Nursing Matters

This special edition of Nursing Matters focuses on our brilliant nursing support workers across the UK, to recognise their invaluable contribution as the RCN celebrates its annual Nursing Support Workers’ Day. We’re talking about the critical roles they play, how they deserve better recognition, and why this vital but often neglected element of the nursing workforce should get the best education and training opportunities for career development. 

Our special guests are Tara Johnson, a healthcare assistant working with children and young people at Torbay Hospital, and Richard Griffin, Professor of Healthcare Management at King’s College, London.

“I have a thing, every time I go to work, which is as long as I make one person smile on my shift, I've done my job.” Tara Johnson, Healthcare Assistant working with children and young people

“The amount of skills and training and support I've got to get to where I am now and the amount I've achieved with that support is absolutely incredible.” Tara Johnson

“Workforces that reflect their local populations have better health outcomes, and also tend to be more diverse as well.” Richard Griffin, Professor of healthcare management at King's College London

“I hope that support workers everywhere feel not only that their employers and colleagues value them but the NHS as a whole values them.” 

 

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis PNC Member for Wales Carolyn Middleton.. We want know what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast. Let us know by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters

Presented by Rachel Hollis and Carolyn Middleton. Audio production by Alex Rees. Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music: ‘Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN.

 

https://www.rcn.org.uk

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October is Black History Month, an opportunity for the RCN to spotlight the contributions of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic nurses across the profession. Dr. Ann Mitchell is a practitioner, educator and researcher in mental health nursing. She talks about her work: challenging stereotypes, stigma and the racism faced by both service users and those who care for them – highlighting the importance of transcultural care, and equal opportunities. 

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis and committee member for the West Midlands Ray McMorrow. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters

“Human rights are an important part of mental health care.” - Ann Mitchell

‘’I'm an action researcher…, and I believe if you collaborate in your work together, you can gain so much more’’. Ann Mitchell

“Institutional racism, which is part of a systemic racism… can act as that barrier to promotion.” - Ann Mitchell

‘’We want to have change, we want to be valued, we want to be given our true worth for the work that we're doing’’. – Ann Mitchell

Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: 'Snappy’  by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN.

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The nursing workforce in crisis – this week’s Nursing Matters hears from Professor Alison Leary, a Fellow of the RCN whose areas of expertise include health care and workforce modelling, and patient safety.

 

Why is the nursing workforce in such a precarious position? How could this crisis be solved? As RCN members are asked to vote for strike action, why is nursing pay pivotal to the health, safety and wellbeing of the nursing profession, and the UK population?

 

“We have a perfect storm now of pay restraint and an exhausted workforce that can't put his head above the parapet to even think about anything, an ageing workforce, and really poor working conditions…pay is one of the issues certainly.”

I get messages from nurses pretty much every day, telling me they're the only registered nurse on for a ward for 32 patients with maybe a nursing associate and some support workers, or very commonly, they have 15 patients in an acute medical or surgical setting. All the evidence tells us that that's unsafe.”

“The voice of nursing is the voice of the vulnerable, it’s the voice of patients. It is the voice of social justice. And without that voice, I really would fear what would happen to society in the future, particularly the people in society that can't speak for themselves.”

 

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis and PNC committee member Carolyn Middleton. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters 

 

Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Alex Rees. Producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: 'Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN. 

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The nursing profession has a long history of activism and of advocating for change. This episode of Nursing Matters hears from Professor Dame Anne Marie Rafferty, past RCN President, Professor of Nursing Policy and noted historian. Anne Marie introduces her top nursing heroines, makes the case for industrial action to effect positive change and discusses the links between pay and patient safety.

“Nurses are absolutely crucial in driving access to care, you know, quality and patient outcomes…you can't run a system on goodwill everlastingly.”

“There are times when you have to respond. You just feel in your heart as well as your head. That it's a kind of make-or-break moment. And we've all got to pull together and move forward in lockstep with each other.”

‘’It's not just a battle for patient safety. It's not just a battle for staffing levels. It's also a battle for the survival and the sustainability of the profession’’.

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters

Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Alex Rees. Producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: 'Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN.

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As the RCN prepares to ballot members on industrial strike action, we talk to one nurse from Northern Ireland who knows exactly how it feels to join a picket line. 

In 2019, Edna Grant took part in the first ever strike by RCN members which resulted in pay parity and a commitment to safe staffing legislation for the nursing profession in Northern Ireland. 

Edna shares how she made the decision to go on strike, how derogation worked and how patient safety remained paramount. She also offers insight into how she feels now, with industrial action once again on the horizon.   

“I think what we learned was, in order to bring about change, we have to be that voice, and we have to be united. There is strength in numbers, we know that.”   

“We had a plan, we could prioritise our patients, we could ensure that there was somebody out there while bringing the rest of the girls to the picket line, which is where they wanted to be and what they had voted to do.” 

“There was just a constant flow of food or warm drinks of people, cars driving past…people stopping and coming out to speak to us or tooting the horn on the way past, it was absolutely unbelievable. To see the amount of support that the public gave us on the picket lines... they knew what we were trying to do was to benefit them." 

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis and PNC committee members. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters 

Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Alex Rees. Producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: 'Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com.

Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN. 

