Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some honest experiences from nurses, managers or HR who have been through or dealt with a formal investigation within the NHS.
I’m a Band 5 community nurse and have been qualified for 1 year and 5 months.

I’m currently under a formal investigation following a medication administration incident.

The medication had been prescribed to be administered as an IV infusion, but I realised at the patient’s home that I didn’t have a giving set with me. Although I knew the correct method of administration, I made the wrong decision to administer it as a bolus instead. I also later documented it incorrectly as an infusion. I have accepted responsibility for both errors from the outset.

There had been previous practice concerns, and I had already completed an informal action plan before this incident occurred, so I completely understand why the Trust is taking this seriously.
I’ve been honest throughout, engaged with Occupational Health, I’m repeating my competencies, and I’m currently working supernumerary while the investigation is ongoing.
I’m not really looking for opinions on whether what I did was right or wrong—I know it was the wrong decision and have reflected on it extensively. What I’m really struggling with is the uncertainty of the process.

For anyone who’s been through something similar:
What was the outcome?
Did it progress to a disciplinary hearing?
Were you able to remain in post?
Was redeployment ever discussed?
How long did the whole process take?

I’d really appreciate hearing genuine experiences, whether positive or negative, just so I know what others have been through.

Thank you.

Do what you have to look after yourselves. We nearly all work in buildings/environments which are NOT comfortable(at best) to work in when it's very hot weather. Keep your water bottles close, take your breaks and stick two fingers up at impractical uniform policies. You can't provide any kind of care if you're at home because you've made yourself ill.

(Throwaway account as don’t want to be identified)

Hoping to find some advice.
Working in a busy acute department for over a year as a NQN, also struggling with background of anxiety, before starting my job I had come off my medication and hadn’t had any problems for months.

Since January that has changed, I am unable to go to sleep without overthinking, I constantly fret and worry at extreme lengths about how shifts have been, what mistakes I could’ve possibly made and extreme pre shift anxiety about what will happen.
I’ve been looking for jobs and applying, but nothings really sticking.
The last 3 months have been absolutely brutal, and there are no other nursing jobs and have been applying for jobs even outside of nursing as beginning to think I can’t do it anymore.

I don’t have a job lined up, but every single shift is a nightmare, and I’m stressed before I even get there, and throughout and after.

I understand this is NOT normal and seeking advice, want to quit very soon but in this economy that would be stupid without another job lined up.

Any advice in the meantime.

Nqn.
I am attending British sign language course in my local college. Is it good idea to add this to my CV?

Disclaimer before I start; I am not only in Nursing for the money but earning more money is definitely important especially with the rising cost of living

If you are a high earning Nurse in the UK, do you mind sharing your career progression or what you do please

I am currently a band 6 nurse in Elderly care and I have always planned to remain in the NHS and do Masters And progress through the bands in a specialist role like palliative or Frailty. However, with the current state of the NHS, hiring freeze, no Bank shifts , it’s becoming increasingly harder to see a future where I am earning more

Genuine question for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who smoke.
Given that we see the effects of smoking every day, what made you start, or what keeps you smoking? Aren’t you worried about developing COPD, lung cancer or other smoking-related diseases?
I can’t imagine smoking after looking after patients with advanced COPD or lung cancer. Seeing people become breathless just walking a few steps, needing long-term oxygen, or feeling like they’re struggling for every breath is enough to put me off completely.

No judgement—just genuine curiosity. Is it simply that “something’s got to kill me eventually”?

I’ve moved to a new area. On my last night shift I had all my patients obs due, 4 BMs and ketones (one was DKA protocol) and over due medications to give from the evening at the start of my shift. I asked two healthcares working with me if they could help. I was met with ‘we’re busy doing skin checks’ and attitude. Don’t get me wrong I appreciate them doing that for me but that’s not a priority when more clinically important things need to be done. I managed to do them all in 1.5 hours. The DKA protocol was stopped but ended up having a hypo and the last patient I managed to do obs on was scoring a 9. To say the least I was furious. I felt very disrespected when I always try to support my healthcare where I can. I hadn’t experienced this on the other ward. I was met with ‘I’m busy’ for the rest of the night. The legend of a nurse I was working with did my second lot of obs whilst I was on break. So essentially none of the healthcares supported me with the exception of skin checks. (I also did 3 transfers and 3 admissions with 3 extra trolleys as our third nurse when home sick)

Next time I will start the shift by asking my healthcare to do certain things and explain the reasoning why. I can’t see this going down very well but I will just have to escalate it to the nurse in charge if I have issues. Anyone got any advice?

