Nursing Standard Podcast

What is the difference between being a nurse in Scotland and the rest of the UK? 

This latest episode explores the differences on pay, terms and conditions for nurses working in NHS Scotland and beyond. 

Our guest, RCN Scotland’s director Colin Poolman, talks to podcast host and senior reporter Alison Stacey about how negotiations between the RCN and the Scottish government secured better pay, a shorter working week and protected learning time. 

Band 5 nurses will also be able to self-apply to have their role reviewed to check their job and skills match their pay band. 

Mr Poolman explains why RCN Scotland are able to directly negotiate with the government on pay, gives advice to all nurses on the band 5 job review, and discusses what the new safe-staffing legislation means for healthcare staff across the country.

We also hear from Mr Poolman on what the election could mean for the pay claim, and whether he envisages Scottish nurses taking to the picket lines in 2024. 

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Tips on defusing conflicts, responding to aggression and the importance of staying calm

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The incredible work of a nurse that inspired a hit charity song and global humanitarian effort to feed starving people in Africa is remembered in our latest podcast episode.

On the 40th anniversary of the formation of charity superstar group Band Aid, Nursing Standard talks to the nurse who helped prompt the cultural phenomenon led by musician Sir Bob Geldof.

Dr Dame Claire Bertschinger was working for the Red Cross in Ethiopia in 1984 when she was featured in a BBC news broadcast about the devastating drought.

Journalist Michael Buerk described the biblical famine he was witnessing as the ‘closest thing to hell on earth’.

Thousands of people had already died and seven million were threatened with starvation in the war-torn country.

Dame Claire tells journalist Erin Dean how she was running a feeding station where hundreds of women brought their starving babies each day.

‘There were just thousands of people starving, hungry, wearing tatters, not even clothes, just rags,’ she says. ‘There was insufficient food for everyone. It was the most horrendous thing you can imagine.’

There were few resources available, and Dame Claire had to choose who would be fed and saved. One day she went out to select the 60 or 70 children they had food for that day – and found there were more than a thousand waiting outside.

The BBC footage prompted musicians to launch Band Aid, and the recording of charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? It featured some of the most famous musical stars in the world at that time, including George Michael, Bono, Boy George and Sting.

The song was also performed at a charity concert, Live Aid, on 13 July 1985, which raised more than £100 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Dame Claire describes how she had little idea what was going on with the fundraising at the time – but it did have a rapid impact on the care available in Ethiopia.

She reflects in the podcast on her experiences in Ethiopia and other countries, the impact it has had on her, the legacy of Band Aid, and what she has learned through her varied career.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Public speaking strikes fear into the hearts of many – it’s regularly reported as one of the most common phobias – but is an increasingly important skill for many nurses.

The good news is that there are many ways to become a better and more confident public speaker, even in the face of anxiety.

This latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores how nursing staff can hone their speaking skills. It considers the importance of preparation – from understanding an audience, to getting slides right, to practising words out loud in advance – as well as sharing tips for the day itself.

Guest Paul Trevatt qualified as a nurse in 1993 and has over 20 years’ experience of presenting at conferences and events. He tells health journalist and podcast host Claire Read that nurses should ultimately see speaking opportunities as a chance to improve patient care. Keeping that in mind can, he says, help make any nerves feel worthwhile enduring.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Building confidence in the workplace is vital for nursing staff, both for patient safety and nurses’ own career development. 

Being confident can help in areas such as raising concerns and overcoming imposter syndrome, as well as in job interviews and applying for opportunities, such as a secondment. 

But what steps can nurses take to build their confidence in the workplace? 

This episode looks at what we mean by confidence, how communicating with confidence can benefit your patients and your career, and how being confident can make you a better leader. 

Guests RCN Nurse of the Year 2023 and head of nursing primary care at East London NHS Foundation Trust Julie Roye and lead nurse for safe staffing at University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust Pippa Clark speak about why a good organisational culture is vital to enable nurses to build their confidence, the importance of reflection in nursing and how to handle negative feedback. 

Celebrating your successes as a nurse is also vital in building confidence, they tell RCNi career development editor and podcast host Clare Lomas, and never forget – there is no such thing as a silly question.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Nurses and other healthcare staff face constant workplace pressures, especially during the colder months when respiratory conditions are more prevalent. 

Staff shortages and industrial action have also impacted services.

But what support is there for nursing staff and managers to navigate challenging times?

This episode examines how the NMC code acts as a professional anchor, helping nurses manage risks and escalate concerns. It provides a framework for decision-making and professional accountability. 

Guests NMC executive director of professional practice Sam Foster and assistant director, national and regional outreach Sam Donohue speak about how the code should never be used in a negative way, but rather as a tool to support nurses and promote patient safety. 

Managers also have a role in supporting staff and making tough decisions to mitigate risks and keep people safe, they tell Nursing Standard editor and podcast host Flavia Munn.

Our guests also discuss the importance of tackling incivility at work and Ms Donohue shares the findings of her research into joy in nursing.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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All hospitals are soon to need a system in place that allows patients, families and carers to request an urgent second opinion of care under Martha’s rule.

Some hospitals already have a process in place for raising concerns about patient care, including Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast focuses on Call 4 Concern, a nurse-led service at that already offers this approach the hospital.

Journalist Erin Dean speaks to Alison Schofield, lead nurse for the critical care outreach team which runs the Call 4 Concern service, about how the service is run and the benefits it offers patients and their loved ones.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What is a skin tear and why do they matter?

This episode of the podcast examines why these wounds shouldn’t be seen as ‘just a skin tear’ - and their diagnosis and treatment.

Our guest is Samantha Holloway, a reader and senior lecturer responsible for delivering the masters degree programme in wound healing and tissue repair at Cardiff University School of Medicine.

She talks to RCNi senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett about her drive to change perceptions of skin tears, the three types of tears, immediate treatment and maintaining skin integrity.

The pair also talk about higher risk care settings for skin tears and preventative measures such as protective clothing.

Ms Holloway also stresses the importance of collecting data on skin tears to establish their prevalence.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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One year ago nurses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland took part in historic strike action, many for the first time.

Some of the biggest hospitals across the UK saw nurses walk out in their fight for better pay and working conditions, as well as concerns over unsafe staffing levels and patient safety.

In this Nursing Standard podcast episode RCN chief nurse Nicola Ranger joins senior reporter Shruti Sheth Trivedi to talk about the significance of nurses taking industrial action, whether things have changed for the profession a year on, and her experience of visiting hospitals while nurses were on picket lines.

Ms Ranger makes it clear the strikes were not just about pay but also about patient safety and the future of the NHS. 

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast.

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It is a situation all too familiar for many nurses, menopause symptoms becoming so overwhelming they make continuing to work a challenge.

When Wendy Madden, nurse lead for menopause at University Hospitals Birmingham, began experiencing menopause symptoms they almost forced her to quit the job she loved.

The fatigue, being unable to sleep, hot flushes and anxiety shattered her confidence at work.

‘It started making me lose my confidence, I didn’t feel I was able to do my job as effectively as I was before. I came into work one day and looked at the building I worked in and thought “I don’t want to be here”,’ she said.

In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast Ms Madden tells news editor Andrea Downey about her experience of the menopause and how it led her to helping others.

Ms Madden’s experience highlighted a lack of support for staff going through the menopause and spurred an idea for a ‘menopause passport’ to make conversations with managers easier.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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When author and poet laureate Michael Rosen contracted COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic he was put into an induced coma and told he had just a 50% chance of waking up. 

