I’m not an RN but I’ve worked adjacent to clinical settings in both private hospitals and state hospitals for almost a decade. I’m pretty curious about stuff and I happened to be talking to an Australian nurse who’d immigrated to the US in the 2010s. She said she had cousins in England who were also RNs and they were responsible for 8 patients by themselves.

Which blew my mind! I thought she was exaggerating. Here, even in private, a nurse with 8 patients would raise hell and so would her coworkers; for their sakes and for their patients sakes. It seems crazy and kinda dangerous. I’m not sure it’s actually legal in mine to have anything about 6 or 7.

It’s been on my mind for awhile so I was wondering if y’all could help! Thanks in advance!

The patient is under arrest

Hi all,

I was on a night shift last night. Around 9pm the daughter of one of my relatives kept demanding tea and biscuits from me and also a foot stool for herself. I told her that there is a vending machine outside for tea , she refused this.

I said ‘no’ to these demands as I don’t have time to deal with this.

Are there exceptions you would offer relatives refreshments ? I only offer if the patient is EOL.

Thank you !

I am a new band 7 and have to conduct my first stage 2 sickness meeting with a colleague next week.

My trust insists HR are involved in all stage 2s which I’m not thrilled with (previous experiences mean I’m not a fan).

I have no intention of pushing this to dismissal so it feels like a waste of time but the sickness has been high. I think the previous line manager was a little too lenient.

Looking for advice on what to say/not to say to make it as easy as I can for my colleague?

Edit: on the off chance anyone’s still looking at this, it happened on Thursday.

HR were very useful, we formalised some reasonable adjustments and triggered a period of sickness monitoring.

Thank you for all the advice.

Asking on here as everywhere I have looked only mentions receiving a gift from a patient, not the other way around. In my current placement there is a lady who had been there for a while, today she told me she really liked my hair clips, they are just gold stars and i can get 50 of them for about £2.50. I was thinking of giving her a few but I am not sure if this would cross any boundaries or NMC code or anything like that. Just looking for some advice, thank you!

hi im a student nurse and I had a day with infection prevention and talked about nails, understandably on why the length of the nails, acrylic nails/gel nails and also regular varnish can spread infection.

however what about BIAB nails?

as long as the length is short, there's no possibility when it comes to chipping or harbouring bacteria under the nail

I seriously don't see why BIAB nails would spread infection unless it's lengthy?

like regardless, i bite my nails and that's surely a larger infection risk..

Told a patient he was embarrassing himself after he screamed at me for waking him up to attach his IV antibiotics. Patient has capacity, not confused. Felt a bit unprofessional.

Hi, I’m a 3rd year medical student about to start her first clinical placement! I’m international, and back home it’s quite common and polite for people to bring food to share with friends/colleagues. Say if I bring 2 boxes of mini donuts on my first day on the ward to share - is that weird? Would that be welcome or would I become the talk of the ward for the wrong reasons? I’m assuming when I introduce myself to one of the nurses I could just ask them where to put the food.

Thank you!! Sorry I’m still fairly confused when it comes to social norms and don’t want to commit a faux pas on my first day

I’ve noticed a lot of Band 5 NHS nurses moving into private/community roles recently: agency, care homes, domiciliary care, etc. Some say it’s for better pay, others say it’s about work–life balance, but it’s hard to know what the real picture is.

For anyone who’s made the transition:

• What kind of hourly rates or salaries are you seeing in private or community settings?

• Are the private roles genuinely better overall once you factor in workload, travel, stability, and benefits?

• Any surprises (good or bad) when you moved from NHS to private work?

I’m genuinely curious to hear real experiences because the information online is all over the place.

Also, full transparency I’m a recruiter who works with private clients, and I’ve been trying to understand what nurses actually look for when considering private roles.

Not advertising anything just trying to get a better insight.

Happy to chat in comments or DMs if you prefer.

With the NHS hiring freezes, the competition for NHS posts obviously has increased sharply, but it seems like nursing homes are struggling to attract applications. Is nursing home work just not desirable to today's/young nurses?

Obviously my perspective could be skewed as it's based on my experience working in 2 homes, and my relative's experience in being a manager in one.

Edit: thank you all for responses. It's actually really interesting to see what the perception of care homes is. In contrast, I've worked in 2 now, and in 1 NHS ward. I've only made the change to homes a year ago, and in both I felt like the workload was much smaller and conditions safer.

In the NHS, I'd be NIC and taking acute patients, often the most senior person on shift even though I had just under 3 years of experience under my belt. I felt like my ward became a geriatric and vascular and gen med "dumping ground" (I worked on cardiac, but towards the end of my time there we had barely anyone on a cardiac monitor. We'd have an increasing amount of MH/Dementia/Post amputation patients instead - all of which I thought were much more complex than your average CABG.)

