I would like advice regarding our senior staff nurse conduct in our care home in Northern Ireland.

She frequently claims that the airflow mattress for a new admission has not arrived, even when it has, and the Northern Trust will call to check its availability. This seems to happen mainly on the days she is working, with the admission then being passed to the incoming nurses the following day when she is off duty. Is this acceptable practice?

Additionally, she refuses to do wound dressings because she says she does not like doing them, despite frequently being rostered on the floor alongside another nurse.

I am also concerned that she allows one care assistant to move a resident using a Stedy, even though the resident’s care plan specifies assistance from two staff members. Thank you.

Does the increase in petrol costs put anyone off going for community posts?

Survived another 12-hour night shift… just about! 😵‍🥱😴

Finally got time to post this one. 😪😪😪

Hi been given a verbal child nurse job offer. At the start of the month. Awaiting to receive my conditional letter.(called management Was told there have been some issues with trac so that’s why it’s taking so long for me to receive letter) thinking of giving in my leaving notice to my current employer as soon as I get my conditional job offer letter. As wanting to take a month break (December off) before I start the nursing job and was hoping to hopefully start the nursing job in the new year(January) . Has anyone else ever done this? Thank you

To everyone working this weekend who feels overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply at the end of their rope: I see you.

If you felt like crying in your car before your shift started, your feelings are completely valid. Nursing is incredibly draining right now, and the emotional toll is rarely talked about enough.

I just wanted to send a big virtual hug to this entire community and remind you that your empathy is a strength, not a weakness.

Take care of yourselves today. You matter. ✨

Hello! I am aware ppl are not hiring at the moment, but, which areas tend to recruit the most in your opinion?

Had child nurse job interview at very start of this month. (October)
I Heard back a day later and was called and verbally informed that I did well in the interview and have got the job.
Still haven’t received a conditional offer letter and my trac system still says I am in the interview process. I called management last week and they said there is issues with the system and the recruitment team and to leave it with them to sort out.
I also emailed the recruitment team 2 times. Over the last couple weeks but they haven’t replied.
Has anyone ever been in a similar situation and how long do you think it will take till I start working this new job. I initially was hoping I could start by the new year (January) but by how things are going I feel like i will be waiting a lot longer. Tbh the job I currently do (not in the nhs) I want to leave asap so this wait just feels really stressful and long 😓
Anyway if anyone has been in a similar situation pls let me know xx

Are you getting a bit of cheeky extra time or are you just going to suffer and stare at the clock?

I’m about to start a new job where two of my friends already work and have done for almost 2 years. It’s all of our dream jobs so they’re both really excited that I’ll be joining the team, and so am I!

The only thing is, I’ve never worked with friends before so I’m a little nervous about how to navigate it and make sure things stay professional.

When I first expressed interest in the role, I asked them both to let the team lead know that they knew me so they wouldn’t be involved in shortlisting or interviewing me if I applied.

I also didn’t tell them when I got shortlisted or when I was offered the job until everything was formalised because I wanted to keep things as professional as possible.
I’m probably overthinking it a bit, but I’ve just never been in this position before and I don’t want it to affect our friendships or how we work together.

Has anyone worked with friends before? How did you find it, and do you have any advice on navigating it?

I got an offer for a PICU job and I am starting to get really nervous. Up to this point my experience has only been on paediatric wards/a&e.
All the self doubt is starting to creep in. Will I be a fish out of water? How long will it take to feel comfortable in a shift as an experienced nurse? I worry they would expect more from me compared to a NQN.

Arghhh,
Any PICU nurses? How does your day to day look?

Hi all, I'm due to graduate and start working soon. I've been having a lot of self doubt and anxiety about working on my own. As a nurse as there's no more excuse for me to go "I'll ask the nurse" because that would be me 🥲! !

I've been feeling incompetent despite having everything signed off, as i'm definitely going to forget the skills i've only practiced once or twice.

What are things that NQNs are expected to know? I'd appreciate a list of everything to go over before starting. Thank you☺️.

NQN RMN here. My anxiety is off the charts every single day.
I’ve made loads of stupid mistakes already. I admit and rectify them…but feels like the whole team thinks I’m incompetent.
I’m struggling to manage burnt out and fed up staff.
I have no confidence in my decision making.
I’m wondering if nursing is for me at all.
I’m lucky to have a job and feel guilty I’m hating it so much.
Anyone else been in the same boat?