For 40 days the author lay ventilated and unconscious at Whittington Hospital in North London. Meanwhile his nurses working in the Intensive Care Unit kept detailed daily diaries of his progress, often sharing personal details of their own pandemic journeys and encouraging him on to ‘keep fighting’ as he battled for his life. 

Following his long recovery, Mr Rosen collected the diary entries to create a heartwarming book ‘Many Different Kinds of Love: A story of life, death and the NHS,’ about his experience, which gives a glimpse into the NHS on the frontline during that turbulent time. 

On 10 November Mr Rosen attended RCNi’s inaugural Nursing Live to read extracts from the book. Ahead of his talk he joined senior reporter Alison Stacey to record this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast. 

Here he tells the story of his near-death experience with COVID-19, along with his unwavering support for nurses during the historical strikes announced one year ago.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Everyone deserves care that works for them at the end of their lives, and there is only one chance to get it right. 

But charity Marie Curie has warned that for many people from diverse communities this is often not the case.

In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, journalist Erin Dean talks to Rekha Vijayshankar, a research and clinical nurse, and Rini Jones, senior policy and research manager for equity and equality, from charity Marie Curie.

They discuss the complex inequities in end-of-life care that contribute to patients experiencing poor access and quality of care.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Half the UK population has chronic pain, making nurses increasingly likely to encounter patients living with it.

So, what skills do nurses need to employ to understand how pain impacts an individual’s life and assess what physical and mental health support they may need?

This episode of the podcast explores the management of both acute and chronic pain with three experts in the field.

Guest podcast host Martin Galligan, lecturer practitioner and programme lead of advanced clinical practice in cancer care at The Royal Marsden, interviews fellow pain specialists nurse consultants Felicia Cox and Karin Cannon.

They discuss the importance of recognising pain as being what the individual describes it to be and the use of functional pain assessments to determine what the patient wants and needs, including psychological peace, to help manage their condition.

The trio also talk about using motivational interviewing skills to support people with pain and acknowledging the sense of loss that patients may experience in coming to terms with chronic pain.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Following the Lucy Letby case it is more important than ever to address the challenges nurses and other healthcare staff face when raising concerns.

October marks Speak Up month for the NHS, a campaign run by the National Guardian’s Office (NGO. This year’s theme is ‘breaking barriers’, which focuses on removing the obstacles people feel prevent them from raising concerns at work.

Speaking up is the subject of this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast. National guardian for freedom to speak up in the NHS in England and registered nurse Jayne Chidgey-Clark addresses some of the challenges nurses face when deciding to raise concerns, particular barriers faced by international nurses, and what the NGO and NHS are doing to try and mitigate these.

Ms Chidgey-Clark discusses whether a national policy could have an impact on staff feeling more comfortable in raising concerns. She also touches on her role as the national guardian and talks about the importance of nurses feeling like they have a voice and fostering a speaking up culture.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What is a litigation nurse and what is their role in addressing the complaints and concerns of patients and service users?   

What specific nursing skills can a litigation nurse bring to the legal team to meet client needs?   

The latest Nursing Standard podcast explores the role of a litigation nurse and, based upon this type of work, how nurses can reflect upon their own practice in areas such as record keeping and communication.   

In this episode we hear from litigation nurse Matthew Brown who works with a team of solicitors in Manchester, bringing his nursing skills into the legal arena.  

Mr Brown talks to RCNi senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett about his role, his day-to-day work, the advice he gives in relation to negligence claims and how he prepared for the role. 

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Severely exhausted, feeling cynical or struggling emotionally? You could be burned out by your job.

Studies show that 25-50% of nurses are experiencing burnout in some work settings, which can impact on patient safety. 

It is also linked to increased staff absences and a large driver of nurses leaving their jobs or the profession entirely. 

But how can you spot the warning signs, and can you stop burn out? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at aggravating factors of burnout among nurses, how to recognise early signs and the impact of working long shifts. 

Our guest is University of Southampton’s nursing workforce lecturer Dr Chiara Dall’Ora who has carried out several studies on burnout within the nursing workforce. 

She talks to senior reporter Alison Stacey about the findings of her latest study and the link between burnout and working 12-hour shifts, as well as tips and strategies for managers on how to make the work environment more positive.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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A rolling of the eyes, talking over you, or plain rudeness- we might all have a colleague who behaves in an uncivil way. But should you do anything about it, or just ignore it?

Incivility at work can take many different guises and can leave people feeling dejected, unmotivated and unfairly treated. This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at how to deal with incivility in the workplace, and why in a healthcare setting its impact can mean life or death. 

Our guest is consultant in emergency medicine Dr Chris Turner who founded Civility Saves Lives, a group that works to raise awareness about the importance of being civil when working in healthcare. 

Dr Turner tells senior reporter Alison Stacey how to recognise incivility - both in yourself and others. He also explains the best time to approach a conversation about incivility, how to have the conversation and who should be doing it. 

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you use early warning scores to optimum effect when assessing the deteriorating patient?

When should you refer a person in your care to a more senior member of the team, and in what circumstances must you immediately escalate a case?

The latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast discusses these issues as we explore early warning scores. Tools such as the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) help nurses and other healthcare professionals to assess when a patient’s condition is worsening following a structured and prioritised approach, such as airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure (ABCDE) and whose scores indicate what action to take.

This episode hears from Cardiff University senior lecturer in adult nursing Andy Parry, who has a background in critical care and anaesthetics and regularly teaches early warning scores.

Mr Parry talks to interviewer RCNi senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett about what the different scales of the early warning scores mean and the importance of a thorough assessment. The pair also discuss why respiratory rate is a sensitive indicator of deterioration, and how it can pick up signs of possible impending cardiac arrest sooner than alterations in blood pressure.

https://rcni.com/rcniplus/topics/early-warning-scores

https://journals.rcni.com/nursing-standard/evidence-and-practice/effective-handovers-on-escalation-of-care-for-the-deteriorating-patient-ns.2023.e12078/print/abs

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/features/what-abcde-and-why-it-important-162311

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/students/nursing-studies/what-news2-and-how-can-it-help-prevent-cardiac-arrest-195531

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Irritability teetering on unexpected rage, feeling physically and mentally exhausted and down - and like the only option is to flee work?

Is this the consequence of workplace pressures … or could it (or also) be the perimenopause?

The perimenopause - the phase when women are experiencing menopausal symptoms but are still having periods – is the subject of this episode of the podcast.

Our guest is Katharine Gale, consultant nurse in women’s health and menopause and director ofFluxstate, which provides care for women going through the menopause and training for workplaces.

Nine out of 10 nurses are women and more than a third are aged 41 to 55, which means a significant proportion of the workforce are likely to be going through the perimenopause right now.

Ms Gale talks about the impact that the perimenopause can have on nurses and their mental health, the lack of support many find, and how this is causing nurses to leave their jobs. ‘I hear from nurses who are quitting because they feel they have made a mistake or are not good at their job,’ she says.

She tells journalist and podcast host Erin Dean where nurses can get support and offers advice to nursing managers on supporting their staff through this phase.

‘They do not need to be an expert,’ says Ms Gale about managers. ‘Come from a place of empathy and compassion. Come from a place of trying to understand someone’s experience.’

https://rcni.com/keywords/menopause

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Have you considered working at one of the UK’s summer festivals? 

Festival season is back again and there are plenty of opportunities to use your nursing skills and enjoy festival life. 

If you are looking for a role but don’t know where to start the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast answers all of your questions. 

