Nursing Standard Podcast
94 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago -The go-to podcast for nurses discussing the issues that matter most to nurses and patients.
Hosted by Nursing Standard and RCNi.
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Episodes
Conflict in healthcare: how to resolve issues calmly and safely
April 17, 2024 14:26 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBTips on defusing conflicts, responding to aggression and the importance of staying calm For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Band Aid remembered: how one nurse inspired a phenomenon
March 22, 2024 12:20 - 31 minutes - 17.6 MBThe incredible work of a nurse that inspired a hit charity song and global humanitarian effort to feed starving people in Africa is remembered in our latest podcast episode. On the 40th anniversary of the formation of charity superstar group Band Aid, Nursing Standard talks to the nurse who helped prompt the cultural phenomenon led by musician Sir Bob Geldof. Dr Dame Claire Bertschinger was working for the Red Cross in Ethiopia in 1984 when she was featured in a BBC news broadcast about th...
Public speaking: tips to excel as a nurse
March 08, 2024 10:14 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBPublic speaking strikes fear into the hearts of many – it’s regularly reported as one of the most common phobias – but is an increasingly important skill for many nurses. The good news is that there are many ways to become a better and more confident public speaker, even in the face of anxiety. This latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores how nursing staff can hone their speaking skills. It considers the importance of preparation – from understanding an audience, to g...
How to build your confidence at work
February 22, 2024 12:48 - 46 minutes - 33.2 MBBuilding confidence in the workplace is vital for nursing staff, both for patient safety and nurses’ own career development. Being confident can help in areas such as raising concerns and overcoming imposter syndrome, as well as in job interviews and applying for opportunities, such as a secondment. But what steps can nurses take to build their confidence in the workplace? This episode looks at what we mean by confidence, how communicating with confidence can benefit your patients and ...
Under pressure: the support for nursing staff and managers
February 08, 2024 10:35 - 31 minutes - 18.9 MBNurses and other healthcare staff face constant workplace pressures, especially during the colder months when respiratory conditions are more prevalent. Staff shortages and industrial action have also impacted services. But what support is there for nursing staff and managers to navigate challenging times? This episode examines how the NMC code acts as a professional anchor, helping nurses manage risks and escalate concerns. It provides a framework for decision-making and professional ac...
Why nurses must support patients' right to a second opinion
January 24, 2024 09:45 - 24 minutes - 14.6 MBAll hospitals are soon to need a system in place that allows patients, families and carers to request an urgent second opinion of care under Martha’s rule. Some hospitals already have a process in place for raising concerns about patient care, including Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast focuses on Call 4 Concern, a nurse-led service at that already offers this approach the hospital. Journalist Erin Dean speaks to Alison Schofield, l...
Not ‘just a skin tear’ – care options for these wounds
January 10, 2024 09:25 - 26 minutes - 16.7 MBWhat is a skin tear and why do they matter? This episode of the podcast examines why these wounds shouldn’t be seen as ‘just a skin tear’ - and their diagnosis and treatment. Our guest is Samantha Holloway, a reader and senior lecturer responsible for delivering the masters degree programme in wound healing and tissue repair at Cardiff University School of Medicine. She talks to RCNi senior nurse editor Richard Hatchett about her drive to change perceptions of skin tears, the three types ...
Nurses' strikes 1 year on: how the voice of nursing was heard
December 15, 2023 08:40 - 18 minutes - 10.5 MBOne year ago nurses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland took part in historic strike action, many for the first time. Some of the biggest hospitals across the UK saw nurses walk out in their fight for better pay and working conditions, as well as concerns over unsafe staffing levels and patient safety. In this Nursing Standard podcast episode RCN chief nurse Nicola Ranger joins senior reporter Shruti Sheth Trivedi to talk about the significance of nurses taking industrial action, wh...
