Nursing Standard Podcast

When sepsis nurse Yvonne Young’s son experienced pain in his knee and groin, she told herself there must be another explanation. It couldn’t be sepsis, could it?

The signs were atypical. But Yvonne, assistant director of nursing for sepsis at UL Hospitals Group in Ireland, listened to the nagging doubt in her head and took her son to the emergency department.

Her instincts were correct – her son ended up staying in hospital for ten days as he recovered from sepsis, and remained on antimicrobials for three months.

On the latest Nursing Standard podcast episode, Yvonne and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust lead sepsis nurse Clare Hird discuss atypical sepsis presentations with Nursing Standard features editor Alistair Mason.

They talk about how sepsis can present in vulnerable patient groups, and some cohorts in which it can easily be missed, including older patients and individuals with learning disabilities.

And Yvonne shares what she learned from the ‘terrifying’ experience of having her 10-year-old son hospitalised with the condition.

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Whatever gripes nurses may have about modern uniforms, they reflect that they at least have it better than previous generations. Nurses at trusts which take on the new national uniform in England will be wearing a smart scrub or dress in a lightweight fabric. In this Nursing Standard podcast we get an overview of the history of the nursing uniform from the 1860s to the modern day and how it is linked to the nursing identity.

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‘Everybody’s going to get pain at some point in their lives. It’s something we’re all going to experience.’ And that’s why it is vital that all nurses have a firm grasp of essential pain management (EPM), according to RCN Pain and Palliative Care Forum chair Martin Galligan.

In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, guest host Martin – who is also a lecturer practitioner at the Royal Marsden School – discusses what EPM is and how nurses can use it to provide holistic treatment for patients who are experiencing pain.

Then, along with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust pain management nurse consultant Karin Cannons and Birmingham Children’s Hospital nurse consultant Rachel Desai, he looks at how it can be used in practice.

Martin, Karin and Rachel use the RAT structure of recognise, assess and treat to explore some real-world examples of pain management.

How would you apply the RAT structure to a 51-year-old man with a two-year history of lower back pain who presents with increased pain and trouble walking after a recent fall? Or a 12-year-old girl who presents with abdominal pain which has been ongoing for a few days, but suddenly worsened the previous night?

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The ‘glacial pace’ of fitness to practise (FtP) investigations into nursing staff breached human rights, says the review team that examined the running of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Following the publication of their damning report into the internal culture at the NMC, project manager Matt Baker from specialist consultancy Rise Associates spoke to senior reporter Alison Stacey for the latest Nursing Standard podcast episode about the most worrying and shocking aspects of their findings.

But Mr Baker praised the NMC for opening its doors for the investigation to be carried out, and  said the regulator had accepted the review’s recommendations, including a commitment to reaching much swifter decisions in FtP cases, getting the process right and reducing the backlog.

‘This has to be a watershed moment for them,’ he said.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Ahead of the general election on 4 July, Nursing Standard met with cancer nurse and parliamentary undersecretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Maria Caulfield to talk to her about what nurses can expect if the Conservatives hold on to power next month.

Still working part time as a nurse, the MP for Lewes spoke to us to discuss the Conservative Party’s priorities for the NHS and the nursing workforce, including whether she agrees that England’s emergency departments are in crisis.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Nursing and other staff cannot continue to be ‘emotionally blackmailed’ into keeping the NHS going, the Nursing Standard podcast hears.

In an interview on the latest episode, shadow health and social care secretary Wes Streeting speaks about how NHS staff goodwill is now exhausted.

Mr Streeting tells senior news reporter Alison Stacey that action on pay and working conditions must happen to restore professional pride in nursing.

He also talks about his own experience of receiving treatment for kidney cancer, saying the care he received was fantastic, as were NHS staff, but there were too few of them.

The episode is an extract of a longer interview with Nursing Standard ahead of the UK going to the polls in the general election on 4 July.

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Do you have a job interview coming up and it’s making you feel increasingly anxious?

If the thought of showcasing your talents to an interview panel is making your stress levels go through the roof, don’t worry, you are not alone.

The key to success is preparation – prepare well and you are giving yourself the best chance to show the interviewers that you are the ideal candidate for the job.

In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, hosted by RCNi career development editor Clare Lomas, independent careers coach Dave Cordle offers advice on what to do before, during and after your interview.

Using the STAR technique to answer questions

Should you go for an informal visit? Practise your answers out loud? How can you use the STAR technique – situation, task, actions and results – to answer questions? And how important is asking for feedback?

He advises on all this and more, with examples of how to answer some common interview questions, including the classic icebreaker ‘tell us about yourself’.

If you want to hear more from Mr Cordle, visit an RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair, where he is a regular speaker. You can also look at the RCN’s nursing careers resource, which has information, advice and support, including free coaching sessions for RCN members.

Note: This is a recording from a panel discussion at an RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair in Manchester.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast 

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Our podcast guest explains the benefits of the NHS pension, why it is such good value for nurses, and the implications of recent changes to the scheme.

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What is the difference between being a nurse in Scotland and the rest of the UK? 

This latest episode explores the differences on pay, terms and conditions for nurses working in NHS Scotland and beyond. 

Our guest, RCN Scotland’s director Colin Poolman, talks to podcast host and senior reporter Alison Stacey about how negotiations between the RCN and the Scottish government secured better pay, a shorter working week and protected learning time. 

Band 5 nurses will also be able to self-apply to have their role reviewed to check their job and skills match their pay band. 

Mr Poolman explains why RCN Scotland are able to directly negotiate with the government on pay, gives advice to all nurses on the band 5 job review, and discusses what the new safe-staffing legislation means for healthcare staff across the country.

We also hear from Mr Poolman on what the election could mean for the pay claim, and whether he envisages Scottish nurses taking to the picket lines in 2024. 

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Tips on defusing conflicts, responding to aggression and the importance of staying calm

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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