Podcast guest Vicky Lennon, intensive care sister in Bath, talks about her experience of working at Glastonbury and provides tips on how to find a role that is right for you. 

She tells RCNi editorial assistant Serafina Basciano about the importance of speaking to different companies to understand what is expected of you and if your skill sets match. 

Ms Lennon also discusses what essentials nurses should bring and how to pack for any weather.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Nurses have been in dispute with the government over poor pay, working conditions and patient safety concerns months.

In this special edition of the Nursing Standard podcast, RCN general secretary Pat Cullen talks about the ‘unfinished business’ nurses have with the government and why they deserve more than the current pay awards.

She calls for the government to come back to the negotiation table to avoid further strikes, detailing what ministers can do to nurture home-grown talent, instead of relying heavily on international recruits to plug staffing gaps.

The episode comes as the RCN nears the end of a ballot for a further six months of industrial action over both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 pay awards. 

Ms Cullen urged nurses to have their say before the ballot closes on 23 June.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Are you missing out on money that you could reclaim from the tax office?

Employed nurses and other members of the nursing team can claim a refund from HM Revenue and Customs on many work-related expenses.

This includes for costs around washing uniforms if employers don’t offer this service, for professional fees, union subscriptions and for journals such as Nursing Standard, and also for mileage if not covered by employers.

In this episode, Clare Merrills, a spokesperson for the HMRC, explains what nurses can claim and how to go about getting it back.

With the average claim for work-related expenses coming to £125 per tax year, it is well worth doing, she says. 

But too many people use an agent to make their claim who can take big cuts from payments awarded.

These companies can take 50% or more from the sum that nurses are entitled too, HMRC says. 

Ms Merrills tells journalist and podcast host Erin Dean it is simple for nurses to claim themselves and explains how individuals can go about doing it.

‘It’s highly likely you are entitled to a claim this extra allowance and it is really straightforward to do it,’ she says. ‘If you’re entitled to it, get it in your pocket.’

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What do nurses need to know about tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which has recently arrived in the UK?

Spread by the bite of an infected tick, TBEV can lead to a spectrum of illness including meningitis and encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and is potentially lethal.

This episode hears from Sylviane Defres, a consultant in infectious diseases at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a senior clinical lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Dr Defres tells interviewer journalist Erin Dean about the signs and symptoms nurses should be looking out for and how the illness presents and develops.

They discuss the areas that are higher risk in the UK with more infected ticks and what is known about the spread of the virus in the UK.

The importance of public health advice from nurses to protect people from getting bitten by ticks and the availability of a vaccine is also covered.

Dr Defres also shares her top three tips for nurses on TBEV:

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What are the signs and symptoms of dementia and how can nursing staff best support people with the condition and their loved ones?

By 2025, over one million people in the UK will likely have a diagnosis of dementia, making it even more likely that nurses in all settings will encounter someone with the condition and or their family.

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores the different types of dementia (there are over 200 subtypes of the condition) and the varying symptoms.

Our guests are Helen Green, an admiral nurse with Dementia UK, which is a specialist dementia nursing charity supporting all the family, and Fred, whose wife Lynne has vascular dementia.

They talk about gaining a diagnosis, signposting for support and helping someone with dementia to be stimulated via hobbies and activities.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you recognise the signs of sepsis? And how should you respond when you suspect the patient in front of you is at risk?

The latest episode of the podcast examines what nursing staff need to know about this life-threatening condition.

Our guest, Sian Annakin, is deteriorating patient lead at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, and a sepsis practitioner.

She tells Emergency Nurse editor Sophie Blakemore what to watch out for in adults and what the guidelines say about how and when to treat a patient with suspected sepsis.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence sepsis guidance is currently under review with an update expected in late June.

Ms Annakin, who is also communications officer for the UK Sepsis Practitioner Forum, discusses why the review is taking place and what it means for nurses and hospital trusts in the interim, as well as when the update is published, whatever the outcome. 

Listeners will also hear what tools are available to help them screen for sepsis and how to supplement these using their own clinical experience.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How can you make your money stretch a bit further, plan for retirement and feel in control of your finances?

Times are tough financially for many nurses at the moment, with pay not rising as fast as the rocketing cost of living.

This episode hears from money mentor for women and NHS GP Nikki Ramskill who shares information on how nurses can get to grips with their money and make it work for them better.

Known as the Female Money Doctor, Dr Ramskill is on a mission to improve women’s money management skills.

She advises knowing exactly what money is coming in and out, how to reduce unnecessary costs and check pension statements to fully understand the current financial situation.

She tells podcast host health journalist Erin Dean that nurses should consider expanding their horizons outside of the NHS to earn more, and consider ‘side-hustles’ that can bring in extra money.

Nurses need to try as hard as possible not to come out of the NHS pension as it is such a good plan, she says.  

‘Unfortunately, what you are doing is robbing your future self,’ she says. ‘Women have already got a massive gap in their pensions.’

Dr Ramskill shares her four top tips with nurses:

Find out more about Dr Ramskill: https://thefemalemoneydoctor.com

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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At the end of a shift, many nurses find it a challenge to leave the day behind. 

You may find yourself constantly going over events that happened at work, or wondering how a patient is faring. 

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast will provide the tips and tricks you need to switch off after your shift. 

Our guest is RCN Nurse of the Year Ana Waddington, who is a paediatric critical care outreach nurse. 

Ms Waddington speaks to RCNi editorial assistant Serafina Basciano about the importance of having a moment to unwind before leaving work. In her case, it’s reminding herself of three positive things that happened that day. 

She also discusses an incident with a young patient that tipped her over the edge and tells listeners that there is no shame in reaching out for help. 

Ms Waddington speaks about activities that she does to help her decompress and reminds nurses to set aside some time every week to practise self-care.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Using Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms are part of many nurses’ day-to-day lives.

Getting the most out of social media accounts as a nurse, while avoiding the potential pitfalls, is the topic of this episode.

We explore the positives of these online tools that can bring members of the profession together.

Our guest is Teresa Chinn, a nurse, social media expert and honorary assistant professor at the University of Nottingham, and founder of the #WeNurses Twitter group.

She shares her experience and the many ways that social media has helped her improve her practice and tackle the isolation she felt when working as an agency nurse.

The podcast hears about valuable guidance from the NMC, drawing on the Code, which can help nurses use social media safely and responsibly. https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/social-media-guidance.pdf

She also emphasises the importance of not letting social media take more time than desired from already busy lives. 

Ms Chinn also shares her three tips for getting the most out of social media.

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/features/how-to-use-social-media-to-get-health-messages-to-patients-and-public-170766

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/students/nursing-studies/social-media-teaching-nursing-students-how-to-engage-and-be-professional-online-173076

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/features/when-social-media-becomes-a-minefield-nurses-161401

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/students/nursing-studies/how-to-stay-out-of-trouble-when-using-social-media-175686

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/newsroom/news/would-you-share-your-unique-nurse-pin-on-social-media-193386

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How does kindness – and also unkindness – affect working relationships and patient care?

Kindness is fundamental to nursing practice and the quality patients most value in their experience of care. Whereas unkind behaviour can impact on a nursing professional’s ability to respond effectively and learn – and, also, affects patient outcomes.

This episode of the podcast explores what it means to be kind, how these behaviours influence person-centred care and inter-staff relationships.

Our guest is William Gage, lecturer in adult nursing at King’s College London, who has written a popular CPD article on kindness for Nursing Standard.

