Looking back to the last Florence Nightingale Foundation conference in March is like recalling a different world, says the foundation’s chief executive, Elizabeth Robb. During 2012, we have seen a new chief nursing officer for England, a national nursing strategy, a new post of nursing director at the Department of Health, and the creation by the prime minister of the nursing and care quality forum. The imminent Francis inquiry report into events at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is likely to offer hard-hitting recommendations about patient safety and nursing responsibilities. ‘This is a key time because nursing has endured considerable negative publicity,’ says Ms Robb. ‘Although most interactions between nurses and patients are positive, we do not often hear about those. I want our next conference to change that.’ Ms Robb acknowledges that the foundation, as funder of the prestigious Florence Nightingale Scholarships, generally sees the best of nursing. During the meeting, some of the foundation’s scholars will present their projects to an audience that includes both clinical nurses and top-level health professionals. ‘If clinicians and policymakers meet face to face, their different perspectives will inspire each other,’ says Ms Robb. ‘By inviting our scholars and other expert and inspiring speakers to our conference, I am hoping we can recall the magnificent spirit of the Olympics and go for gold – and that is the title of our conference.’ Previous work initiated at the conference has produced some impressive results, says Ms Robb: ‘Past presentations may well have influenced the government’s Dementia Challenge, and masterclasses on research and education inspired several listeners to apply for scholarships. Workshops on the emotional labour of nursing and personal resilience were popular, so we will be covering this again.’ Ms Robb hopes the qualities of her foundation’s namesake will be reflected in the 2013 conference. ‘Florence Nightingale’s tremendous leadership capabilities and her influence on politicians, combined with her ability to effect change in nurses’ practice, her capacity to generate and use evidence to negotiate for change, and her compassion for the Crimean soldiers and their families, are all relevant for today’s nurses’ NS Elizabeth Robb aims to promote a positive image of nursing JO H N B E H E T S