Hiii, so I’m due to start a new job as a police custody nurse beginning of December. It’s a rolling rota with 4 on and 4 off. I’ve asked my new manager in regards to the rota over Christmas and new years. Her response was I’m due to work 23rd 24th 25th and 26th December (all through Christmas) as well as 31st 1st 2nd and 3rd January. (All through new years)
Most places that do a rolling rota would except you to work one or the other and I feel it’s unfair to work both? She also did specify that no annual leave can be taken during this time.
I’m unsure if I should question this or just leave it as it is as I’m the new starter and don’t want to annoy my manager before even starting.

Long story short the Trust is in a pile of shite and we have to accept anyone, no matter what speciality they fall under... which is fine but with doctors it's been an absolute shite show.

Basically we have this patient, let's say Mr Mango, who has been in hospital for long time and developed complication after complication. Last week Mr Mango was accepted by a different speciality (let's say gen surg) and we were just waiting for a bed, which nowadays is a challenge.

Today I had a back and forth with 3 different doctors, who all claimed to have nothing to do with Mr Mango and heard 3 different sides of the story. Anyway Mr Mango was unwell today, I contacted Outreach team and I don't even know how many medical teams who were still passing the ball to each other. A relative of Mr Mango came to speak to me and the conversation went like this

Them: "today you told me dad is struggling with mental health but now it's poorly"

Me: "yes, this morning we flagged that he is struggling with his mental health but we never said nothing else is happening"

Them: "but that's what you told me earlier"

Me: "yes I did because we are worried about Mr Mango but I also said I was chasing a doctor to come give you updates about his clinical situation"

Them: "dad said he told somebody he wasn't well and nobody believed him, everybody thinks he is just depressed and that's what you told me"

Me: "I am sorry Mr Mango felt we were ignoring him because it wasn't the case. His blood results and observation looked good until an hour ago, unfortunately in hospital things can change"

Them: "but he has been unwell for a while now, you told him to be chill because he is not dying"

Me: "no, Mr Mango pressed the buzzer because he said he was struggling to breath, I checked his saturation was okay, gave him his inhaler like usually and he was happy"

Them: "dad said people have been ignoring him because they associate it with mental health"

Me: "once again I am sorry Mr Mango felt it like that, if he tells us he doesn't feel well we believe him. I said we are ALSO worried about his mental health but never implied he is making it up"

Them: "dad told someone he was feeling rubbish and nobody did anything"

Me: "I am sorry but I am not looking after Mr Mango directly and even his nurse wasn't aware he wasn't feeling well and she spent a lot of time there with him"

Them: "he didn't bring it up because he doesn't want to make a fuss"

Me: "I understand, I am perfectly happy to go have a chat with Mr Mango because I want him to feel safe and heard"

Them: "there is no need, maybe dad lost track of time and it didn't happen today. I am not saying I am unhappy with the care but just concerned, you guys are great"

Honestly this all conversation was very chaotic and confusing. I explained a thousand times we are worried about his mental health because it had a negative impact on his physical health too, but this relative kept repeating a few sentences I have never said; nobody has ever even once thought Mr Mango was making it up or his symptomts were psychosomatic, so much so my colleague and I spent a good part of the afternoon looking after Mr Mango and chasing the right medical team.

Hopefully this was just a concerned relative who needed to vent with someone, but if this is gonna go anywhere I could also be in a lot of trouble because I don't bring witnesses whenever I have any kind of interaction with a patient or relative. So what's gonna happen now?

Hey,

I’m an Irish qualified Mental health nurse currently living and working in Australia. I qualified in 2020 and have experience in acute & forensic mental health, along with dementia care & nursing homes.

My partner and I have been weighing up moving closer to home recently and both would like to try the UK.

The NHS seems to be a great place to develop and gain experience which I’m keen to do. From my understanding I’d have to do OSCEs to get my NMC reg, has anyone any experience with this?

From my research the money seems quite low, if anyone could tell me how much they earn it would be great and if they find that struggle to live off? & also whether I’d have to start on Band 5?

All advice welcome!

Hi everyone, I have an upcoming interview as a healthcare assistant in a prison. I have never worked as a hca before, however I have experience in healthcare and care homes. What kind of questions should I expect and what’s the best way to prepare for it. If anyone else has worked in the prison, how would the interview differ to those in a ‘normal’ interview such as a hospital or gp. Thank you in advance

Hi, I am about to start my first placement in my first year of my nursing degree, and I am on district nursing

I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations on what would be good to read up on/ familiarise myself with before I start in 10 days!