Mr Gage also explains the meaning of purposeful behaviour and how kindness is about offering practical support to one another.He also delves into compassionate leadership and speaks about how ‘resilience’ is as an unhelpful term in nursing.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What does it mean to be a ‘silent companion’ and how does this help to build trust at the end of a patient’s life?

Find out more in this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, which explores the challenges that nurses face when providing person-centred end of life care.

Other topics addressed include effective communication, building authentic and trusting relationships, and the importance of nurses in this role being able to care for themselves.

Joining podcast host RCNi CPD editor Nick Lipley are RCNi authors Tracy Smith and Kasia Patynowska, who both work for UK end of life care charity Marie Curie.

Tracy is currently Marie Curie clinical educator for Scotland and Kasia is a Marie Curie research nurse in Northern Ireland.

Supporting person-centred end of life care is the focus of a CPD article, co-authored by Tracy and Kasia with Marie Curie colleagues and published by Primary Health Care.

Publication of the article has been supported by Marie Curie so that it is open access.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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In January thousands of nurses in the NHS staged a two-day strike across England over pay, as members of the RCN continue their historic walkouts.

But what were the real reasons for nursing staff voting for industrial action?

In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast we hear from nurses on the picket lines in South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Brighton and London about their personal reasons for taking part in the strikes on 18 and 19 of January 2023.

Speaking to reporters nurses from all aspects of nursing, staff told us their chief concern was patient safety and the future of the NHS. 

While some nurses spoke of struggling to pay their bills, some student nurses explained that completing their placement proficiencies was almost impossible, as the staff shortages meant learning and university paperwork is being side-lined.

Speaking on the picket line alongside nurses, the RCN’s general secretary Pat Cullen told the podcast that nurses had been ‘pushed onto picket lines by this government’ and while the stalemate remained, the biggest NHS strike would go ahead in February with all mandated members of the union in England, Wales and Northern Ireland striking at the same time. 

She said: ‘We need to get round a table and start to work together to resolve the 2022/23 pay dispute, and we need to do that very quickly before we move into another set of strikes.’

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you reduce imposter syndrome and make changes at work?

This episode’s guest is no stranger to change, having revolutionised sexual health care in Northern Ireland by setting up an early medical abortion service.

Sexual and reproductive healthcare nurse Nicola Bailey established the Rose Clinic providing terminations up to the tenth week of pregnancy to women in Belfast, overcoming protests and political resistance – all during a Covid-19 lockdown.

Despite her achievements, which saw her named RCN Nurse of the Year in 2021, Nicola still experiences imposter syndrome. She explains in the podcast how she seeks to reduce this feeling of inadequacy, ask for help when needed, and influence and lead change.

Nicola also speaks publicly for the first time about how her personal experience of travelling to England for a termination – prior to the law change in Northern Ireland – led her to set up the Rose Clinic.

Her work at the clinic has also driven her to further seek to improve women’s healthcare.

Nicola also explains what makes a good nursing leader – at any level of seniority – and how having a ‘growth mindset’ has boosted her confidence.

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Christmas may be a time for giving but accepting a gift from a patient could land you in hot water. While patient’s have the best intentions of thanking nurses at Christmas, or any other time of the year, accepting a gift could be in breach of the Nursing and Midwifery Council code.

The Code clearly states that nurses must refuse ‘all but the most trivial gifts, favours or hospitalities, as accepting them could be interpreted as an attempt to gain preferential treatment’.

So, what is a trivial gift? And what should you do if you are given a gift from a patient?

This episode of the podcast answers all those questions and more. Paul Jebb, a senior nurse in the northwest of England and member of the RCNi editorial board, talks Nursing Standard news editor Andrea Downey through what the Code means and how to declare a gift.

His handy advice for nurses: if in doubt, declare.

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Preparing for your first night shift can be a daunting experience.

So many questions cross your mind. Will I be able to stay awake? What should I eat? And what should I bring with me? 

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast answers all those questions and more. 

Podcast guests Molly Kiltie, senior mental health practitioner at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, and Danielle Robinson, a third-year adult nursing student University of Lincoln, give listeners tips on how to survive a first night shift. 

They tell RCNi editorial assistant Serafina Basciano about the importance of finding a routine that works for you and giving yourself time to wind down after a shift. 

Our guests also discuss what essential items they have in their bags to help them get through the night.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How are nursing students preparing for the health challenges of climate change?

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores how students and universities are ensuring their courses cover this vital topic.

Nursing student Leonie Harrison and lecturer Alison Taylor discuss the proactive approach they are involved with to make their course at the University of Brighton more sustainable. This matters to nursing students as the climate emergency is a health emergency, listeners hear. Ms Harrison talks about Brighton students’ work with three other universities around the world to adapt and introduce the Planetary Health Report Card to nursing courses. This is a student-led approach to assess how planetary health is considered in all aspects of a nursing course.

Ms Harrison tells journalist Erin Dean about the experience of using this at the University of Brighton, and how it is leading to practical changes to make their learning greener. The importance and power of nursing students in this area, both now and as the future nursing workforce, is emphasised in the episode.

The pair also talk about how other universities can take a similar approach, and about the hope their work gives them for the future.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What is it with nurses and ghost stories? Why does every hospital seem to be ‘haunted’ by a past patient or long-dead matron? This Halloween episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores why so many nurses have a spooky story to tell.

Our podcast guest Ciaran O’Keeffe is head of the School of Human and Social Sciences and associate professor of education and research at Buckinghamshire New University. Fans of the supernatural may be familiar with the work of Dr O’Keeffe, who studies haunting experiences and was a long-time regular on Living TV’s Most Haunted show.

He talks to Stephanie Jones-Berry, Nursing Standard head of features, about his work with the paranormal and why he thinks nurses have so many ghostly interactions. 

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What is it like to be a newly registered nurse? 

Making the transition from nursing student to newly registered nurse is exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking. 

Securing a role that is the right fit for you – with the right support at the right time – is crucial if you are to thrive in your new career. 

But how do you go about getting your first job and what should you be looking for in a good employer? Support and development in the workplace is vital, so what does a good preceptorship programme look like? 

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast answers all these questions and more. 

Our guest Bethany Tuckwood, a newly registered nurse in the emergency department at St Richards Hospital in Chichester in Sussex, and co-lead of the RCN newly registered nurse network, shares her experiences. 

She tells interviewer RCNi career development editor Clare Lomas about the importance of taking care of yourself and building good support networks around you, with advice on raising concerns and preparing for revalidation.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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The emotional distress of caring for seriously ill and dying patients can take its toll on nurses who may struggle with feelings of unresolved grief. If it is not recognised and dealt with issues can build up that can lead to burn out, compassion fatigue, inadequate care for patients and nurses leaving the profession.

So, what can nurses do to protect themselves and maintain healthy and happy careers?

This episode explores the findings of research conducted with children’s nurses and what it revealed about their experiences of caring for seriously ill and dying children. However, these experiences will not only be felt by those working with children but by nurses working with adults in many different settings.

This episode looks at the psychology behind these issues and why at a time of immense pressure on services, increasingly complex care, acute staff shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic they are so important to deal with. There are some tips on what all nurses can do to maintain their well-being and what employers can do to support the workforce, including an argument that clinical supervision should be compulsory.

