staying on the pulse

Gemma Griffiths shares her story of encountering God at the RCM Conference

The NHS is constantly changing and adapting to reflect the needs of its service users. Because of this, the role of nurses and midwives continues to evolve; to be shaped and moulded by the increasing complexity of patient care, acuity of services, and understaffing. From technological advances to policy shifts, staying informed is no longer optional – it is essential. For Christian nurses and midwives, this goes beyond professional development; it becomes a divine calling to be present, prepared, and powerful witnesses in the workplace.

Attending professional conferences by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is an effective way to remain at the forefront of your field. These gatherings are not just opportunities to tick off some Continuing Professional Development (CPD ) hours or to hear from leading voices in your profession (as wonderful as that is). They are moments where faith can meet practice in powerful ways.

A few months ago, I attended the RCM conference in Birmingham and encountered God in that ordinary place. My prayer that morning was that God would help me to connect with some Christian midwives. As I entered the exhibitor’s hall, a Christian midwife from my trust walked over to me, excitedly exclaiming that she didn’t know I was coming. As we weaved through the stands, we bumped into two more CMF midwives. We sat down to pray, and two other students from my trust came over – both Christians! As we prayed prayers of blessing, intercession, and lament, I recalled Jesus’ words from Matthew 18:20, reminding me, ‘for where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them’. As we prayed for the conference delegates, the midwifery workforce and the wider NHS, we prayed big prayers to see transformation in our workplaces and across the NHS. It felt like a powerful encounter in an ordinary place. I felt faith rising in me and came home with a renewed calling to combine my clinical competence with Spirit-led compassion in order to reflect Christ to those around me.

By staying on the pulse professionally and living out our calling as Christian nurses and midwives, we can partner with God in work that transforms not only individual lives but entire workplace cultures. My prayer is that God’s kingdom will come through the work of our hands.

Gemma Griffiths is a Midwife in Northampton and a CMF Nurses and Midwives Staffworker