Menopause: starting meaningful conversations at work
November 29, 2023 09:59 - 35 minutes - 18.1 MBIt is a situation all too familiar for many nurses, menopause symptoms becoming so overwhelming they make continuing to work a challenge. When Wendy Madden, nurse lead for menopause at University Hospitals Birmingham, began experiencing menopause symptoms they almost forced her to quit the job she loved. The fatigue, being unable to sleep, hot flushes and anxiety shattered her confidence at work. ‘It started making me lose my confidence, I didn’t feel I was able to do my job as effectivel...
Michael Rosen on life, death and the power of nursing
November 16, 2023 10:13 - 47 minutes - 31.6 MBWhen author and poet laureate Michael Rosen contracted COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic he was put into an induced coma and told he had just a 50% chance of waking up. For 40 days the author lay ventilated and unconscious at Whittington Hospital in North London. Meanwhile his nurses working in the Intensive Care Unit kept detailed daily diaries of his progress, often sharing personal details of their own pandemic journeys and encouraging him on to ‘keep fighting’ as he battled for his...
How to provide culturally sensitive end of life care
November 01, 2023 16:56 - 38 minutes - 22 MBEveryone deserves care that works for them at the end of their lives, and there is only one chance to get it right. But charity Marie Curie has warned that for many people from diverse communities this is often not the case. In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, journalist Erin Dean talks to Rekha Vijayshankar, a research and clinical nurse, and Rini Jones, senior policy and research manager for equity and equality, from charity Marie Curie. They discuss the complex i...
Pain: what is it and how can nurses support patients?
October 19, 2023 15:29 - 25 minutes - 12.2 MBHalf the UK population has chronic pain, making nurses increasingly likely to encounter patients living with it. So, what skills do nurses need to employ to understand how pain impacts an individual’s life and assess what physical and mental health support they may need? This episode of the podcast explores the management of both acute and chronic pain with three experts in the field. Guest podcast host Martin Galligan, lecturer practitioner and programme lead of advanced clinical practic...
Raising concerns: challenges nurses face when speaking out
October 04, 2023 11:27 - 26 minutes - 22.5 MBFollowing the Lucy Letby case it is more important than ever to address the challenges nurses and other healthcare staff face when raising concerns. October marks Speak Up month for the NHS, a campaign run by the National Guardian’s Office (NGO. This year’s theme is ‘breaking barriers’, which focuses on removing the obstacles people feel prevent them from raising concerns at work. Speaking up is the subject of this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast. National guardian for freedom to s...
What is a litigation nurse - and what can you learn from them?
September 20, 2023 11:49 - 21 minutes - 8.12 MBWhat is a litigation nurse and what is their role in addressing the complaints and concerns of patients and service users? What specific nursing skills can a litigation nurse bring to the legal team to meet client needs? The latest Nursing Standard podcast explores the role of a litigation nurse and, based upon this type of work, how nurses can reflect upon their own practice in areas such as record keeping and communication. In this episode we hear from litigation nurse Matthew ...
Is work causing you to burn out? How to spot the signs
August 16, 2023 07:36 - 26 minutes - 12.3 MBSeverely exhausted, feeling cynical or struggling emotionally? You could be burned out by your job. Studies show that 25-50% of nurses are experiencing burnout in some work settings, which can impact on patient safety. It is also linked to increased staff absences and a large driver of nurses leaving their jobs or the profession entirely. But how can you spot the warning signs, and can you stop burn out? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at aggravating factors of burnou...
How to call out rudeness (politely) at work
August 02, 2023 08:04 - 24 minutes - 14.8 MBA rolling of the eyes, talking over you, or plain rudeness- we might all have a colleague who behaves in an uncivil way. But should you do anything about it, or just ignore it? Incivility at work can take many different guises and can leave people feeling dejected, unmotivated and unfairly treated. This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at how to deal with incivility in the workplace, and why in a healthcare setting its impact can mean life or death. Our guest is consultant in...