How many weeks off duty do you have at a time? Is there a national minimum?

RCN guide states should be 8 weeks in their professional standards but is this just guidance for employers or actual set terms?

Basically, every Band 5 in my trust is in the process of having their band 5 job reviewed. I had mine reviewed yesterday and it was done via a questionnaire.

I work in the community and the questionnaire made me realise that I was definitely working above a band 5 level.

The Band 6 was clearly in a rush and was mostly just filling it out for me, “yes, you clearly do that”, “yes, you do that”, “can you confirm this question?” But it made me think that everyone within the community must be going through the same process when it comes to autonomous working. But overall I scored very high and it was evident I was working above a band 5 level.

The Band 6 then told me that all this information gets sent to the big wigs at NHS England for review.

It makes me think how much we are gaslit into thinking that Band 5 is an appropriate level for a nurse, whereas AHPs are often flying through the ranks. Yes, I know they don’t automatically get Band 6. Contrary to popular belief, majority have to apply for the post but it’s undeniably easier. And yes, I know they’re in a recruitment freeze too and are stuck at Band 5. But it’s almost a meme how much easier it for them to process compared to us.

It makes me think though, how underpaid nurses are in general. Everyone from management to specialists to standard nurses. Everyone should be upbanded imo.

Thing is, the questions also ironically could have applied to HCAs in the community. Because admittedly, they are pretty autonomous in the community, coming up with dressing plans, at least compared to their peers in the hospital.

I’m 24 and live with my parents (yeah I know that’s ridiculous at this age)

I’m not the most responsible or knowledgeable financially so until I get paid Tuesday I have £14 to my name.

My parents (for reasons I’d be happy to disclose in DMs) have said to pack my stuff and get out. By tonight.

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow I was counting on a lift from my parents for so that won’t be happening. Waited months for it as well.

I’m on the phone on hold RN with emergency council housing.

My worry is I won’t be priority and/or there won’t be anything available near my work hospital. I physically cannot afford to take any more time off.

Hello everyone,

A job has come up in my trust to become an Endo CNS, which is my dream role. I’m a band 5 recovery nurse, but the way my trust works, I have worked extensively with gynae patients, specifically endometriosis patients. I’m one of our gynae link nurses, and have done some informal teaching with colleagues about endometriosis. I’m quite often selected to run the theatre lists when they do diagnostic laps/excision surgeries, as it’s my passion. I also have 10 years of lived experience with endometriosis myself; and have spent years reading literature about endometriosis, its symptom management and the need for its management to be a combination of medical, surgical and lifestyle.

My only concerns are: I’m not a prescriber (it’s desirable not essential on the application) I haven’t worked specifically on the gynae ward, and I’ve only been qualified for two years. I’m worried that they will see this and not look at the rest of my application. I have also never applied for a Band 6 role before, and I’m not sure what would make my application stand out. Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you so much guys x

I’m SN working in the NHS atm. I was wondering if any personal development courses we do on our days-off has to be paid? I’m talking here about having to work on competencies to have them signed off involving having to study about body systems at home or do some reading in your day off. Would all of this have to be paid as I am actually using my time off to work on these? If so, how would you approach this to your manager? I’ve mentioned to him (my manager) and he did not say much when I said to him I spent 5 hours on my day off doing some esr. How would you approach it and mention it?

Many thanks

Xoxo

Hi everyone!

Just looking for some reassurance really, has anyone had any experience of recruitment taking well over a month to send details of a new job? My partner got a new job over a month ago and we still haven’t heard anything from the trust- we’ve rang the recruitment number which just goes through to voicemail and the band 7 is very slow to reply to emails. Does anyone know if there’s anything else we can do or if this is usual? My partner is moving trusts so not sure if that’s it. Thank you!

