Nurses struggling with winter pressures urged to tell their boss
Posted 12 January 2023
Share your burdens with managers and rely on the Code, NMC chief executive tells registrants as she reaffirms commitment that context will count in fitness to practise cases
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has urged nurses to talk to their managers if they are struggling to cope amid unprecedented pressures in the NHS and social care.
Chief executive Andrea Sutcliffe reaffirmed the regulator’s position that it will take the crisis in health and social care into account if nurses are referred for disciplinary action.
Employers have a duty of care to nurses
She acknowledged pressures are ‘incredibly tough’ as demand for care reaches record levels. Many patients are waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments before being admitted to wards, while nurses have described how they are choosing who potentially lives and dies as they are forced to prioritise acute caseloads.
‘Nurses, midwives and nursing associates make a positive difference to people’s lives and set out to give safe, kind, effective care, so I understand it is disheartening when you feel the pressure on the system you’re working in is impacting on the work you do,’ Ms Sutcliffe said.
‘We always take context into account’
Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive, NMC
‘Your employer has a duty of care towards you, so please don’t hesitate to talk to your managers and leaders if you’re finding it hard to cope. It is more important than ever that you’re supported to look after your own health and well-being, so you can care for others.’
And in a video message, she urged resigistrants: ‘See the Code be your friend, it’s there to support you.’
Nurses, midwives, nursing associates & students on placement are working in incredibly difficult circumstances in health & social care
— Andrea Sutcliffe (@Crouchendtiger7) January 11, 2023
Please see @nmcnews statement & my video message https://t.co/UKZsEdQvtZ
Thank you pic.twitter.com/fWAEicYcYv
In November, the NMC chief, along with the UK’s chief nursing officers, moved to reassure nurses that in the ‘unlikely’ event they are referred for disciplinary action, demanding working conditions would be taken into account. Their joint letter to registrants reflected the shift in the regulator’s approach, announced in 2018.
Draw on the Code when facing difficult decisions
The signatories acknowledged staff may have to ‘depart from established procedures to care for people’. They warned that sustained additional demand across health and social care was likely to be exacerbated by staff shortages, and urged nurses to refer to the Code and principles of practice when making decisions in difficult circumstances.
This week, Ms Sutcliffe re-emphasised the NMC would take the context surrounding fitness to practise referral into account.
‘Remember that the Code is there to guide your professional judgements. And please also remember that concerns are only raised with us about a tiny minority of professionals each year, and when they are, we always take context into account,’ she said.
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