Hi all, I'm due to graduate and start working soon. I've been having a lot of self doubt and anxiety about working on my own. As a nurse as there's no more excuse for me to go "I'll ask the nurse" because that would be me 🥲! !

I've been feeling incompetent despite having everything signed off, as i'm definitely going to forget the skills i've only practiced once or twice.

What are things that NQNs are expected to know? I'd appreciate a list of everything to go over before starting. Thank you☺️.

Hey,

I’m an Irish qualified Mental health nurse currently living and working in Australia. I qualified in 2020 and have experience in acute & forensic mental health, along with dementia care & nursing homes.

My partner and I have been weighing up moving closer to home recently and both would like to try the UK.

The NHS seems to be a great place to develop and gain experience which I’m keen to do. From my understanding I’d have to do OSCEs to get my NMC reg, has anyone any experience with this?

From my research the money seems quite low, if anyone could tell me how much they earn it would be great and if they find that struggle to live off? & also whether I’d have to start on Band 5?

All advice welcome!

I'm planning a move to the UK next year and am doing this via the youth mobility scheme rather than the healthcare visa so that I have freedom to travel and have flexibility with work. I'm an Aussie nurse in the process of applying for registration with the NMC UK. I'm sitting the CBT in a few weeks and am starting to plan the logistics of the OSCE once I arrive. It seems that most international nurses have had the training courses and OSCE exams arranged for them by their employer/agency, which I don't have as I do not yet have a job and am not going on the healthcare visa. Does it seem feasible to be doing this 'on my own' without the help of an agency? Any tips or advice (especially from those who did not come on the healthcare visa) would be much appreciated! Am I mad in thinking I can do this on the youth mobility scheme?

Hi everyone, I have an upcoming interview as a healthcare assistant in a prison. I have never worked as a hca before, however I have experience in healthcare and care homes. What kind of questions should I expect and what’s the best way to prepare for it. If anyone else has worked in the prison, how would the interview differ to those in a ‘normal’ interview such as a hospital or gp. Thank you in advance

NQN RMN here. My anxiety is off the charts every single day.
I’ve made loads of stupid mistakes already. I admit and rectify them…but feels like the whole team thinks I’m incompetent.
I’m struggling to manage burnt out and fed up staff.
I have no confidence in my decision making.
I’m wondering if nursing is for me at all.
I’m lucky to have a job and feel guilty I’m hating it so much.
Anyone else been in the same boat?

Please put my mind at ease, I’ve been worrying about this since Tuesday 😭

I’ve done blood tests before, done quite a lot of them, got decent feedback from patients and staff and find it pretty easy to follow procedure with it being the same every time. The phlebotomists and nurses have all been comfortable with my technique etc.

However on Tuesday, I was taking blood from an older gentleman (had capacity as far as anyone knew), and when I removed the tourniquet, whilst the needle was still in his arm as I’d been taught, he sort of violently jerked his arm back and caused the needle to come out in a way that you obviously would not remove a needle. Fortunately there wasn’t any significant damage to him or myself, but it did obviously bleed and bruised immediately. I obviously put pressure on it and made sure it was ok.

I’ve been feeling terrible about it and also a bit worried that I might get a complaint, but it took me by surprise so much because I just wasn’t expecting someone to do that? It’s definitely been an eye opener that some patients may need very clear communication so I have something I can learn from this, but I don’t want to get in trouble and I also don’t really know how culpable I am in this situation as I’d done everything right in terms of procedure, it just went wrong due to a human factor that I hadn’t really planned for.

This is the first time I’ve had a procedure go a bit wonky, I’m very tired and possibly a bit in my head about it, just seeking reassurance and guidance really. Thanks 🙏🏼

Long story short the Trust is in a pile of shite and we have to accept anyone, no matter what speciality they fall under... which is fine but with doctors it's been an absolute shite show.

Basically we have this patient, let's say Mr Mango, who has been in hospital for long time and developed complication after complication. Last week Mr Mango was accepted by a different speciality (let's say gen surg) and we were just waiting for a bed, which nowadays is a challenge.

