The role of advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) was introduced to the NHS in the 1990s and is now an established part of the healthcare team, both in general practice and in hospital settings. Despite this, there remains a lack of clarity about the role. So what is an advanced nurse practitioner? Also known as advanced practitioners or …
Is the new nursing degree apprenticeship for you?
The current route into nursing is to take a degree course, combining study at university with supervised work on hospital wards – but there will soon be another option. From September 2017, students will be able to ‘earn as they learn’ by taking a degree-level nurse apprenticeship. Aren’t apprenticeships a thing of the past? The …
How to become a healthcare assistant
If you are caring and compassionate and like the idea of offering hands-on care and having a lot of contact with patients, a job as a health care assistant (HCA) might be for you. Where they work Sometimes known as clinical support workers, nursing assistants, nursing auxiliaries or auxiliary nurses, HCAs work in a variety of settings, …
Delegation tips for busy nurses
Many nurses feel daunted at the prospect of delegating, but it’s an important skill and one worth mastering. Done well, it can free up some of your time to focus on more complex patient cases, as well as helping to develop the skills of nursing support staff. It’s important that you are clear on your …
5 questions to ask before accepting a nursing job offer
The interview went well and you’re confident that you’ll get the job – but do you want it? ‘Sometimes, candidates can be so focused on selling themselves during an interview that they forget to assess whether the role is right for them,’ says Heike Guilford, Managing Director of The Coaching Nurse. ‘That’s why it’s so important …
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Dealing with violence in the workplace
Awareness of assaults on NHS staff has been on the agenda for some years now, but despite several high-profile media and poster campaigns the number of cases is continuing to rise. Figures produced annually by NHS Protect, the body responsible for dealing with crime in the National Health Service, show that the total number of …
A guide to CPD: What counts for revalidation?
As part of the new revalidation process, you must complete 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to your practice as a nurse or midwife. This must be undertaken during the three years prior to your revalidation date – anything before that cannot be counted. While 35 hours may sound like a lot, remember …
5 effective ways to use stories in your nursing job interview
Scenario-type questions can be tricky to answer – but if you prepare before the interview, they can offer a great opportunity to convey the skills and values that set you apart from other nurse candidates. Done right, story-telling is a highly effective technique that makes interviewers listen to what you have to say, and ensures …
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5 Common nursing interview mistakes
Are you getting interviews but no job offers? You might want to take a closer look at the messages you’re giving employers. Julia Sinclair-Brown, a career coach specialising in the medical and healthcare sectors, reveals five common interview mistakes that could be costing you the job. 1. You don’t provide evidence of your strengths When asked …
7 ways to improve your reflection for revalidation
As part of the new revalidation process, nurses and midwives must provide at least five written pieces of reflection. These can be based on your continuing professional development (CPD), a practice-related event, or feedback from colleagues or patients. When choosing what to write about, you should pick something that happened in the three years prior …
Midwifery in the UK: Turn Your Passion for Babies Into a Career
If you clicked on the link to this article, chances are you love babies. And judging by statistics, most women in the UK agree with you. In 2015, 664,399 babies were born in England, a rise of 2,903 births from 2014. Births in Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland also saw increases. A trend of women over 40 …
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Paediatric nurse training – have you got what it takes?
Children’s nursing is hugely rewarding, but can also be emotionally demanding. If you’re interested in becoming a paediatric nurse, here’s what to expect from the training and how to decide whether the job is right for you. What the job involves Paediatric nurses work in hospitals, homes and the community, assessing the needs and caring for …
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9 tips to combat stress
Even the best nurses feel overwhelmed sometimes. Delegating and prioritising your workload can help – but if you’re still feeling stressed, here are six strategies that may help. 1. Change your inner dialogue A high workload and unrealistic management expectations can cause pressure – but be aware that negative thinking plays a part too. ‘It’s …
The 2016 Nursing Salary List: Which Nurses Make the Most?
The UK is in the midst of a healthcare staffing crisis, and this has affected nursing salaries. An ageing population is in need of more care, and this means that the trend toward increasing the ratio of nurses to patients in hospitals has intensified. In fact, the Centre for Workforce Intelligence predicted that in 2016, …
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6 learning disability nurse interview questions – and how to answer them
If you want to do well at interview, you need to prepare. That means reviewing the job description and person specification, researching the local service and preparing answers to the most frequently asked questions. Here are six questions you may be likely to face… 1. Why do you want to work here? You might have …
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Social work job interviews: six common questions and how to answer them
You decided to become a social worker because you want to make a difference. While passion and motivation are important qualities, you still need to convince a potential employer that you are the right candidate for the job. Here are six questions you’re likely to face in a social work interview, and the best way …
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Paramedic training – have you got what it takes?
Are you considering a career as a paramedic, but feeling apprehensive about the demands of a role on the frontline of the health service? Read on to discover what paramedic training involves and the kind of skills and qualities you need for the job. What the role involves Paramedics work on their own or with …
How to become a phlebotomist
Phlebotomists take blood samples from patients, then label and send them off to the laboratory for analysis and testing. If you’re interested in working in a healthcare role and don’t mind the sight of blood, read on for the skills, requirements and training you need. Where they work Phlebotomists work in a variety of healthcare settings – mainly …
How to deal with difficult patients
Most nurses go into the job because they want to help people, but dealing with difficult patients can be hugely challenging, especially for those who are newly qualified. While every patient and situation is different, here are eight tried-and-tested techniques that can help. 1. Assess where the anger’s coming from Nurses are only human and …
Becoming a healthy play specialist
If you enjoy working with children and would like a career in healthcare, a job as a healthy play specialist might be for you. Read on to discover what the role involves and the skills, qualifications, and experience you’ll need. What does it involve? Sometimes referred to as “hospital play specialists”, healthy play specialists are …
How to negotiate better pay in the independent sector
Negotiating salary can be a daunting task for healthcare workers in the private sector, particularly if you’re used to set pay-bands within the NHS. Whether you want to secure a better package at interview or ask your boss for a pay rise, here’s how to make your case and get a better deal. Do some …
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