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With the announcement of the NHS pay awards, we’re looking at the state of pay in nursing. Are UK governments doing enough to recruit and retain the nursing staff our profession, and most importantly our patients, really need?  

And just how likely is it that nurses will take industrial action? Special guests

Ben Zaranko, senior research economist from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and Denise Kelly,

Chair of the RCN Trade Union Committee join us to talk pay, safe staffing, and strike action. 

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis and PNC committee member Paul Trevatt. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters 

·        

Fair pay for nursing is about creating a society where nursing is truly valued by paying them a salary that reflects their

level of education, training and skills.’’  – Denise Kelly 

·        

"Arguments about the appropriate level of pay should be framed in terms of these issues about recruitment and retention,

and making sure that we do have the right level of nurses and other NHS and public sector workers in the right places at the right time to provide the services that we all want to see.’’

Ben Zaranko 

·        

‘’We need to make nursing the profession of choice that's comparable with other graduate professions.’’ –

Denise Kelly 

·        

"Providing funding for the NHS might be fairly low down on the (new prime minister’s) shopping list….that will be a political

choice." - Ben Zaranko 

·        

 

Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Alex Rees. Producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: 'Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN. 

 

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The UK relies heavily on recruiting overseas nurses to join the workforce, at a time when we have an urgent need to increase our own domestic supply.

In the context of a global shortage of nurses, how should we manage international recruitment, and how can we improve the support given to international nurses when they arrive in the UK? Special guests Felicia Kwaku OBE and Charlotte Collings join us to explore ethical recruitment, the experiences of overseas nurses, and how we can learn from diaspora nursing communities.

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis and PNC committee member Tim Grace. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters

“We talk about ethical recruitment; what about ethical practice when those nurses and midwives are here in the United Kingdom?”- Felicia Kwaku

“I think it's important that in this country, we make sure that there's really robust domestic training, and that the pay is right.”- Felicia Kwaku

“We should broaden our search because by including other countries that are not red list countries in this search for sustainable, we will have much richer diversity and experience.” - Charlotte Collings

“I've seen so many international nurses say to me, you know, why am I being paid at the bottom of band five? And I've never had an answer for that.” - Charlotte Collings

 

Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: 'Snappy’  by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN.

 

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Nurses are leaders, innovators and creators. As we mark International Nurses’ Day, we’re celebrating the profession, and exploring the diversity of nursing roles today. Special guests and RCN award-winners, HMP Cardiff’s Kirsty John and founder and director of British Sikh Nurses Rohit Sagoo, join us to explore the theme of this year’s Nurses’ Day – ‘the Best of Nursing’.

Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis and PNC member Professor Alison Leary. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters

“It’s such a rewarding career, to be able to offer some of the most vulnerable in society that treatment and that care.” - Kirsty John

“I think personally cultural awareness should be embedded in all academic courses in nursing education.” - Rohit Sagoo

“Nursing is social justice.” - Alison Leary

Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Alex Rees. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: ‘Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN.

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This month the Royal College of Nursing has rejoined the International Council of Nurses, the global organisation which represents more than 27 million nurses around the world. Why did we leave? Why did RCN members vote to rejoin? And what role should we play in a global profession transformed by COVID and by conflict?

This week’s guests are Professor Daniel Kelly, the RCN Chair of Nursing at Cardiff University and member of the RCN’s International Committee and Jeni Watts, one of the coordinators of ‘We Are Global Nurses’, which campaigned to bring the RCN back into membership of the ICN.

Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on the podcast. Tweet us @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters 

“One of the reasons that people voted ‘yes’ wasn’t just about what they can get out of membership…it’s also about what we can give to the international community.” – Jeni Watts

“I think we need to use those links with WHO and other influential organisations...if joining ICN gives us a stronger voice, then so be it, I’m all for that.” – Danny Kelly

“If we can speak out on behalf of nurses on these important issues like climate change, we’re speaking for every nurse…but it’s also doing it for every person…nursing is such a powerful profession.” – Jeni Watts 

“If you can have a global strategy, a global approach, you can eliminate certain conditions. For me it’s about ICN being a focus for that kind of work.” – Danny Kelly

Presented by Rachel Hollis and Alison Leary. Music: ‘Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Audio production by Alex Rees. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN. 

https://www.rcn.org.uk

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To mark National Cancer CNS Day, we’re looking at the critical role of the Clinical Nurse Specialists in cancer care. What is the experience of cancer across the age spectrum? And what should be in the government’s next 10-year cancer plan? Special guests Nikki Morris and Helen Pearson join us to explore the challenges facing the nursing workforce in cancer care. #NationalCancerCNSDay

 Nursing Matters this week is presented by PNC chair Rachel Hollis and guest co-host Paul Trevatt. Tell us what YOU want us to discuss on future podcasts by tweeting @theRCN with the tag #NursingMatters

‘The cancer CNS is central to ensuring the best care for patients.’ Nikki Morris 

‘The role encompasses decision making, sharing of specialist knowledge, coordination of care and acting as an agent of transformation and innovation.’ Paul Trevatt

‘Why is the specialist nurse role constantly under scrutiny? This is not the case for medics and other health professionals.’ Helen Pearson



Presented by Rachel Hollis. Audio production by Alex Rees. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: ‘Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN.

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