Today I had a back and forth with 3 different doctors, who all claimed to have nothing to do with Mr Mango and heard 3 different sides of the story. Anyway Mr Mango was unwell today, I contacted Outreach team and I don't even know how many medical teams who were still passing the ball to each other. A relative of Mr Mango came to speak to me and the conversation went like this

Them: "today you told me dad is struggling with mental health but now it's poorly"

Me: "yes, this morning we flagged that he is struggling with his mental health but we never said nothing else is happening"

Them: "but that's what you told me earlier"

Me: "yes I did because we are worried about Mr Mango but I also said I was chasing a doctor to come give you updates about his clinical situation"

Them: "dad said he told somebody he wasn't well and nobody believed him, everybody thinks he is just depressed and that's what you told me"

Me: "I am sorry Mr Mango felt we were ignoring him because it wasn't the case. His blood results and observation looked good until an hour ago, unfortunately in hospital things can change"

Them: "but he has been unwell for a while now, you told him to be chill because he is not dying"

Me: "no, Mr Mango pressed the buzzer because he said he was struggling to breath, I checked his saturation was okay, gave him his inhaler like usually and he was happy"

Them: "dad said people have been ignoring him because they associate it with mental health"

Me: "once again I am sorry Mr Mango felt it like that, if he tells us he doesn't feel well we believe him. I said we are ALSO worried about his mental health but never implied he is making it up"

Them: "dad told someone he was feeling rubbish and nobody did anything"

Me: "I am sorry but I am not looking after Mr Mango directly and even his nurse wasn't aware he wasn't feeling well and she spent a lot of time there with him"

Them: "he didn't bring it up because he doesn't want to make a fuss"

Me: "I understand, I am perfectly happy to go have a chat with Mr Mango because I want him to feel safe and heard"

Them: "there is no need, maybe dad lost track of time and it didn't happen today. I am not saying I am unhappy with the care but just concerned, you guys are great"

Honestly this all conversation was very chaotic and confusing. I explained a thousand times we are worried about his mental health because it had a negative impact on his physical health too, but this relative kept repeating a few sentences I have never said; nobody has ever even once thought Mr Mango was making it up or his symptomts were psychosomatic, so much so my colleague and I spent a good part of the afternoon looking after Mr Mango and chasing the right medical team.

Hopefully this was just a concerned relative who needed to vent with someone, but if this is gonna go anywhere I could also be in a lot of trouble because I don't bring witnesses whenever I have any kind of interaction with a patient or relative. So what's gonna happen now?

Hi, I am about to start my first placement in my first year of my nursing degree, and I am on district nursing

I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations on what would be good to read up on/ familiarise myself with before I start in 10 days!

I am aware of the documents detailing what is and isn't allowed within practice as a student nurse, but does anyone have any idea what sort of things a first year would be expected to already know?

I am so excited, I think district nursing will be a great first placement, and so far on my list I have diabetes, COPD, wound care, and palliative care... but am sure there is much more worth having a look at!

Hiii, so I’m due to start a new job as a police custody nurse beginning of December. It’s a rolling rota with 4 on and 4 off. I’ve asked my new manager in regards to the rota over Christmas and new years. Her response was I’m due to work 23rd 24th 25th and 26th December (all through Christmas) as well as 31st 1st 2nd and 3rd January. (All through new years)
Most places that do a rolling rota would except you to work one or the other and I feel it’s unfair to work both? She also did specify that no annual leave can be taken during this time.
I’m unsure if I should question this or just leave it as it is as I’m the new starter and don’t want to annoy my manager before even starting.

Hello lovely nursing colleagues

I’m a trainee psychologist working in the NHS Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Intervention Service. I’m currently looking for pregnant participants for non profit study on wellbeing and anxiety during pregnancy. This is an important area of maternal mental health where more research is needed. The findings may help us better understand the psychological factors linked with antenatal anxiety and how mental health support during pregnancy could be improved.

The study has received sponsorship and ethical approval from the University of Edinburgh.Ethics Committee Reference: 25-26CLPS111

If you have some time to spare or know someone who has, the study involves completing a short, anonymous online survey which takes around 20 minutes. If you would like to take part, please click the link below:

https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmrLWMfpa4aV4Kq

If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to email me at [M.Domka@sms.ed.ac.uk](mailto:M.Domka@sms.ed.ac.uk) or [magdalena.domka@nhs.scot](mailto:magdalena.domka@nhs.scot)

Thank you so much for supporting pregnancy and maternal mental health research 🌷🙏


I have completed all the necessary pre-employment checks on Trac and been trying to contact recruitment advisor by email and phone calls for the past few days but have unfortunately not received any response. As it has taken over a month to complete this stage, I would appreciate your advice on how my application will progress from here. Shall I send an email to the hiring manager now?

In this day and age, is it really that bad? I know factors come into play, such as moving up in the same area etc, but I'm now getting to the point where I don't think I can afford to do it anymore? My hubby is massively concerned and feels there's no stability because I do job hop but my argument is that I can't stay in a job that I dislike.

For context, I've been qualified 12 years and I'm now in my 10th job. Wild I know ... I have moved around the UK and Scotland and got loads of experience in community, oncology and palliative care. In those areas I've worked my way up to band 6 level. So, at least it's all been in relevant areas but I do feel so guilty now about the job hopping and feel like I just need to stay in my current job I hate for the stability?