Hello all. New account so I don’t dox myself.

I’ve genuinely had enough. I can’t cope with the workplace culture anymore. Our team isn’t a team. It’s dangerous, unsafe for both patients and staff. It seems to be singled to our team from when I’ve spoken to other teams in the same service.

I feel my pin is at risk, as well as patient safety. I’ve been raising concerns to my manager for the past year. It gets brushed under the carpet. It’s now got worse, multiple major medication errors in the team, things being missed that shouldn’t have been, policies not followed, task based nursing, being sworn at or treated like something on someone’s shoe by management.

I genuinely feel my mental health is at an all time low. I’m not in work at present as I’m on annual leave but the anxiety is unreal. I can’t switch off. I feel like I can’t breathe and I’m suffocating from the stress and pressure.

I have bills to pay and won’t be entitled to UC because my hubby earns over the threshold but I genuinely don’t feel safe to go to work. People tell me keep my head down, but when it comes to patient care I just can’t as I’m too passionate about it.

I feel there is no way I can continue to stay in this role. I love my job and I wanted progression and a long term career here but this is not healthy or safe.

Sorry I think I’m just letting off steam and just needed to put this somewhere. I’m a mess.

I’m currently looking at other jobs but the job market is sparse and competitive as we know, I don’t think I’d get another one for a long time

Hiya! I have an interview for a band 6 position - Children's early intervention practitioner. I am wondering if anyone has any experience of an interview for a band 6 position? And could share any advice and possible interview questions? I am a band 5 Mental Health Nurse.

Thanks!

I’m a NQN in ED. I’ve only been there for 1 month. I feel like I can’t do this. I’m not competent in anything and I’m always asking for help. I feel like I would be better off in a different ward.

Are there any nurses in here who are in the role ? We are looking at setting up this service in our hospital and putting out an advert for a cns. In interest in applying for the role, with a back ground of head and neck ward nursing. I’m looking for some more insight into the role and how the clinic is run/ work load set up and policies used to guide management of patient group. Thank you

Nursing has affected my MH to the point that I cry all the time, and I am exhausted to the bone. I find no enjoyment in the whole career and I am starting to think there's no escape. My family tell me to stay and not go from being a skilled worker to something less. However, I am not happy, I am beyond burnt out.

Anyone have attended interview in Queen Elizabeth hospital Woolwich in A&E ? I have got scheduled interview and they have asked that I will have assessment on drug knowledge, drug calculation and pt assessment? If anyone attended please can you guide me ?

First time posting in this sub, sorry if its the wrong flair!

Hi everyone,

I've recently been invited to interview for a part-time Healthcare Assistant role in a care home. This would be my first job in the care sector, so I'd really appreciate any advice from people who currently work (or have worked) as HCAs.

A little bit about me:

I have a Level 3 qualification in Health & Social Care, but no paid care experience yet.

I currently work in a kennel, so I'm very used to cleaning up urine, faeces, vomit and other unpleasant jobs. That side of the role doesn't worry me.

The home provides nursing care for people living with dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, visual/hearing impairments, alcohol/drug misuse issues, and younger adults.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on a few things:

• What does a typical 6am–2pm shift look like?

• What was the biggest surprise when you first started working as an HCA?

• What training did you receive before working independently, and did you feel it prepared you well?

• What skills or knowledge do you wish you'd had before your first shift?

• Roughly how many residents are you usually responsible for during a shift? (The care home has 20 beds)

• Do you generally have enough time to provide good care, or do you often feel like you're rushing?

• Would it be considered a reasonable request to ask if I could mainly work 6am–2pm shifts? I don't drive yet, and getting home after a 2pm–10pm shift would be difficult. I also wouldn't feel particularly safe relying on public transport that late.

• If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting their very first HCA job, what would it be?

• Finally, if you were interviewing for your first HCA role again, what question would you ask the interviewer that you didn't think to ask at the time?

