Nursing Standard

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NHS nurse vaccination rates: close-up of a person receiving a vaccination, with a hand holding a needle and the person’s shirt rolled up on their arm   Picture: UNP

Flu and COVID vaccines: your moral duty or a personal choice?

With vaccination rates falling since the pandemic, we look at myths, policies and attitudes

Nurses with long-COVID: a woman clutches her chest due to shortness of breath, a common symptom of long-COVID

Nurses with long-COVID being ‘let down by their employers’

Survey reveals lack of support, with inadequate safeguarding of staff well-being

Fitness to practise panel heard how a practice nurse mistakenly administered the anti-inflammatory Depo-Medrone (left) instead of the contraceptive Depo-Provera jab (right) to two patients.

Practice nurse who gave patients wrong injection avoids NMC suspension

Nurse showed ‘admirable level of developing insight into her actions’, FtP hearing finds

St Pancras Hospital told to improve safety protocols: a patient died following administration of an anti-psychotic drug without national guidelines being followed

Hospital’s ‘gross failure’ contributed to patient’s death

A mental health patient died following improper administration of an anti-psychotic drug

Number nurses leaving NMC register has risen by almost 50% in just six months

Steep rise in new registrants quitting profession, as recruitment slows

Burnout blamed for ‘devastating’ surge in newly registered nurses leaving NMC register

Alcohol addiction among nurses: a sad looking young woman at a desk with her head on her arm, holding a glass containing alcohol

Addiction and substance misuse in nursing: is it a hazard of the job?

Why many hesitate to seek help with addictive behaviours – and the available support

Evidence and Practice

Understanding the physiology of wound healing and holistic wound assessment

Understanding the physiology of wound healing and holistic wound assessment

Read about an assessment framework and selecting the right wound care product

How to take and record a manual blood pressure measurement

How to take and record a manual blood pressure measurement

Update your knowledge and skills in taking an accurate manual BP measurement

Skills for communicating effectively with people who have mental health issues

Communicating effectively with people who have mental health issues

Understand how developing rapport can promote a person-centred approach

Challenging diabetes mellitus-related stigma with targeted education

Challenging diabetes mellitus-related stigma with targeted education

Recognise the adverse effects of this stigma on people living with the condition

Communication strategies to support people experiencing mental health issues

Communication strategies to support people experiencing mental health issues

Refresh your knowledge of approaches such as empathy, active listening and validation

Assessment and management of acute unplanned alcohol withdrawal

Acute unplanned alcohol withdrawal: assessment and management

Increase your knowledge of the signs and symptoms of alcohol dependence and withdrawal

Features

Montage of 15 podcasts selected to interest nurses

Listen to this! 15 podcasts made with you in mind

Podcasts that support your practice, share career advice, or help you wind down

 Nurse behind seated patient stoops slightly and has her hands on his shoulders to express warmth and reassurance. Touch is a powerful way to show compassion in nursing

Using touch to show compassion: tailoring non-verbal communication to the individual

Judging when it’s appropriate to touch a patient or relative – and when it’s not

Bad manager

How to handle a bullying, weak or incompetent boss

Tips on initiating constructive conversations and where to seek support over poor leadership

A nurse in scrubs is frowning and hunching her shoulders in a sign of distress

Under excess pressure? The emotional signs of stress and how to deal with them

Tips for identifying worrying signs and supporting yourself and colleagues

Illustration featuring five different NHS uniform tunic colours, from left to right: indigo, green, sea blue, navy blue and light blue

Uniform approach: what we like about our standardised scrubs

Nurses from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the pros of their nations’ uniforms

Illustration shows healthcare staff around a table formed from a clock face to suggest a team approach to rostering

Rostering: could more control over your shift timings transform your work-life balance?

Team-based rostering pilots point to improved staff retention and greater collaboration

Opinion

Nurses’ fear of mistakes: a nurse sits on the floor of a locker room trying to overcome her nerves at work

How can I overcome my fears about making mistakes at work?

Tips on addressing anxiety over errors, plus how to handle them if they do occur

New NHS national uniforms in different colourways are designed to better distinguish nursing and other occupational groups 

‘Smart scrubs’: will your new work wardrobe help you do your job in comfort?

New NHS uniform has its critics, but perhaps it’s not such a bad idea

Free
NHS nursing unions tell health and social care secretary West Streeting the NHS Pay Review Body is outdated. They want him to grant direct pay talks

NHS pay, who negotiates it and why recent awards prove ‘no change’ is not an option

Unions call on ministers to meet them face-to-face, and end ‘outdated’ review body process

Students

Using AI for nursing degree: a person’s hands typing on a laptop computer, with illustrated icons representing study and technology hovering above them on the image

Is it cheating if I use AI to help me with an assignment? 

We look at the AI tools available, ways students can use them – and the potential pitfalls

Nursing students working part-time in supermarkets: a young woman stacking shelves in a supermarket 

Side hustles: how can I make extra money as a nursing student?

From bank work to bar work, tips on making extra cash while maintaining your studies

A nursing student looks at an IV monitor as she listens to a senior nurse while learning on placement

Feel you’re not good enough? Tips for students on building confidence

Strategies to help you overcome self-doubt in your studies and on placement

Careers

Becoming a chief nurse: achieving your career goal and overcoming setbacks

So you want to be a chief nurse? First-hand advice on becoming a stand-out leader

Three chief nurses share how they overcame obstacles to achieve their career ambitions

Supportive nursing workplace: a woman smiles as she shakes hands with her new employer during an interview

What does a good employer look like? Your workplace checklist

Experts advise on what to look for, from team culture and well-being support to leadership

Moving up to a band 6 nursing role: illustration shows a nurse standing on the band 6 part of a bar chart, in which the bars are steps from band 4 to band 6

Stay at band 5 or move up to band 6? How to decide what’s right for you

Stepping up may mean more pay, but what are the other factors to consider?

Jobs