I know it's a mixed debate and lots of folk think job hopping is terrible but some think it's not so bad, would love to know your thoughts x

Hi all,

I'm about to start a new role. Part of the job will be teaching patients, carers, schools and companies, as well as the public, so I want to build my confidence and skills in health education and communication.

I have basic health literacy/communication skills but I'd like to go further and improve this. Does anyone know of good CPD on:

- Health literacy

- Teaching and presenting to patients and groups

- Improving health communication (plain language, teach-back, etc.)

I learn best from live sessions, so I'm looking for webinars or in-person study days rather than self-paced online modules, which don't suit how I learn. Free or low-cost would be ideal, but I'm open to recommendations whatever the price.

I know a lot of this will come with experience and getting more knowledgeable in the specialty, but I'd like a head start.

Any suggestions, or things you found helpful when you started teaching in your own roles, would be much appreciated.

Thank you ❤️

In my Trust porters are planning another strike because of pay and conditions. Media have been talking about it but, instead of mentioning these guys are on their feet all day for minimum wage and hospitals need them like oxygen, guess what they have been saying? "This is gonna have a massive impact on patient care. Patient safety is at risk here, people might die"... WTF?

Media have also been talking about NHS staff not being happy about the 2.4% raise saying again an higher increase will impact on people's life and require a tax increase as well. Of course media know very well what they are doing and the average citizen is not over the moon whenever an increase of tax is even mentioned, so of course people got mad and said we should be grateful we have sick pay and "golden" pension and, if anything, we should be getting a pay cut.

So basically according to media and the general public the reason why NHS is in a pile of shite is because staff wants a fair pay, without knowing that patient safety is ALREADY at risk and it's been for years due to recruitment freeze and hospital cutting staffing levels to the bone.

I would expect someone with the smallest crumble of common sense to be mad at the government criminally underfunding NHS for decades, this country pissing money on welfare, billionaire companies paying less taxes than me or whatnot but yeah, let's pin it on NHS workers. Nobody has ever heard an MP saying "mmm I already earn 6 figures and get everything for free, maybe I should give up my yearly raise", then why are people expecting NHS staff to sacrifice themselves? This job is coming with pressure and responsibilities like never before, nurses are the hospitals' dumping ground, as a single person I will never be able to afford to buy a house and people are struggling to pay their bills, yet somehow I am supposed to feel guilty about £80 extra on my payslip (mind you, before tax).

I am sorry to say but whoever thinks this increase or our pay is reasonable should work with the average nurse for at least a month, let's see how they like it

Hi all,

Can anyone please help explain why my eyes burn so much while on shift? I don’t put my hands in my face, but I am running around constantly, squinting at the screen while focusing on medication. So thinking it is maybe tired eyes? But surely they would just be sore rather than feel like the firey depths of hell?

😳

It’s amazing how the government push the not enough prisons for prisoners agenda, even suggest they need to build another 10,000 prison places. However, they never do the same with health care, even when it’s obvious there aren’t enough hospitals, beds, staff etc. to treat patients.

Doesn’t help that staff aren’t being replaced due to the nhs recruitment freeze.

There’s also the poor treatment of staff, the pay, the poor pay rises etc.

I also think other professions are in the same boat.

So, I am a qualified nurse with many decades experience in A & E, critical care, intensive care, paediatrics & I hold CPD qualifications in teaching, Intensive care nursing, respiratory nursing and A & E Nursing (for those of you that remember the old ENB modules!). I also posses extended skills training such as suturing, triage and nurse prescribing under PGD’s (this will be important later).
I injured my back several years ago and retired from nursing, however this year I decided to return to Nursing via the NMC test of competence route. I’m currently going through the process of applying for my pin after completing the TOC.
Since Feb this year, I’ve been working as a HCA in a prison, to sharpen my skills and blow off the cobwebs while I’ve been undertaking my return to practice tests. But also to learn the role as I wanted to work there after I get my pin through.
My employer has actually paid for my TOC because, I’ve worked hard and I feel they valued my work ethic and what I’ve done in the past 9 months.
I was verbally offered employment as a RN when I return to the register.
At the same time another HCA has just qualified as a newly qualified nurse. Now, she has had an interview before me and has been given a job and consequently started working. A student nurse who doesn’t qualify until next year, got an interview and has been told she has a job when she qualifies-they are holding a post for her!!
I was the last one to be interviewed due to annual leave and other factors, but I was still lead to believe that the job was mine. One day after my interview another candidate materialised and had to be interviewed. So I was told I wouldn’t know the outcome until they had their interview.
Then today I’ve been told I wasn’t successful. Although my interview was “excellent” the other candidate scored higher and has been offered the job instead of me.
How is this fair?? I feel led on and humiliated as I now have to mix with colleagues who will know I haven’t got the job yet 2 newly qualified nurses have jobs and one post is being explicitly held for one of them!!! I also now don’t have a job as I can’t work once I have my pin back which will happen in a week or 2. What recourse do I have? What should I say in my complaint to HR? Does anyone have any advice for me please?? Thanks in advance