Assessing deteriorating patients: what you need to know
July 19, 2023 07:32 - 22 minutes - 13.6 MBHow do you use early warning scores to optimum effect when assessing the deteriorating patient? When should you refer a person in your care to a more senior member of the team, and in what circumstances must you immediately escalate a case? The latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast discusses these issues as we explore early warning scores. Tools such as the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) help nurses and other healthcare professionals to assess when a patient’s condition is w...
Angry, irritable and down … could it be the perimenopause?
July 06, 2023 07:15 - 28 minutes - 17.1 MBIrritability teetering on unexpected rage, feeling physically and mentally exhausted and down - and like the only option is to flee work? Is this the consequence of workplace pressures … or could it (or also) be the perimenopause? The perimenopause - the phase when women are experiencing menopausal symptoms but are still having periods – is the subject of this episode of the podcast. Our guest is Katharine Gale, consultant nurse in women’s health and menopause and director of Fluxstate, w...
Festival nursing: skills you need to get into the best events
June 22, 2023 09:23 - 14 minutes - 9.08 MBHave you considered working at one of the UK’s summer festivals? Festival season is back again and there are plenty of opportunities to use your nursing skills and enjoy festival life. If you are looking for a role but don’t know where to start the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast answers all of your questions. Podcast guest Vicky Lennon, intensive care sister in Bath, talks about her experience of working at Glastonbury and provides tips on how to find a role that is rig...
Nurses’ pay: why you (and I) need to keep fighting
June 14, 2023 07:10 - 22 minutes - 16.4 MBNurses have been in dispute with the government over poor pay, working conditions and patient safety concerns months. In this special edition of the Nursing Standard podcast, RCN general secretary Pat Cullen talks about the ‘unfinished business’ nurses have with the government and why they deserve more than the current pay awards. She calls for the government to come back to the negotiation table to avoid further strikes, detailing what ministers can do to nurture home-grown talent, instea...
Tax refunds: could you be missing out on money?
June 07, 2023 07:23 - 20 minutes - 12.6 MBAre you missing out on money that you could reclaim from the tax office? Employed nurses and other members of the nursing team can claim a refund from HM Revenue and Customs on many work-related expenses. This includes for costs around washing uniforms if employers don’t offer this service, for professional fees, union subscriptions and for journals such as Nursing Standard, and also for mileage if not covered by employers. In this episode, Clare Merrills, a spokesperson for the ...
Tick-borne encephalitis virus – what nurses need to know
May 25, 2023 07:13 - 19 minutes - 12.7 MBWhat do nurses need to know about tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which has recently arrived in the UK? Spread by the bite of an infected tick, TBEV can lead to a spectrum of illness including meningitis and encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and is potentially lethal. This episode hears from Sylviane Defres, a consultant in infectious diseases at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a senior clinical lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. ...
Dementia: a nurse’s guide
May 03, 2023 11:35 - 16 minutes - 7.73 MBWhat are the signs and symptoms of dementia and how can nursing staff best support people with the condition and their loved ones? By 2025, over one million people in the UK will likely have a diagnosis of dementia, making it even more likely that nurses in all settings will encounter someone with the condition and or their family. This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores the different types of dementia (there are over 200 subtypes of the condition) and the varying symptoms. ...
Sepsis: spotting the signs and acting fast
April 19, 2023 07:36 - 37 minutes - 22.4 MBHow do you recognise the signs of sepsis? And how should you respond when you suspect the patient in front of you is at risk? The latest episode of the podcast examines what nursing staff need to know about this life-threatening condition. Our guest, Sian Annakin, is deteriorating patient lead at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, and a sepsis practitioner. She tells Emergency Nurse editor Sophie Blakemore what to watch out for in adults and what the guidelines say about how and when ...
Nurses’ finances: could you be earning more money?
April 05, 2023 07:51 - 25 minutes - 14.7 MBHow can you make your money stretch a bit further, plan for retirement and feel in control of your finances? Times are tough financially for many nurses at the moment, with pay not rising as fast as the rocketing cost of living. This episode hears from money mentor for women and NHS GP Nikki Ramskill who shares information on how nurses can get to grips with their money and make it work for them better. Known as the Female Money Doctor, Dr Ramskill is on a mission to improve wome...
