my story. If I need help, I tell people, hey, I need help here. If I what I know, I tell you I know. What I don't know, I tell you that I don't know and I seek for help. That has helped me a lot. Second one is to deliver. When you said you want to do something, do it. And you know, nurses, um, that one is very important in our business or you know, in taking care of our patients or clients. So I have been able to be consistent in what I do. There are so many limitations, but once people see that you are very consistent, you are very authentic, you are very intentional and vulnerable, they will come to support you in any way possible. So, my own story, these three words, these three things have kept me, you know, helping people and gaining more people. There are so many people that I reach out to when I started. For example, we are going to have our sixth annual conference. There are some people I reach out to in second year, third year, they said no, but now they are coming back to us. Oh, I want to support you. Oh, how do you want me to support you? I said, okay, yeah, that's okay, because I already know some people want to look at you and say, what is this guy trying to do? But when they see that you are consistent and you're authentic and people are coming and learning from it, so now they want to come. So this is how I have maintained it. And yeah, this is our sixth year the conference that we're going to do this year. So I'm grateful and I'm building it too, and I'm trying to help so many people to grow through our Northis Bond organization.

That's great. And first I want to say congratulations on your sixth year for your conference. That's really exciting news. And so I so appreciate how you shared the journey and how it took, you know, up to 10 years to really get to this point that you're at right now. I think that really speaks to how important the consistency is because so many times, and we see it in the statistics, right? Businesses fail within 90% of businesses fail within a year starting or just a very, very short time period. And it's because of not um keeping the consistency or, you know, not keeping that long-term um just uh goal of working on the business for that time. And I think that it's uh so important to share that because the success won't happen overnight in a lot of the cases. But uh I do also really like how your the main words that you use to support your journey with being authentic, being vulnerable and consistent. Those are really, really great lessons for nurses to learn. And I do, yes, and and I do also, you know, as we wrap up our conversation for today, I do want to give you the opportunity to share any other insights or any other thoughts with our listeners today um regarding networking or nurses' bond or anything that you'd like to share.

Thank you so much for that. I always tell people, um, don't be afraid. And I also tell my nurses who told you that when you talk, you're gonna get in trouble. And there is a difference between commenting and complaining. So if you see things, you can comment on it, you can make um suggestions. You don't have to complain. So that is also the power of networking. If you network and get to know people and get to share your knowledge and ideas, you are not complaining. You are commenting, you are bringing your suggestions. And if people look at you that you are complaining, you know, they will be defensive. But if they see that you are commenting, they will they will buy your idea, they will look into it. By then, you are making a great impact in the lives of not only nurses, but you know, maybe patients and clients. So if you have anything, any ideas, any great ideas, look for an organization, okay, to volunteer, look for an organization or you know, to belong to, look for a place, okay, or a support group where you can share your values, you can share your experiences. And let me tell you, it's going to help one person out there. Don't be scared, don't be afraid of your work. Just make sure that you are not complaining. Rather, you are lending your voice and it will go a long way.

Yes, thank you. And I love the use of the word voice too. There are so many nurses that we have in the world that have such a unique voice and they have so much to offer. And I think the more that we share our voice, the better for for our patients, for our colleagues, and for the missions and the visions that we want to pursue. But how can how can people learn more about you, Dr. Chibu, if if uh they want to learn more about Nurses Bond?

Okay, um, they can go to our website, um, Nursesbond.com. So many people, we are also on social media platforms. If you type Nurses Bond, you will see us. And again, we have our sixth annual conference coming to Los Angeles this year, October 18th to 2020. So if you are ever in the area and if you want to learn, please come to us, go to our website, you will see it. Our conference is that Elas Conference. And ELS means education, leadership, and entrepreneurship experience conference. It's an experience. So we are out there, we are making impact, nurse entrepreneurs, nurse leaders, okay, upcoming nurses, um, staff nurses, even students. So we create this opportunity for people to learn and grow. And we always tell people that self-care is not selfish. So at GnosisBond, self-care is not selfish, just come and learn. And I also tell people if you think you know a lot, please come and share, come and give back. But if you think you don't know a lot, come and learn. There's opportunity for everybody. So check us out at gnosysborn.com or illestconference.com or email me at admin at gnosisbone.com. So I am almost everywhere on social media platforms because networking is all I do, like I've mentioned. So I'll be happy to connect.

Great. Thank you so much, Dr. Chibu, and thank you for being with us today.

Thank you. I appreciate you.

Our guest today was Dr. Chibu Nwabia, founder and executive director of Nurses Bond. You can learn more about their work at nursesbond.com. And we'd love to hear your feedback. Email us at socialmedia at acnl.org and connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook at ACNLNurse. And as always, if you like the show, please remember to rate, review, and share. ACNL in Action is presented by the Association of California Nurse Leaders with new episodes on the first Friday of every month. To learn more about the show or ACNL in general, visit us at acnl.org. Thank you for listening.