Guests

Speaking to Nursing Children and Young People editor Christine Walker are Alice Nugent, a psychotherapist at Dublin Business School, and Agnes Higgins, professor of mental health in the school of nursing and midwifery at Trinity College Dublin. They are two of the authors of the recently published study in the RCNi journal Nursing Children and Young People titled Nurses’ experiences of managing vulnerability when working with seriously ill children.

https://journals.rcni.com/nursing-children-and-young-people/evidence-and-practice/nurses-experiences-of-managing-vulnerability-when-working-with-seriously-ill-children-ncyp.2022.e1403/abs

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Major changes are afoot to advanced community nursing qualifications.

So, what do they mean for nurses’ careers? And what do employers, universities and other providers delivering education and training need to do?

This episode explores the new standards for specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN) and specialist practice qualifications (SPQs) introduced by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Guests NMC executive director of professional practice Geraldine Walters and NMC assistant director of professional practice Anne Trotter explain what nurses need to know about the changes hailed as the most significant shake-up to advanced community nursing qualifications for 30 years.

They speak to Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about what the standards entail, how nurses can gain one of the qualifications and how the courses are quality assured.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Starting a nursing degree is exciting … but can also be overwhelming.

So, where do you start? How can you prepare for academic study? What books should you buy (if any … yet) - and what are the best shoes to walk the wards in?

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast answers all these questions and more on how to navigate those first weeks, months and year of a nursing course.

Our guests Lin Fidgin, a third year adult nursing student at Teeside University, and Louise Hyett-Collins, who is in her second year of her adult nursing course at University of the Highlands and Islands, give the lowdown on what they wish they’d known before starting out.

They explain the importance of being curious and talk about the best social media accounts to follow and how to build a supportive network. The students also give advice on time management and speak about the importance of being kind to yourself.

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Managing the continence care of patients with dementia in hospital can be a challenge for time-pressed staff.

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores this nursing practice which is little discussed yet vital to patient dignity and care outcomes.

Katie Featherstone, director of the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory at the University of West London, speaks about her research into the continence care of people with dementia during a hospital admission.

She discusses ‘pad cultures’ which is the routine use of continence pads for these hospital patients regardless of their continence or independence.

Based on her team’s observation of six wards in three hospitals over 12 months, Professor Featherstone explains why this practice is happening and what can be done to change the culture.

She talks to RCNi senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett about the influence of workload and risk management on pad cultures and how senior nurses can show leadership in this area.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Is your workplace missing some nurses? Is there a perpetual struggle to fill rota gaps?

This isn’t just a UK problem but one that is reflected across the world, impacting global health in the most significant way.

In this episode, International Council of Nurses chief executive Howard Catton talks about the issues with recruiting staff from overseas and how worldwide nursing shortages are impacting other major challenges such as climate change, including extreme heatwaves.

Mr Catton tells interviewer journalist Erin Dean what needs to be done to protect the future of nursing and healthcare.

In addition to talking about the role of nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic, he discusses how they continue to remain on the frontline of global conflict with the war in Ukraine.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you spot and treat monkeypox? And how concerned should nurses be about the UK outbreak of this relatively rare virus?

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast examines what nursing staff need to know about the condition.

Our guest is Belinda Loftus, a sexual health nurse and a manager at the Spectrum Community Health social enterprise, which provides enhanced primary care services across the north of England.

She tells journalist Erin Dean about what can put people at higher risk of catching monkeypox.

Ms Loftus. who is also a committee member at the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, explains how the disease is transmitted, and the kind of public health advice nurses can give to help people reduce their risk.

She discusses the treatment options , the success of the smallpox vaccine in managing the condition, and how healthcare professionals can protect themselves if they suspect a patient has the virus.

Listeners will also hear which settings are most likely to come across cases, and which conditions it may be confused with.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How can the nursing regulator be fair to the professionals on its register while protecting the public?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s ability to remove a registrant’s licence to practise – their livelihood – understandably makes some nursing staff fearful of the regulator. 

Research has also shown inequalities for certain groups of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the NMC register who face fitness to practise proceedings.

This episode of the podcast hears from NMC chief executive Andrea Sutcliffe who, since taking up the helm in 2019, has been striving to make the regulator fairer and kinder. 

Ms Sutcliffe speaks to Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about eliminating discrimination from NMC processes including whether English language testing requirements for overseas nurses should be less stringent.

She talks about supporting overseas nurses to flourish in their careers rather than overlooking them for promotion because ‘they will return home soon’.

Ms Sutcliffe also discusses the retention of the nursing workforce and why the UK cannot rely on international recruitment alone to fix staffing issues.

And she reveals her personal experience of staying resilient and why safety always comes first – including on her bike.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Dysphagia describes eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties in an individual of any age. 

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores this complex and potentially life-threatening problem, what nurses need to be looking out for, and how and when it should be escalated.

Guest Rachael Jones, senior advanced nurse practitioner in stroke at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and chair of the National Stroke Nursing Forum, talks about which patients are at higher risk, and which signs suggest further assessment is needed.

In the interview with journalist Erin Dean, she explains the impact that swallowing difficulties can have on people’s lives and how the views of the patient need to be taken into account.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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As days get longer and people spend more time outdoors, the risk of contracting Lyme disease from infected ticks increases.

The latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores what nurses need to know about this condition.

Podcast guest is Nick Beeching, a professor in tropical and infectious diseases from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

In the interview with Nursing Standard journalist Erin Dean, he talks about who is at highest risk, how to spot a potential Lyme disease infection, and what treatment should be given.

He also talks about why Lyme disease has caused some controversy, as people seek tests abroad.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Nurses encounter many different wounds in their practice.

These range from lower limb leg ulcers – including venous leg ulcers and diabetes-related foot ulcers - to surgical wounds, pressure ulcers and those caused by trauma. 

Wounds can be distressing, painful and debilitating for the person as well as affecting body image. They are also costly and take time to manage for the health service and organisation. 

This episode looks at what nurses need to know about this important area of practice.

Our expert guest is Matthew Wynn, a lecturer in adult nursing who runs the tissue viability and leg ulcer management module at University of Salford.

He explains the difference between an acute and chronic wound, the importance of assessment prior to wound cleansing and when to employ aseptic and clean wound techniques.

He also discusses how to choose the correct cleansing solution including the use of water and use of dressings.

At the end of the podcast, Matthew neatly summarises the three things nurses need to know about cleansing a wound.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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The link between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes has been proven time and again – so why does the UK have a persistent shortage of nurses?

Is it all financial? And do, or should, nurses have a role in calling this out and finding solutions?

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast hears from Jane Ball, professor of nursing workforce policy at University of Southampton who has spent 30 years researching safe staffing issues.

She speaks about the positive impact on patient care of having the right number of nurses who are degree educated and have a good working environment.

Professor Ball talks about how the pandemic has shown both the importance and disregard of nursing, and the danger of government and policy-makers thinking the profession doesn’t need workplace planning or to be rewarded.

She also advises nurses to report short-staffing and not to let their context – or working environment – allow them to compromise on these vital safety issues.

Speaking to Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn as the annual International Nurses’ Day takes place on 12 May, Professor Ball says the value of nursing can be shown by nurses showing their own worth by not letting their expectations or standards be knocked.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Are you being held back in your career by self-limiting beliefs? These are those nagging thoughts that you’re not quite good enough or an imposter in your nursing role.

Such anxieties can hamper professional development, discouraging nurses from stepping forward for new opportunities and job promotion.

So how do you overcome these doubts? Gemma Stacey, director of the Florence Nightingale Foundation’s Academy, has some answers and inspiration for us all.

The academy runs a series of leadership and development courses including on unlocking the barriers that hold nurses back on an individual level.