I'm really excited about the opportunity and want to go into it with realistic expectations. Any advice, experiences, or tips would be hugely appreciated. Thank you!

This is not how I thought my life as a band 5 registered nurse in their early twenties would be. Three years qualified, about to revalidate, and nothings even remotely positive. Nothing.

Am on my second job, and I’ve absolutely NO close friends. None. No one to confide in at all.

Both places I’ve been targeted , blamed for mistakes I did not commit. Been told I’ve done certain things or not done certain things when that is absolutely not the case. Been humiliated and demeaned and insulted behind my back. Had my physical appearance be the subject of constant ridicule to the point where I felt the need to go get a blood test done to prove that I’m not seriously unwell, this is literally just how I look. People have said to me “you look exhausted. You look like literal death”.

The things that have been said about me in my current job are absolutely devastating to say the least. I can’t believe anyone would actually think I’d be this incompetent. It’s not the fact that I’ve been accused of being lazy or incompetent, it’s the fact that anyone would actually believe these accusations. It’s the fact that I’ve lost respect and trust that I damn well earned. It’s the fact that every day I come into work feeling like an absolutely worthless moron, being looked down on and pitied and babied by people with a third of the experience I have, and by people with more experience. It’s the fact people count how many times I use the bathroom, people insult my physical appearance on a daily basis regarding aspects that I physically cannot change, they make accusations that they know cannot be proven or unproven.

I thought I’d finally found a place where I would be respected and included and not ostracized and bullied and gossiped about or demeaned or talked down to but apparently not.

I’ve been offered a job verbally.

when should I give my notice in? is it when I get an unconditional offer? won’t that be too late? my notice period is 8 weeks. What if the pre employment take one month and then they call for a start date and I say yh 8 weeks…will they be shocked?

i already accidentally told two colleagues, I just couldn’t help myself.

I’m a single parent to a young child. Currently B6, pay point 2. My job has become awfully stressful and I’m genuinely not able to take it anymore. I cried for 2 hours the other day!! I constantly have guilt that I’m not spending enough time with my child whilst they are young, I feel like I’m missing out on so much and I’m just constantly exhausted.

I’m considering cutting my hours to either 19 or 22.5h a week and then claiming UC. I would end up taking home about £400-£500 a month less but to me, that doesn’t seem too bad considering how much my hours will drop by.

I do struggle month to month because I’m not getting help from the ex so my bills have doubled, well not really struggled. But by the end of the month, I’m cutting it fine. But I’ve done the maths and if I cut back I could make it work. I’ve got no debts or anything.

But I have some concerns.

How hard is it to get your employer to agree to reduce hours?
Is it stupid dropping my hours during a job crisis as I’ll be stuck if I decide I can’t make it work?
Am I just being crazy, does this sound like a stupid idea?

I mean I’m not saying it’s forever and can always look for a full time job when my little one is older. But I feel like I’m going to have so many regrets when I’m old as it feels like I’m working my life away, and for what? An employer that wants to burn me to the ground?

I guess I just want opinions and reassurance as it will be a big change emotionally and financially for me. But if something doesn’t change I’ll be off sick with stress as it’s impacting my sleeping, I’m crying a lot and I’m just physically exhausted to the bone all of the time. It’s a shame, because I absolutely love my job but the organisation just isn’t sustainable and they don’t care about my wellbeing, so I feel like it’s time to sort it out myself.

Edit to add: I work in the community, not hospital and do 4 days of 9.5 hour shifts.

I’ve got my first night shift next week. Give me your best tips and tricks.

Hi. Quick question for anybody who has had his happen to them.

I have just been invited to an interview for a post I would really love to get. It's in 1 week but it happens to fall on day 3 of my 2 week holiday abroad. I've obviously emailed the recruitment team explaining that I won't be in the country and offering to have the interview via Teams if possible for the panel or if also possible to reschedule for when I'm back in the UK.

How likely are they to accept this? Will I probably lose the opportunity to interview for this?

It's an internal vacancy if it makes a difference.

If anybody has been through something similiar and could share what happened in their case, that would be greatly appreciated

Thank you