When I decided I wanted to be a midwife, I made sure I was prepared as possible. I’d read all the books, took as much clinical experience as possible and spoke to lots of midwives. I thought I had a good idea about what being a midwife and working in the NHS was all about. …
When self-care is simply putting yourself first
Everyone knows that working in healthcare is stressful. Long hours, minimal breaks and huge workloads can lead to people feeling really fed up and burnt out. I’ve found that self-care has become a really important part of my life, and when I don’t make the effort it makes a huge difference to my working and …
Lottie’s shift work survival guide
As a healthcare professional, although you may choose to work in a 9-5 post, as part of your training you will be expected to work shifts. This may be a rolling roster of the same shift pattern or a random mix of days, nights, short and long shifts. It’s no surprise that shift work can …
Tips to get Nursing Apprenticeships in the U.K.
If you’re in the process of becoming a nurse, you’ve picked an excellent time to get into the field. With more and more posts for nurses available, now is an excellent time to begin searching for nursing apprenticeships. You may have read about the shortage of nurses the UK is currently facing and decided that now is the time to …
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 …
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 …
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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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 …
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 …
Nursing people with dementia: the triangle of care
As many as seven-out-of-10 acute hospital beds are occupied by older people, and some 40% of those patients will have dementia (RCN, 2013). While acute general hospital settings are often not conducive to the needs of people with dementia (Alzheimer’s Society, 2009), nurses who offer compassion and person-centred care can – and do – make …
Networking tips for nurses who hate networking
You might shudder at the idea of networking and consider it horrible business speak, but the truth is that developing professional contacts is important for your career progression, as well as being necessary to meet the new revalidation requirements. Nick Simpson, CEO of nursing agency MSI Group, explains: ‘Under new regulations, nurses will have to obtain …
How to deal with difficult colleagues
There will always be people you don’t get on with at work: a senior nurse who tries to undermine you, a mentor who makes impossible demands, or a colleague who doesn’t pull their weight. Dealing with difficult colleagues can add to the stress of an already challenging job, and have a knock-on effect on your …
Sickness from work meetings: what to expect
If you’ve taken extensive (more than a week) or repeated time off work due to sickness, your employer may call you in for a formal work meeting. While it’s natural to feel nervous – and even distrustful of your manger’s motives – it will be in your best interests to attend. Nicola Lee, Employment Relations Adviser …
Nursing career-change mistakes to avoid
You’re committed to a career in nursing but feel you desperately need a change. Whether it’s a difficult boss, lack of career advancement, boredom or burnout that’s causing the problem, it’s worth asking yourself these questions before you switch nursing jobs or specialities. 1. Are you taking the first thing that comes along? When you’re unhappy at work, …
How to manage a demanding boss
Many nurses know what it’s like to work for a demanding boss. If your manager seems to have unrealistic expectations, it can lead to you feeling stressed and undervalued. Before you consider quitting your job, there are things you can do… Stretching you or dumping on you? It can help to take a moment to …
8 ways to survive your first children’s nursing placement
Everyone feels nervous on their first day at work. If you’re about to start your first placement as a children’s nurse, here’s how to survive your first day and get the most out of it. 1. Make sure you’re prepared The more you research and know what to expect, the less anxious you’ll feel. Second-year …
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How to become a nurse lecturer
If you enjoy teaching others and have experience and knowledge in a specialist nursing area, becoming a nurse lecturer could be the next step in your career. Read on to discover the qualifications and experience you need, and what it takes to succeed in the role. What the role involves Nurse lecturers are employed by …