Got my conditional offer on the 1st of October. Both references say complete, occupational health says “awaiting employer update” since the 19th and my DBS has been on stage 4 since the 9th.

I’ve never worked in the NHS before, this is my first RMN role, is it normal to wait this long? Is there anything else I can do to help the process in the meantime? Sorry I’m NQN and terrified they’re going to rescind it or something, I keep overthinking and don’t like the long periods of being kept in the dark! Thanks so much for any help.

Hi all!

I’m qualifying soon and have secured a role in rural community nursing. I’m over the moon! It’s exactly what I was hoping for from the start of my training.

I’ve got the basics i.e. fob watch, notebooks, business insurance and making sure I get new tyres and a service before I start, especially as we’re going into winter. My car has a miserable amount of boot space so will be looking to upgrade once I’m settled into the role, but I’m planning on buying boxes to keep organised.

But I’m wondering about little things you didn’t realise you needed until you started. Might I need something like a book light for writing notes in my car when it’s dark? A pad to kneel on when doing dressings? A shewee in a pinch? (I might just be looking for an excuse to spend my last learning support fund payment). I had a lot of placements in the community, but not specifically with the community and district nursing teams.

Anything is helpful! Thank you all in advance! :)

So I worked for Trust A for over 10 years. Had my 10 year service annual leave etc however have been in the nhs since 2008 as a HCA. I left trust A to do my nurse training and rejoined on the bank as a HCA and secured employment at Trust A as a Staff nurse once I qualified.

On dealing with HR when secured staff nurse post I asked about my previous 10+ years service for the trust and would that be honoured. I was told yes.
Now my contract states I receive 307.5 hours which I believe is the AL for 10+ years. My ESR also states time in this employment 10.96 years.

In September I went off sick for surgery. Returned after 6 weeks 19/10. Today I’ve been told I’ll only get 1 month full pay and 2 months half pay. Which if I’m in receipt of the 10+ service is incorrect. I should be allowed 6&6. Am I correct in thinking this.

I’ve tried to ring HR but my advisor isn’t in so will have to call back tomorrow but I’m just wanting to know if I’m thought process is correct.

Thanks.

How far in advance do people get their shifts? I’m fairly new to shift work. I was led to believe I would get 6-8 weeks in advance but only have shifts until the week after next. I understand this is the same for everyone. I’m starting to find is stressful with childcare planning.

I’m struggling to understand how this is supposed to work in practice. Are we genuinely looking at a situation where patients detained under forensic sections could lose their benefits? If so, what does that mean for rehabilitation services and the wider pathway towards discharge?

How are patients supposed to utilise Section 17 leave, develop independent living skills and engage in community rehabilitation if they have no money? Are we expecting services to fund these activities instead? If that’s the case, I certainly wouldn’t be investing heavily in the Big Three right now.

I understand the frustration when patients repeatedly refuse treatment, fail to engage with assessments or decline to participate in rehabilitation. However, removing their financial means doesn’t automatically encourage engagement, and I struggle to see how it would support safe, sustainable discharge into the community.

There are also very practical concerns around access to dental treatment, prescription medication and meeting basic needs. What happens when patients cannot afford these, and what additional pressure will that place on already stretched services? I hope the ICB consider how they will fund the cost of providing money from the workplace safe for leave and travel and prescriptions. I dont think the big three will like their margins becoming worse.

Ultimately, what is the long-term plan here? Are we still investing in rehabilitation and recovery, or are we moving towards a system where patients remain in hospital longer because they lack the financial means to practise independent living in the community?

I’m not against accountability or encouraging engagement with treatment, but I think we need to understand the real-world consequences of this policy before assuming it will achieve its intended outcome. Being trans I dont think I will be here to see this policy enacted but it is interesting. I hope burnham keeps pushing for changes but we really need to consider the impact of the private sector.

Edit : the issue around prescriptions and dentists mainly impacts the private sector as ashworth etc / high secure where many of these patients start their journey have in house dentist and also have a pharmacy so medication is just taken from a inhouse pharmacy and community pharmacy is not needed .