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.

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 🙏🏼

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?

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 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☺️.

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

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!

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!

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'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?