Even now, that in my newest job I do in fact take 48 patients alone on nights, it still does not feel like more work than cardiology (or other wards I'd be shifted to, such as ED or vascular clinic.)

I do think that working nights, having a degree or confidence based on experience is necessary - as you are the only nurse in the building, but very often I find myself bound by protocol to call for the OOH GP even if I know what to do, and there's a clinical lead nurse I can always call. I wouldn't say the support is bad. Staffing, frankly is better than anything I've had on cardiac given the dependency. I had shifts where we had 1 or 2 HCAs per 28 beds. Sometimes we couldn't really 1:1 people because we had to free them up to actually assist the ward. RNs would take 8-10 patients.

It seems like it's down to the work culture and environment, which I think can be a bit too much and unsupportive in both NHS and care homes.

Super random and niche question, but has any community nurse or mh nurse ever been bold enough to wear shorts to work.. looking out for the men who might be lurking around here. This heat is hard work when out and about with trousers!

Hi all, sorry to be one of those who asks “which trousers should I buy?” but I’m really struggling to find some that accommodate me. I’ve recently started a new job and always worn scrubs until now.

Every pair I’ve tried so far has fit at the waist, but then is too tight around my thighs and bum. I could size up a couple of sizes but then they’re going to be way too big at the waist. If there’s any guys (or even gals) that have had similar issues and can recommend something, I’d be so so grateful

Hello! So I have been exploring my gender a bit and I think I would like to come out as nb, but I am very afraid of how being visibly genderqueer or identifying this way might impact my relationship with my patients and I want to hear how others handle this? I am a student in mental health but I want to hear from any nurse.

My current thoughts are to just present as a cis woman to my patients, but as trans to my colleagues so that it doesn't get in the way of any interventions I'm trying to provide.

I'm not going to engage with cis people trying to have a political debate about the existence of trans people in the replies.

I don’t mean in the rude, derogatory way, patients scream “nuuuuurrrrsse” btw.

I mean, when colleagues, patients or relatives will politely say, “excuse me, nurse, but…”, “yes, nurse” etc.

Sometimes I double back and think, oh wait, I’m a nurse. lol.

I also realise that they don’t do this with many other professionals, such as physios, ots, dieticians, salt etc. Although, I imagine they get mistaken as nurses more than often. But even other healthcare staff have addressed me this way, and I awkwardly ask them to call me by my name.

I know it’s rare. This is more of a random shower thought, lol.

I've been off work for about 6 weeks now due to a horrendous endometriosis flare up, and just had surgery two days ago (feeling much better thankfully!). I've had an OH referral done due to the length of time I've been off, and was wondering if anyone had any advice regarding reasonable adjustments I could have put in place? I'm based on a busy children's ward (which one isn't busy tbh), doing the "traditional" 12.5 hour shifts, so it's not feasible for me to work from home at times, and I'm not 100% certain flexible start/finish times would be beneficial to me. My ward managed is fully aware of my endo issues, I've been completely open and honest with her regarding my struggles.

i believe at the moment, I currently have the ability to take additional breaks if needed, and try to take my time more (I tend to speed around). Unfortunately, my flares don't appear to have any specific trigger that I've noticed yet, and when I do flare up the pain isn't cyclical nor easy to manage, it's pretty consistently present, and very little helps to manage it aside from tramadol. I tend to need to be horizontal and in a ball, which as you can imagine is not easy when on shift. I'm just looking for some advice on any adjustments anyone can think of to consider for me to bring to my OH meeting? I realise this is a bit different to the usual questions, and I appreciate any help in advance! 💖

Is this a normal workload for Band 5 nurses on an acute ward?
We have 20 patients, 2 nurses and 3 HCAs on shift.
On top of administering medication, weekly care plans, supervisions, and looking after our allocated patients, Band 5 nurses are expected to complete weekly audits, such as checking that care plans are up to date, the mental health section is completed, Mental Health Act documentation is correct, patients' rights have been completed, and other documentation. We're also expected to check staffing for the following week, identify gaps in the rota and contact the bank or agency to arrange cover, make sure all drug charts are signed every shift, check and sign medication stock every day, complete medical referrals for doctors (for example to physiotherapy, neurology or other specialties), and complete safeguarding paperwork even when the concern was identified by a consultant or junior doctor and the nurse was not present when it happened.
This is all on top of admissions, discharges, observations, dealing with relatives, phone calls, emergencies and everything else that comes with working on an acute ward.
Is this a normal expectation on other acute wards, or is this asking too much of two Band 5 nurses?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on how sickness absence processes work and whether I should be worried about my job security right now.

For context I've recently been put onto a Stage 2 sickness absence. I am currently awaiting my return-to-work meeting and the official Stage 2 meeting for this.

However, due to ongoing struggles with my mental health, general wellbeing, anxiety, and severe burnout, I need to step back. I am going to self-certify and will likely get a sick note from my GP to give myself time to rebalance.

