Opinion

Comment

A nurse stands in front of a line of other nurses, looking happy and confident. Yet nurses often downplay their role

Our professional inferiority complex: why you’re never ‘just’ a nurse

Safety-critical care is what we do, yet some of us can’t resist the urge to downplay

X-ray style illustration showing where the pancreas is located in the body

How can we improve the pancreatic cancer patient care pathway?

Pancreatic Cancer UK specialist nurse Di Dobson says people with the condition deserve better

Illustration showing two nursing team members in uniform standing pointing at a huge shift roster, as if discussing filling or swapping shifts

Unsocial shifts and rotas: what’s your breaking point?

Nurses are flexible but there has to be give and take if the NHS is to boost retention

Car park pay machine and pay-and-display signs in a hospital car park – hospital nurses face charges and fines for parking at work

Hospital car parking: who exactly is making a profit from all those charges and fines?

Using staff as cash cows if they drive to work shows how far goodwill has fallen in the NHS

Cruel curbs on migrant care workers’ lives are at odds with British values

Rules to stop overseas staff bringing family are also risky for the care sector and NHS

Do autism health passports actually help nurses and patients in practice?

Two autistic researchers look at the pros and cons of health passports

Expert advice

Nurse reads a vital signs monitor at patient’s bedside. This is key information when assessing level of risk for a person with sepsis

Sepsis guidance update: how do I need to change my practice?

Nurse specialist explains the importance of more targeted antibiotic use

A nurse smiles and pushes an older woman in a wheelchair in a busy hospital setting

Front door frailty services: what nurses need to know plus tips on improving care

Early identification of frailty in the emergency department is key to better patient outcomes

Close-up image of two hands, as a nurse in uniform sits at the bedside of a dying patient in hospital, holding their hand

When a patient is dying: nurses’ role in the hours before and after death

Recognising when death is near, verifying death and providing compassionate care

A nurse in scrubs sits while taking a break, looking tired and fanning her face with her eyes closed as she struggles with symptoms of menopause during a shift

Menopause: what reasonable adjustments can I expect at work?

Most nurses will experience menopause and new guidance says employers have a duty to help

Ramadan and how to keep energy levels up in clinical practice during a month of fasting

Tips on the best ways to minimise hunger and thirst, while making time to pray on shift

Illustration of a nurse looking down and demotivated, holding a mask showing a brave face, which she is putting on her own face

How to give your best to patients when you’re lacking motivation

Finding ways to boost morale and reaching out to peers can help you get back on track

Editorial

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A triage nurse speaks to a patient and her friend to assess their symptoms in the emergency department

Staff safety and well-being is vital in pressurised emergency departments

Overcrowding and other pressures can take their toil on ED nursing staff

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A busy emergency department with a paramedic looking serious, a nurse looking concerned while holding paperwork, while another nurse speaks to someone on the phone

ED pressures: how to enhance your nursing practice in difficult conditions

Winter brings extra pressures for an overstretched workforce, so nurses need to work together

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Toxic behaviour

Toxic behaviour in the ED: why we must look after our workforce

If is vital to seek support if you witness bullying or are bullied yourself

Safe staffing in England and Northern Ireland should be enshrined in law

Call to nurses to get behind campaign for legislation

Ambulance

Can emergency care survive another 50 years?

Too many patients must wait excessive periods for care in emergency departments.

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Nominate your colleague

A chance for ‘ordinary’ nurses to share, inspire and win recognition for their...

Nominate yourself or a colleague for this year’s RCNi Nurse Awards and help celebrate exceptional nursing care, writes editor Graham Scott

Your views

A nurse appears apprehensive while being questioned by a senior nurse

Can difficult personal circumstances excuse mistakes at work?

We ask our readers if factors outside of work should be considered relevant

Illustration showing healthcare staff in different uniforms, representing different professions, standing on top of piles of coins of varying heights, suggesting pay differences between professions

NHS pay: would a separate pay spine benefit nurses?

We ask our readers if a split from Agenda for Change is the best approach

A year on from NHS industrial action, what has changed for nurses?

After the hard-won pay deal, we ask our readers’ panel how they feel about the dispute now

Dreaded form-filling: would standardisation across all settings make your job easier?

Universal patient documentation and its potential to ease your admin burden

Patient confidentiality and sharing patient data in your work WhatsApp group

What safeguards do you need to help you use instant messaging responsibly?

Is it safe to ask nurses to move settings to fill-in the staffing gaps?

Nursing care is complex and staff from diverse specialties aren’t interchangeable

Reviews

Clinical Judgement and Decision Making in Nursing

Book review: Clinical Judgement and Decision Making in Nursing 

A readable and interactive book, and would be a valued addition for reference on any nurse’s bookshelf

The Ear book

Book review: The Ear Book

A useful book for reference, but without depth of knowledge

Revalidation A Journey for Nurses and Midwives

Book review: Revalidation

This book is recommend it to registrants who want a comprehensive understanding of revalidation

Emergency Care of Minor Trauma in Children

Book review: Emergency Care of Minor Trauma in Children

This book covers all the important topics encountered in minor trauma in children, from head injuries to foot injuries.

Oxford Manual of Major Incident Management

Book review: Oxford Manual of Major Incident Management

This book is recommended especially for anyone interested in developing their knowledge of major incident management.

Thoughtful Healthcare

Book review: Thoughtful Health Care

Adult nursing senior lecturer Karen Sanders reviews Thoughtful Health Care: Ethical Awareness and Reflective Practice.

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