In this episode, she tells Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about the importance of developing leadership skills from the outset of a nurse’s career and how honing your communication skills plays an important role.

She also speaks about what she has learned personally as someone with dyslexia and how to challenge perceptions and assumptions, plus the continuous and vital work of self-evaluation.

Find out more about the Florence Nightingale Foundation Academy and its courses: https://florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk/academy/

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Do you know your emotional triggers, those particular situations that cause a surge of stress or anger?

Feeling overwhelmed is a common response in times of high pressure, and the pandemic has brought even more challenges for healthcare staff.

Yet self-care can appear a self-indulgence practised by people with time and energy.

But does it have to be that way? A free massive online open course (MOOC) is offering self-care and well-being support as something ‘learners’ can dip into when they can.

In this episode of the podcast, course tutor Tonks Fawcett, who is professor of student learning (nurse education) at University of Edinburgh, explains how the course works and its popularity among global healthcare staff.

Professor Fawcett talks about the three-step breathing space practice and a simple hand-fist exercise to support frazzled nervous systems, and the importance of knowing and accepting our vulnerabilities and learning how to respond to them.

The course Self care and wellbeing: A practical guide for health and social care is jointly run by FutureLearn, University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and is open to all healthcare staff including nursing students.

It follows a highly popular MOOC for critical care staff used by 57,000 workers, which identified the need for a tailored well-being course.

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/self-care-and-wellbeing-a-practical-guide-for-health-and-social-care

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How can you make revalidation a straightforward task?

The process can feel like a mammoth task to many nurses and nursing associates when faced with their deadline to revalidate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council every three years.

There can also be confusion about what can be included as continuing professional development (CPD). Do you need a certificate for every learning experience?

This episode sees RCN profession lead for education Gill Coverdale discuss CPD and revalidation with Nursing Standard senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett.

The pair, who are both registered nurses, talk about what counts as CPD, how to use your own practice for reflection purposes, where to gain participatory learning and more.

They also chat about their personal experiences of undergoing revalidation.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What makes a good leader and how can every nurse demonstrate these skills whatever their seniority or setting?

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast examines the topic of leadership and how all nursing staff and other healthcare workers can find and develop their own style.

Guest Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust chief nurse Karen Bonner talks about her own style of authentic and compassionate leadership and how to inspire staff.

She tells interviewer Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn how leaders such as herself have had to flex their style to the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms Bonner, who started her first chief nurse post in Buckinghamshire just as the pandemic was beginning, talks about the well-being techniques she uses to maintain her resilience. 

She also discusses the importance of reflection.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Do you find it hard to eat well amid the pressures and demands of your nursing job?

Perhaps you find yourself skipping meals during long shifts, grabbing a takeaway on the way home or craving sugary treats to combat exhaustion?

You are not alone. A recent survey by Nursing Standard found almost six in ten respondents are turning to unhealthy and disordered eating as a result of work-related stress.

The latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast unpicks some of the barriers to healthy diets in the nursing workplace, including lack of breaks, long hours and poor access to canteens.

We hear from Duane Mellor, a dietitian and senior lecturer at Aston Medical School in Birmingham, and second year nursing student Lewis.

Lewis, who has previously experienced an eating disorder, describes working on placements and with rotas that have not supported healthy eating patterns.

The pair share with podcast host health journalist Erin Dean their practical advice for improving your diet with some forward planning.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Are you looking to change direction in your career?

You are not alone. The pandemic has made many nurses rethink – or at least review – their career pathway.

So what do you do? Do you need to spend a lot of time retraining – or could you use your transferable skills to secure that new job?

This episode of the podcast hears from former associate director of nursing and midwifery Winnie George, who is now retention lead at NHS England and Improvement.

Like many nursing colleagues, the pandemic - and also her personal experience of being very unwell with COVID-19 - inspired her to look for a fresh career opportunity.

Ms George talks about her own career experience including gaining a tissue viability nursing role without specialist skills, and also how nurses can apply their existing skills such as leadership in care provision or project management to a new job. She also tells interviewer Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about the use of secondments to gain new opportunities and how flexible working and treating everyone as an individual can help to retain staff.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Many women experience heavy and painful periods which have a significant impact on their personal and professional lives.

While 10 % of women of reproductive age are thought to have endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body.

Endometriosis has a range of symptoms including pain in the lower stomach or back, during periods and sex, and while passing urine or faeces. It also can affect a woman’s fertility.

Nurses are often the point of care of the condition, which takes an average of seven and a half years for a woman to receive a diagnosis.

This episode of the podcast discusses the signs, symptoms and treatment of endometriosis, and examines support for those experiencing severe monthly menstrual pain.

Our guests are Claudia Tye, a clinical nurse specialist in endometriosis and gynaecology and Debby Holloway, nurse consultant in gynaecology, who are based at Guy’s Hospital in London.

They also talk to Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about the mental health impact of endometriosis, some of the lesser known symptoms and how women, including nurses themselves, can manage the condition at work. Plus the two nurse experts discuss the role of diet in treatment and how nurses can enter this fascinating field of practice.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Are you tired of being told things would be better if you were just a bit more resilient? Or frustrated with well-being initiatives that are put on by well-meaning employers but for which you have no time?

This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at the power of embracing your vulnerability and sense of humanity, and examines the dangerous misconception that health staff are superhuman.

Chiara Dall’Ora, lecturer on nursing workforce at the University of Southampton, talks to Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about why she refuses to teach resilience to nursing students.

She explains how instead she teaches students about the impact of the work environment, being change agents and the importance of being human.

Dr Dall’Ora also talks about what managers can put in place to support staff when staffing levels are low and how to avoid empty gestures or gimmicks.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visitrcni.com/podcast

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What is your experience of racism or discrimination, whatever your skin colour? Have you been labelled ‘defensive’ for standing up for yourself as a black nurse, or stood by silently seething as a white nurse witnessing a colleague being discriminated against due to their ethnicity?

This episode of the podcast explores racism and discrimination in the NHS, and how black and minority ethnic nurses can progress in their careers.

Our guests are two senior black nurses, Nichole McIntosh and Carol Love-Mecrow, who are Health Education England regional heads of nursing and midwifery for London and the Midlands respectively.

They talk to Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about their personal experiences of racism and microaggressions in the NHS and what everyone can do to tackle this behaviour.

The pair encourage white nurses to listen to understand rather than respond and offer tips to black and minority ethnic nurses on getting ahead in their careers such as seeking out positive role models – emulating not imitating – and taking every opportunity.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Saving the planet is a big ask on top of everything else nurses and nursing students have to do.

But does it have to such a herculean task? What are the small steps that you can take, personally and professionally, to make a big difference? And could we be better off professionally, financially and, of course, environmentally, as a result.

This episode’s guest is green champion Rachel Ames, a third year nursing student at Bucks New University who has a number of environmental roles, and also set up the Twitter #WeGoGreener with @WeStudentNurses @WeNurses accounts. It encourages students to drive change on sustainability issues.

She tells Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about how she combines well-being with environmental work and talks about the actions healthcare staff and students can take in terms of some single-use items in the NHS. They also discuss simple personal steps to take at home - including changes to pet bedding!

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Feedback is an essential part of the learning process for any nursing student or qualified nurse.

But sometimes the points – written or oral - can be difficult to digest especially if you react to the negative information.

In this episode, nurse lecturers Amy Dopson and Laurence Drew who are based at University of Surrey’s school of health sciences discuss how to handle feedback.

They also talk about the importance of giving ‘live’ feedback and labelling when a point you are making is feedback.