How to switch off at the end of your shift
March 22, 2023 08:47 - 26 minutes - 16.7 MBAt the end of a shift, many nurses find it a challenge to leave the day behind. You may find yourself constantly going over events that happened at work, or wondering how a patient is faring. This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast will provide the tips and tricks you need to switch off after your shift. Our guest is RCN Nurse of the Year Ana Waddington, who is a paediatric critical care outreach nurse. Ms Waddington speaks to RCNi editorial assistant Serafina Basciano about the...
Effective use of social media – a nurse’s guide
March 08, 2023 08:20 - 21 minutes - 12.6 MBUsing Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms are part of many nurses’ day-to-day lives. Getting the most out of social media accounts as a nurse, while avoiding the potential pitfalls, is the topic of this episode. We explore the positives of these online tools that can bring members of the profession together. Our guest is Teresa Chinn, a nurse, social media expert and honorary assistant professor at the University of Nottingham, and founder of the...
Kindness: a practical support guide for nurses (and patients)
February 22, 2023 10:55 - 11 minutes - 7.41 MBHow does kindness – and also unkindness – affect working relationships and patient care? Kindness is fundamental to nursing practice and the quality patients most value in their experience of care. Whereas unkind behaviour can impact on a nursing professional’s ability to respond effectively and learn – and, also, affects patient outcomes. This episode of the podcast explores what it means to be kind, how these behaviours influence person-centred care and inter-staff relationships. Our gu...
How to build trusting end of life relationships with patients
February 08, 2023 08:14 - 32 minutes - 20.2 MBWhat does it mean to be a ‘silent companion’ and how does this help to build trust at the end of a patient’s life? Find out more in this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, which explores the challenges that nurses face when providing person-centred end of life care. Other topics addressed include effective communication, building authentic and trusting relationships, and the importance of nurses in this role being able to care for themselves. Joining podcast host RCNi CPD editor Nic...
Saving the NHS: why nursing strikes will continue
January 25, 2023 07:58 - 28 minutes - 24.3 MBIn January thousands of nurses in the NHS staged a two-day strike across England over pay, as members of the RCN continue their historic walkouts. But what were the real reasons for nursing staff voting for industrial action? In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast we hear from nurses on the picket lines in South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Brighton and London about their personal reasons for taking part in the strikes on 18 and 19 of January 2023. Speaking to reporters nurses fr...
Reducing imposter syndrome and achieving change at work
January 11, 2023 09:55 - 51 minutes - 28.8 MBHow do you reduce imposter syndrome and make changes at work? This episode’s guest is no stranger to change, having revolutionised sexual health care in Northern Ireland by setting up an early medical abortion service. Sexual and reproductive healthcare nurse Nicola Bailey established the Rose Clinic providing terminations up to the tenth week of pregnancy to women in Belfast, overcoming protests and political resistance – all during a Covid-19 lockdown. Despite her achievements,...
Can you accept a gift from a patient at Christmas?
December 07, 2022 09:00 - 22 minutes - 11 MBChristmas may be a time for giving but accepting a gift from a patient could land you in hot water. While patient’s have the best intentions of thanking nurses at Christmas, or any other time of the year, accepting a gift could be in breach of the Nursing and Midwifery Council code. The Code clearly states that nurses must refuse ‘all but the most trivial gifts, favours or hospitalities, as accepting them could be interpreted as an attempt to gain preferential treatment’. So, what is a tr...
Preparing for your first night shift – a student’s guide
November 23, 2022 09:08 - 24 minutes - 14.1 MBPreparing for your first night shift can be a daunting experience. So many questions cross your mind. Will I be able to stay awake? What should I eat? And what should I bring with me? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast answers all those questions and more. Podcast guests Molly Kiltie, senior mental health practitioner at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, and Danielle Robinson, a third-year adult nursing student University of Lincoln, give listeners tips on how to survive a...
