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 …
How to deal with patient complaints
Some 8,853 enquiries relating to hospital trust complaints were made last year – most of them related to errors in diagnosis, poor treatment and communication. Yet many of these complaints might not have been made formal if the situation had been handled differently at the time. Not receiving an adequate apology was the most common …
Essential communication skills for nurses
Good communication skills are essential for all healthcare professionals, especially nurses who spend much of their time interacting with patients and their relatives. The ability to build rapport, listen effectively and make a real connection with people is at the heart of patient-centred care. ‘When nurses communicate with interest, listen actively and display genuine compassion, …
Bullying at work: what you can do
If you are being bullied at work, you’re not alone. Many talented nurses have found themselves on the receiving end of emotionally and professionally hurtful personal attacks, and the consequences for the victim can be far reaching. ‘Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect at work but the sad fact of bullying is that …
Nurse burnout: how to cope
If you’ve ever felt completely worn out by your nursing job, you’re not alone. More than half of 2,000 nurses surveyed by the RCN said they had suffered from stress over the previous year – yet eight out of 10 went to work anyway. Aside from negatively impacting on patient care, “carrying on” when you …
How to survive your first month as a newly qualified adult nurse
So you’ve landed your first nursing job, congratulations! The coming months will probably be the biggest learning curve you experience in the whole of your career. Read on for our guide to what to expect and how to ensure that your first few weeks on the job go smoothly. Making the jump Your employer and …
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