The pair also tell interviewer Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about how qualified nurses can identify feedback in their everyday practice for reflection and revalidation purposes.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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All nurses in England could receive mandatory training in caring for people with learning disabilities and autism if a pilot scheme proves successful.

Why is this happening and what strategies can all nurses learn from those working in this field?

This episode of the podcast hears from two specialist nurses, Jim Blair, a learning disability nurse consultant, and Lauretta Ofulue, a learning disability nurse now training to be a specialist community public health nurse.

The two first met when Jim nursed Lauretta’s son Otito, who had a learning disability and autism, at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. This meeting and the experience of caring for her severely disabled son, who has since died, led Lauretta to retrain as a learning disability nurse.

The pair share their strategies for supporting people with learning disabilities and autism and explain what making reasonable adjustments and avoiding diagnostic overshadowing mean in practice.

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The pandemic has been hard on everyone but especially for nurses and healthcare staff who’ve been under immense pressure.

Many nurses have reported the toll of COVID-19 on their mental health - and some have hit rock bottom.

Where do you go for help if you, a colleague or loved one is in mental distress and or having suicidal thoughts? And what should you say and not say?

The Laura Hyde Foundation, set up in memory of the eponymous naval nurse who died by suicide in 2016, has launched a free suicide prevention resource signposting nurses and other first responder staff to support.

Its guide was launched in response to the number of nurses – 226 – who contacted the charity’s helpline during the pandemic having attempted suicide.

The foundation’s chair and Laura’s cousin, Liam Barnes, joins the podcast to talk about overcoming stigma and offering the best support for those in need.

In this episode, he also tells Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn about how the charity provides funding for initiatives offering mental health support.

Find out more: https://laurahydefoundation.org/suicide-prevention

Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org

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From microaggressions to false accusations, black and minority ethnic nurses experience many forms of racism at work.

What support is available to help them emotionally, therapeutically and legally?

This episode of the podcast hears from nurse Neomi Bennett who set up Equality 4 Black Nurses, a group which provides a supportive space and expert guidance for nurses who have experienced racial discrimination in the workplace.

She speaks to senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett about the personal impact of racism and the support, weekly Zoom meetings, mediation and therapy which the group offers.

Ms Bennett, who won the Innovations in Your Specialty category of the RCNi Nurse Awards 2019, also explains the group’s ‘buntu buddy’ system.

Buntu buddies are nurses who understand the insidious nature of discrimination, unconscious and conscious bias and so are equipped to support colleagues experiencing inequalities.

Buntu comes from the African concept of ‘ubuntu’ that we are only human through the humanity of others.

Equality 4 Black Nurses, which has around 1,000 members, also welcomes white nurses who want to help with the group’s mission to stand up against racism.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Starting a new job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking.

But when that role is also in a new country it can add further complexity and apprehension.

There are 92,260 nursing staff from overseas on the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council register.

Just like newly qualified nurses, this group need support too. What kind of support do they find most beneficial? And what advice would overseas nurses give to those new to the UK?

Michele Mtandabari, head of nursing for workforce and education at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, talks about the support her trust offers to newly-joined overseas nurses.

While Selwyn Semple, who registered as a UK nurse in March 2021 following 10 years of nursing practice in Guyana, offers his top tips on settling in.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Long-COVID is affecting many health and care staff – so what can nurses with the condition do to manage its often on-off symptoms?

This episode of the podcast hears from two nurses with long-COVID, which is defined as the continuation or development of symptoms after the four-week acute stage of COVID-19.

Salli Pilcher, associate director of nursing at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, and Jane Ireson, a clinical nurse specialist based in Sheffield, discuss how they manage their symptoms.

They cover mindfulness, tai chi, wild swimming and the need to be kind to yourself. The two nurses also talk about the workplace support needed for staff with the condition.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics released in April suggested at least 122,000 NHS staff have long-COVID.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Is simply the thought of a job interview enough to bring you out in a cold sweat? Do you worry about how to manage your nerves and present your best self? And how do you answer those tricky questions?

Nichole McIntosh, regional head of nursing and midwifery with London Health Education England, answers all these questions and more in this episode of the podcast.

She advises how to prepare for an interview, provides strategies on dealing with ‘brain freeze’ and gives her tips for answering that final ‘do you have any questions for the panel’ part of the process.

Ms McIntosh also tells interviewer Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn how candidates can best present themselves in online and in person interviews.

If this episode inspires you to look for a new job, check out RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair where Ms McIntosh is a regular speaker.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Nurses see a diverse range of patients and their families. But sometimes assumptions are made about the make-up of families – that they include a mum, dad and their biological children.

This perpetuation of heteronormativity – that heterosexuality is the norm – can be led by systems, such as documentation used by the NHS requesting who is the mother and father of a child. Some healthcare professionals also make assumptions about the set-up of a patient’s family.

This episode looks at how nurses – and the NHS – can support all people using health services to feel included.

Senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett discusses this topic with Lucy Kelsall-Knight, a lecturer in children’s nursing at the University of Birmingham. Lucy has conducted the UK’s first research into how people who are LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) feel when accessing health services for their children. She also has two adopted children with her wife.

Rob Atkin-House, who with his husband is a father to three sons, also joins the conversation to speak about his personal experiences.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Taking up your first post as a newly qualified nurse (NQN) can be daunting – but does it need to be this way?

Can it instead be a positive rite of passage after three years of training?

Former director of nursing Emily McWhirter, who is now a consultant advisor, joins Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn to share tips on how NQNs can navigate this transition.

She provides practical examples of ways to deal with anxiety during the course of the working day including a quick reset exercise taken from her time in the Air Ambulance.

Dr McWhirter also explains the need to test yourself as a new nurse yet also use the support of the team – and shares her wisdom on being a ‘good human not a great hero’.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Why is insulin so important to the body and what’s its role in type 1 and 2 diabetes?

2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, a breakthrough which has saved the lives of millions of people.

In this episode Paula Mayo, a lecturer in diabetes care at University of Leeds’ school of healthcare, answers key questions for nurses about insulin therapy.

She speaks to Nursing Standard senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett about the different types of insulin, the safety implications when administering it and the impact of diet and exercise on blood glucose levels.

Ms Mayo also reviews clinical articles on diabetes for Nursing Standard.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Writing a will is the kind of task we put off - but preparing one is actually, generally quite straightforward.

In this episode, solicitor Daniel Price explains what you need to do ahead of making a will writing appointment and gives an overview of the process.

He also tells senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett the importance of a will for nurses who are not married, have property, children including those from different relationships and or vulnerable beneficiaries.

Nurse Michelle Crisp also explains why surgery led her to write a will and the peace of mind it has given her.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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You have a low mood, feel exhausted, irritable and aren’t sleeping well. It may be the demands of nursing work – but could it be the perimenopause or menopause?

Menopause specialist and GP Louise Newson talks to Nursing Standard head of news and features Kat Keogh about how to identify these life changes and why they shouldn’t cause women to quit their jobs.

Dr Newson explains how to monitor the symptoms of the perimenopause and menopause and prepare for a medical consultation to seek treatment.

She also talks about the benefits of hormone replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms and the role of diet, sleep and exercise – while understanding that motivation can be difficult amid the hormonal imbalance!

She emphasises that it is possible to have a good menopause and stay in work with the right treatment and lifestyle.

Dr Newson is the founder of the balance-app.com and My Menopause Doctor and in 2019 published her first book, Menopause Manual. She is the founder and director of Newson Health menopause and well-being centres in Stratford-upon-Avon.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you engage disaffected young people who are at risk of serious harm? What can you do as a nurse in these circumstances?