Climate change: nursing students rising to the challenge
November 09, 2022 10:32 - 24 minutes - 14.2 MBHow are nursing students preparing for the health challenges of climate change? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores how students and universities are ensuring their courses cover this vital topic. Nursing student Leonie Harrison and lecturer Alison Taylor discuss the proactive approach they are involved with to make their course at the University of Brighton more sustainable. This matters to nursing students as the climate emergency is a health emergency, listeners hear. ...
Why do so many nurses have spooky stories?
October 26, 2022 10:18 - 21 minutes - 14.2 MBWhat is it with nurses and ghost stories? Why does every hospital seem to be ‘haunted’ by a past patient or long-dead matron? This Halloween episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores why so many nurses have a spooky story to tell. Our podcast guest Ciaran O’Keeffe is head of the School of Human and Social Sciences and associate professor of education and research at Buckinghamshire New University. Fans of the supernatural may be familiar with the work of Dr O’Keeffe, who studies hau...
Life as a newly registered nurse: tips for success
October 12, 2022 10:34 - 16 minutes - 10.3 MBWhat is it like to be a newly registered nurse? Making the transition from nursing student to newly registered nurse is exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking. Securing a role that is the right fit for you – with the right support at the right time – is crucial if you are to thrive in your new career. But how do you go about getting your first job and what should you be looking for in a good employer? Support and development in the workplace is vital, so what does a good preceptor...
How to cope with the emotional strain of being a nurse
September 28, 2022 09:18 - 24 minutes - 13.9 MBThe emotional distress of caring for seriously ill and dying patients can take its toll on nurses who may struggle with feelings of unresolved grief. If it is not recognised and dealt with issues can build up that can lead to burn out, compassion fatigue, inadequate care for patients and nurses leaving the profession. So, what can nurses do to protect themselves and maintain healthy and happy careers? This episode explores the findings of research conducted with children’s nurses and...
New specialist standards: what do they mean for nurses’ careers?
September 14, 2022 12:33 - 30 minutes - 18.4 MBMajor changes are afoot to advanced community nursing qualifications. So, what do they mean for nurses’ careers? And what do employers, universities and other providers delivering education and training need to do? This episode explores the new standards for specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN) and specialist practice qualifications (SPQs) introduced by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Guests NMC executive director of professional practice Geraldine Walters ...
Nursing students: what I wish I’d known before starting out
September 01, 2022 12:11 - 35 minutes - 21.4 MBStarting a nursing degree is exciting … but can also be overwhelming. So, where do you start? How can you prepare for academic study? What books should you buy (if any … yet) - and what are the best shoes to walk the wards in? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast answers all these questions and more on how to navigate those first weeks, months and year of a nursing course. Our guests Lin Fidgin, a third year adult nursing student at Teeside University, and Louise Hyett-Collins, wh...
Dementia and pad culture: providing dignified continence care in hospitals
August 18, 2022 12:04 - 19 minutes - 11.9 MBManaging the continence care of patients with dementia in hospital can be a challenge for time-pressed staff. This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores this nursing practice which is little discussed yet vital to patient dignity and care outcomes. Katie Featherstone, director of the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory at the University of West London, speaks about her research into the continence care of people with dementia during a hospital admission. She discusses ‘pad cu...
Nursing shortages: the biggest threat to global health
August 03, 2022 08:29 - 48 minutes - 29.1 MBIs your workplace missing some nurses? Is there a perpetual struggle to fill rota gaps? This isn’t just a UK problem but one that is reflected across the world, impacting global health in the most significant way. In this episode, International Council of Nurses chief executive Howard Catton talks about the issues with recruiting staff from overseas and how worldwide nursing shortages are impacting other major challenges such as climate change, including extreme heatwaves. Mr Cat...