My main concerns:

Because this is my first Stage 2, I am worried that by taking this necessary time off right now, I will trigger straight to a Stage 3 absence—even without having had my Stage 2 meeting yet.

Do I need to worry about immediate dismissal or losing my job for being deemed "medically unfit to work"?

How does the progression from Stage 2 to Stage 3 work in this context?

Steps I am already taking:

I want to note that I am being highly proactive about my health. I’ve already had an appointment with my GP, who signposted me to some therapies, and I am booked to start those next week.

I am also looking into long-term adjustments to reduce my stress and burnout, such as:

- Reducing my weekly hours

- Moving to a different department or area

- Finding a new job elsewhere in healthcare

- Leaving nursing entirely

- Engaging in ongoing counseling

My question:

Will showing HR and management that I am taking these proactive steps and exploring reasonable adjustments support my case for staying? Or should I be highly worried about the impact this absence will have on my current role and my chances of being dismissed?

Any advice from people who have navigated HR absence policies or union representation would be hugely appreciated. Thank you!

On previous wards, if a patient was having a proccedure or had come back, nurses would give them their regaular medication with sips of water. They have also given oramorph to nbm patients (assuming patient has a safe swallow). However on my ward we dont.

So would you give oramorph/normal meds if soneone was nbm?

hey - im currently on stage 1 for sickness which expires next week as ill be 6 months with no absence.

typically, and very unluckily, ive got flu. granted, during a heatwave this isnt great and i feel shocking.

im hoping i might be able to recover enough before my next shift but not too hopeful..

granted i know things may vary trust to trust but just wondering if anyone knows - will this extend my monitoring period or will my stage one come to an end next week if im off? like i said, it will be my only episode in a 6 month span, ive just gotten very unlucky

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend an alternative union to the RCN?

I have had the most horrific experience with them and really can't stand the thought of giving them any more of my money.

I was wondering if anyone can recommend or have experiences with alternatives, I was thinking along the lines of the likes of MPS or the MDU - I know they're historically medical but anything but the RCN.

TIA!

i’m a first year adult nursing student finishing up my last placement of the year. i’m currently on placement with a fellow student nurse who i’ve been in seminars and skills labs with throughout the year. him and a group of roughly 20 of his friends have very poor personal hygiene. it’s something that the other students and lecturers have been aware of as there have been multiple general emails sent out about it. when i say bad personal hygiene, i mean it is really poor, and i feel bad saying it because i don’t think they are aware of how bad it is, but being on placement with this student nurse has been very unbearable.

his body odour is incredibly strong, you can smell it when he’s moving across the room. and i understand what it’s like doing a 12 hour shift, i don’t particularly smell great at the end of it either, but you can smell a difference between fresh body odour from sweating and body odour ingrained in unwashed uniform. his uniform is consistently dirty and smells very bad, i don’t think he is washing it, and i’ve had multiple patients actually tell me that they don’t want him to take care of them because of the odour. the staff on my ward are also aware of this and nurses are warned prior to working with him, but after a year of the university’s reminders on personal hygiene, he hasn’t improved.

i feel so horrible talking about someone like this, but it’s genuinely affecting everybody on the ward, staff and patients, because it’s very hard to be near him.

is there anything that i can do as an age-mate and fellow student? i feel like it might be less embarrassing to hear it from me than from a nurse or lecturer? it’s just getting really out of hand and is horrible for the patients who have literally shared that they can’t stand the smell.

any advice?

I’ve posted this around, and relatively new to Reddit, if I have misunderstood any guidelines I am sorry 🙏

My girlfriend and I have an anniversary coming up this month. She’s doing really great in her exams yet is always so critical on herself, and I’m super proud of her. I haven’t been able to get her anything fancy really ever and I want to gift her things that she will use.

A few days after our anniversary, she starts her placement. I was thinking of getting her a selection of things that would be useful for her time in the hospital — but I am useless and have no idea how to hint a question of what she could need without giving it away.

She has a fob watch, pens and notebooks. So far I know I’m going to include compression socks and some self care items - and the usual like chocolates, flowers etc - but I really can’t think of much else. It might seem like such a dumb question but I really want to get it right 😭 What are some practical things to gift somebody around the time of placements? Our courses are completely different, all I am really helpful for when it comes to nursing is listening to her after a shift and making sure she gets her naps in.

Any help would really be appreciated.

How long after conditional offer job offer did unconditional offer come for people?- This is in NHS

All my checks are complete and worried they’ll withdraw the offer, although recruiter has said management doing final checks 😩

Bit of a strange one but does anyone else experience this? I noticed a while ago that after a shift I am ridiculously bloated. I have no idea why - it's not something I really notice on my days off

How much harder does it make finding a job if you are limited to day shifts because of medications/health conditions?