Emergency nurse Ana Waddington felt a sense of helplessness at the increasing number of young people presenting with knife injuries in hospitals. So she decided to act.

Ana used her own time and money to set up YourStance, which teaches young people at risk of serious youth violence cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic life support and haemorrhage control.

In this episode she tells senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett how she builds rapport and trust with these communities – and how she is also inspiring some of these young people to join the NHS.

In 2020, Ana was named RCN Nurse of the Year for her extraordinary project, which is now gaining interest across the UK.

The RCN Nursing Awards are now open for entries. To take part, visit www.rcn-nursing-awards.co.uk

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Advanced nurse practitioner Rosa Ungpakorn talks about her award-winning outreach project which provides care to homeless people sleeping rough on the streets of London.

She gives an insight into her project Westminster Street Nurse which delivers on-the-spot clinical assessments, diagnosis and treatment.

Ms Ungpakorn discusses the interpersonal approach she uses to help her patients who often have trauma and experienced negative experiences of healthcare in the past.

She also explains the national guidelines she’s written on health-related street outreach for people who are homelessness.

In 2020, she won the Advanced Nursing Practice category of the RCNi Nurse Awards for this work. Find out more at rcni.com/Rosa-Ungpakorn

The RCN Nursing Awards (formerly the RCNi Nurse Awards) are now open for entries. To take part, visit www.rcn-nursing-awards.co.uk

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you find a mental well-being app or digital therapy that actually works?

From apps to online cognitive behavioural therapy, there are myriad ways of supporting your mental health needs.

In this episode sponsored by SilverCloud Health, digital health scientist Jorge Palacios dissects the evidence for different digital therapeutic interventions and discusses how nurses can navigate this field.

It also considers how nurses can best support their well-being during and after COVID-19 and the pandemic’s influence on future therapeutic approaches.

SilverCloud is a digital mental health platform which is available via around 80% of NHS improving access to psychological therapies services in England, Wales and Scotland.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Clear and effective communication is a key part of being a nurse. But how do you hone these skills? Are they innate or learned? And what role does confidence play in being a great communicator? 

Janie Brown, a cancer nurse with 40 years’ experience, who has published a book on compassionate communication, answers these questions and more. 

Janie explains the importance of active listening, using a role model or mentor to learn from and how to protect your own well-being when breaking bad news. She also offers three tips to help newly qualified nurses to develop their communication skills.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What support can nursing students with a disability or impairment expect from their clinical placement providers?

This episode explores reasonable adjustments, alterations that should be made to ensure students with disabilities are not disadvantaged.

London South Bank University senior lecturer Elizabeth King talks about her research in this area, while, newly qualified nurse Ricky Baker explains his experience as someone with dyspraxia.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you protect your emotional well-being as a nursing student – and during a pandemic?

Mental health nursing student Fran Hufton talks about her tips to stay well, informed by own experience of anxiety, depression and trauma.

She also tells host Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn why social media is her ‘coping mechanism’ and how it can be a force for good.

For supportive resources and help, go to rcni.com/well-being.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Award-winning author Mark Bostridge, who has written an acclaimed book on Ms Nightingale, joins senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett to discuss the ‘lady with the lamp’.

The episode, which comes in the bicentenary of Ms Nightingale’s birth this year, covers her influence as a public health reformer, time at Scutari hospital during the Crimean War and why she took to her bed in the latter years of her life.

To learn more about Florence Nightingale, visit our interactive feature exploring why the founder of modern nursing is still important at rcni.com/florence-nightingale

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Do the words ‘is there a nurse onboard’ fill you with dread, or do you spring into action without a second thought?

This episode examines Good Samaritan acts, when nurses respond to health emergencies while off duty.

Buckinghamshire New University senior lecturer Carolyn Crouchman joins Nursing Standard senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett to discuss her research in this area. 

The discussion also covers issues such as bystanders filming scenes of emergencies and posting the footage on social media.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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What’s it like being a male nurse in a predominantly female profession?

University of Surrey mental health nurse lecturer Laurence Drew and Kyle Sands, who is a second year adult nursing student at University of Worcester, talk about image and stereotypes with senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett. They also discuss why they love their career. 

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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How do you relax and de-stress when you’re a nurse working in a pandemic?

Critical care nurse Sacha Rowlands, who is also a yoga teacher and life coach, provides tips on breathing exercises, gratitude practices and other techniques.

During the interview with Nursing Standard editor Flavia Munn, she also guides listeners through a six-minute relaxation exercise (Find it at 20:56 minutes).

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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The role of the individual nurse, employer and regulator is discussed in this episode.

Senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett interviews Christine Braithwaite, director of standards and policy at the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

The PSA oversees ten healthcare regulators, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Its remit is to keep the public safe and ensure standards of healthcare professionals.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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The importance of maintaining a routine and sense of purpose are discussed in this podcast on nurses’ well-being.

Psychotherapist Colin Hughes, who is a lecturer in mental health nursing at Queen’s University Belfast, talks about ways to stay psychologically well during the pandemic.

In the interview with senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett, Mr Hughes also details the steps to take in seeking further help and how your career can be protected.

Support for nurses during COVID-19 from the RCN is available here.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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London Metropolitan University dietitian and lecturer Shawn McLaren explains who requires this type of nutrition in the short and long term, the safety aspects and physical and psychological effect on patients. He is interviewed by Nursing Standard’s senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett. For more information, read this peer-reviewed article.

The Nursing Standard podcast has been nominated for Podcast of the Year in this year’s Medical Journalists’ Association Awards, find out more here.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Revalidation can be time consuming at the best of times. So, how do you keep your application on track during COVID-19?

Sue West from the Nursing and Midwifery Council gives her top tips and seeks to allay registrants’ concerns.

Find out more at rcni.com/podcast

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Two nursing students discuss their experiences of choosing a practice placement or theory only studies during COVID-19.

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Head of gastrointestinal nurse education Jennie Burch speaks to senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett about the causes of constipation, preventive tips and how nurses can help their patients.

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Ruth Harris of King’s College London discusses why ‘intentional rounding’ may be little more than a tick-box exercise.

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How can nurses identify burnout in themselves and others? What role can mindfulness and keeping fit play in nurses' daily lives? 

These questions and more are answered in the latest Nursing Standard podcast exploring nurses' wellbeing. 

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What is genomics and how can it help nurses to guide patients’ treatment plans and improve health outcomes? This episode, produced in partnership with Health Education England’s Genomics Education Programme, seeks to demystify the topic.

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Anne Marie Rafferty, professor of nursing policy, discusses the impact of ‘lady with the lamp’ on modern hygiene, her contradictory character and why she’s a global star.

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Dr Richard Hatchett interviews Professor Jane Wills about access to healthy food in the NHS and what employers can do to help

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How can a nursing student gain a rich healthcare experience that plays to their strengths? What role do nurses play in training tomorrow’s profession? Lecturers from the University of Surrey join senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett to share their tips on using the standards to benefit all.

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In this episode, we look at the difficulties student nurses encounter when trying to survive their studies and we meet one nurse who turned to stripping to support herself through her training.

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In this episode, Flavia Munn talks with Nursing Standard team about their experiences of Christmas working, receiving gifts and their stories of nurses being good Samaritans.

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Join Dr. Richard Hatchett as he talks with four nursing students from the University of Surrey about their top tips for starting out on your journey into the world of nursing.

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