Monkeypox: what nurses need to know
July 20, 2022 11:33 - 18 minutes - 10.4 MBHow do you spot and treat monkeypox? And how concerned should nurses be about the UK outbreak of this relatively rare virus? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast examines what nursing staff need to know about the condition. Our guest is Belinda Loftus, a sexual health nurse and a manager at the Spectrum Community Health social enterprise, which provides enhanced primary care services across the north of England. She tells journalist Erin Dean about what can put people at ...
Fit to practise? Why nurses shouldn’t be fearful of the NMC
July 06, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 22.6 MBHow can the nursing regulator be fair to the professionals on its register while protecting the public? The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s ability to remove a registrant’s licence to practise – their livelihood – understandably makes some nursing staff fearful of the regulator. Research has also shown inequalities for certain groups of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the NMC register who face fitness to practise proceedings. This episode of the podcast hears from NMC chief ex...
Dysphagia: what nurses need to know about swallowing difficulties
June 21, 2022 15:49 - 12 minutes - 7.98 MBDysphagia describes eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties in an individual of any age. This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores this complex and potentially life-threatening problem, what nurses need to be looking out for, and how and when it should be escalated. Guest Rachael Jones, senior advanced nurse practitioner in stroke at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and chair of the National Stroke Nursing Forum, talks about which patients are at higher risk, and w...
Lyme disease: What should nurses be looking out for?
June 08, 2022 12:50 - 15 minutes - 8.82 MBAs days get longer and people spend more time outdoors, the risk of contracting Lyme disease from infected ticks increases. The latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores what nurses need to know about this condition. Podcast guest is Nick Beeching, a professor in tropical and infectious diseases from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. In the interview with Nursing Standard journalist Erin Dean, he talks about who is at highest risk, how to spot a potential L...
How to cleanse a wound: a nurse’s guide
May 25, 2022 09:49 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBNurses encounter many different wounds in their practice. These range from lower limb leg ulcers – including venous leg ulcers and diabetes-related foot ulcers - to surgical wounds, pressure ulcers and those caused by trauma. Wounds can be distressing, painful and debilitating for the person as well as affecting body image. They are also costly and take time to manage for the health service and organisation. This episode looks at what nurses need to know about this important area of pra...
Patient safety: safe staffing and knowing when not to compromise
May 11, 2022 10:22 - 37 minutes - 21.6 MBThe link between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes has been proven time and again – so why does the UK have a persistent shortage of nurses? Is it all financial? And do, or should, nurses have a role in calling this out and finding solutions? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast hears from Jane Ball, professor of nursing workforce policy at University of Southampton who has spent 30 years researching safe staffing issues. She speaks about the positive impact on patient ca...
Overcoming self-limiting beliefs to build your confidence
April 27, 2022 09:40 - 26 minutes - 16.4 MBAre you being held back in your career by self-limiting beliefs? These are those nagging thoughts that you’re not quite good enough or an imposter in your nursing role. Such anxieties can hamper professional development, discouraging nurses from stepping forward for new opportunities and job promotion. So how do you overcome these doubts? Gemma Stacey, director of the Florence Nightingale Foundation’s Academy, has some answers and inspiration for us all. The academy runs a series of leade...
What are your vulnerabilities - and how can you work with them?
March 23, 2022 11:21 - 24 minutes - 12.5 MBDo you know your emotional triggers, those particular situations that cause a surge of stress or anger? Feeling overwhelmed is a common response in times of high pressure, and the pandemic has brought even more challenges for healthcare staff. Yet self-care can appear a self-indulgence practised by people with time and energy. But does it have to be that way? A free massive online open course (MOOC) is offering self-care and well-being support as something ‘learners’ can dip into when the...
CPD and revalidation: a guide to getting it right
March 09, 2022 11:20 - 27 minutes - 16.9 MBHow can you make revalidation a straightforward task? The process can feel like a mammoth task to many nurses and nursing associates when faced with their deadline to revalidate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council every three years. There can also be confusion about what can be included as continuing professional development (CPD). Do you need a certificate for every learning experience? This episode sees RCN profession lead for education Gill Coverdale discuss CPD and revalid...