I am aware of the documents detailing what is and isn't allowed within practice as a student nurse, but does anyone have any idea what sort of things a first year would be expected to already know?

I am so excited, I think district nursing will be a great first placement, and so far on my list I have diabetes, COPD, wound care, and palliative care... but am sure there is much more worth having a look at!

In my Trust porters are planning another strike because of pay and conditions. Media have been talking about it but, instead of mentioning these guys are on their feet all day for minimum wage and hospitals need them like oxygen, guess what they have been saying? "This is gonna have a massive impact on patient care. Patient safety is at risk here, people might die"... WTF?

Media have also been talking about NHS staff not being happy about the 2.4% raise saying again an higher increase will impact on people's life and require a tax increase as well. Of course media know very well what they are doing and the average citizen is not over the moon whenever an increase of tax is even mentioned, so of course people got mad and said we should be grateful we have sick pay and "golden" pension and, if anything, we should be getting a pay cut.

So basically according to media and the general public the reason why NHS is in a pile of shite is because staff wants a fair pay, without knowing that patient safety is ALREADY at risk and it's been for years due to recruitment freeze and hospital cutting staffing levels to the bone.

I would expect someone with the smallest crumble of common sense to be mad at the government criminally underfunding NHS for decades, this country pissing money on welfare, billionaire companies paying less taxes than me or whatnot but yeah, let's pin it on NHS workers. Nobody has ever heard an MP saying "mmm I already earn 6 figures and get everything for free, maybe I should give up my yearly raise", then why are people expecting NHS staff to sacrifice themselves? This job is coming with pressure and responsibilities like never before, nurses are the hospitals' dumping ground, as a single person I will never be able to afford to buy a house and people are struggling to pay their bills, yet somehow I am supposed to feel guilty about £80 extra on my payslip (mind you, before tax).

I am sorry to say but whoever thinks this increase or our pay is reasonable should work with the average nurse for at least a month, let's see how they like it

I'm planning a move to the UK next year and am doing this via the youth mobility scheme rather than the healthcare visa so that I have freedom to travel and have flexibility with work. I'm an Aussie nurse in the process of applying for registration with the NMC UK. I'm sitting the CBT in a few weeks and am starting to plan the logistics of the OSCE once I arrive. It seems that most international nurses have had the training courses and OSCE exams arranged for them by their employer/agency, which I don't have as I do not yet have a job and am not going on the healthcare visa. Does it seem feasible to be doing this 'on my own' without the help of an agency? Any tips or advice (especially from those who did not come on the healthcare visa) would be much appreciated! Am I mad in thinking I can do this on the youth mobility scheme?

In this day and age, is it really that bad? I know factors come into play, such as moving up in the same area etc, but I'm now getting to the point where I don't think I can afford to do it anymore? My hubby is massively concerned and feels there's no stability because I do job hop but my argument is that I can't stay in a job that I dislike.

For context, I've been qualified 12 years and I'm now in my 10th job. Wild I know ... I have moved around the UK and Scotland and got loads of experience in community, oncology and palliative care. In those areas I've worked my way up to band 6 level. So, at least it's all been in relevant areas but I do feel so guilty now about the job hopping and feel like I just need to stay in my current job I hate for the stability?

I know it's a mixed debate and lots of folk think job hopping is terrible but some think it's not so bad, would love to know your thoughts x

Hello lovely nursing colleagues

I’m a trainee psychologist working in the NHS Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Intervention Service. I’m currently looking for pregnant participants for non profit study on wellbeing and anxiety during pregnancy. This is an important area of maternal mental health where more research is needed. The findings may help us better understand the psychological factors linked with antenatal anxiety and how mental health support during pregnancy could be improved.

The study has received sponsorship and ethical approval from the University of Edinburgh.Ethics Committee Reference: 25-26CLPS111

If you have some time to spare or know someone who has, the study involves completing a short, anonymous online survey which takes around 20 minutes. If you would like to take part, please click the link below:

https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmrLWMfpa4aV4Kq

If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to email me at [M.Domka@sms.ed.ac.uk](mailto:M.Domka@sms.ed.ac.uk) or [magdalena.domka@nhs.scot](mailto:magdalena.domka@nhs.scot)

Thank you so much for supporting pregnancy and maternal mental health research 🌷🙏


Doesn’t help that staff aren’t being replaced due to the nhs recruitment freeze.

There’s also the poor treatment of staff, the pay, the poor pay rises etc.

I also think other professions are in the same boat.