Nursing Standard Podcast

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.

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

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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.

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

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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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The incredible work of a nurse that inspired a hit charity song and global humanitarian effort to feed starving people in Africa is remembered in our latest podcast episode.

On the 40th anniversary of the formation of charity superstar group Band Aid, Nursing Standard talks to the nurse who helped prompt the cultural phenomenon led by musician Sir Bob Geldof.

Dr Dame Claire Bertschinger was working for the Red Cross in Ethiopia in 1984 when she was featured in a BBC news broadcast about the devastating drought.

Journalist Michael Buerk described the biblical famine he was witnessing as the ‘closest thing to hell on earth’.

Thousands of people had already died and seven million were threatened with starvation in the war-torn country.

Dame Claire tells journalist Erin Dean how she was running a feeding station where hundreds of women brought their starving babies each day.

‘There were just thousands of people starving, hungry, wearing tatters, not even clothes, just rags,’ she says. ‘There was insufficient food for everyone. It was the most horrendous thing you can imagine.’

There were few resources available, and Dame Claire had to choose who would be fed and saved. One day she went out to select the 60 or 70 children they had food for that day – and found there were more than a thousand waiting outside.

The BBC footage prompted musicians to launch Band Aid, and the recording of charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? It featured some of the most famous musical stars in the world at that time, including George Michael, Bono, Boy George and Sting.

The song was also performed at a charity concert, Live Aid, on 13 July 1985, which raised more than £100 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Dame Claire describes how she had little idea what was going on with the fundraising at the time – but it did have a rapid impact on the care available in Ethiopia.

She reflects in the podcast on her experiences in Ethiopia and other countries, the impact it has had on her, the legacy of Band Aid, and what she has learned through her varied career.

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

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Public speaking strikes fear into the hearts of many – it’s regularly reported as one of the most common phobias – but is an increasingly important skill for many nurses.

The good news is that there are many ways to become a better and more confident public speaker, even in the face of anxiety.

This latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast explores how nursing staff can hone their speaking skills. It considers the importance of preparation – from understanding an audience, to getting slides right, to practising words out loud in advance – as well as sharing tips for the day itself.

Guest Paul Trevatt qualified as a nurse in 1993 and has over 20 years’ experience of presenting at conferences and events. He tells health journalist and podcast host Claire Read that nurses should ultimately see speaking opportunities as a chance to improve patient care. Keeping that in mind can, he says, help make any nerves feel worthwhile enduring.

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

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Building confidence in the workplace is vital for nursing staff, both for patient safety and nurses’ own career development. 

Being confident can help in areas such as raising concerns and overcoming imposter syndrome, as well as in job interviews and applying for opportunities, such as a secondment. 

But what steps can nurses take to build their confidence in the workplace? 

This episode looks at what we mean by confidence, how communicating with confidence can benefit your patients and your career, and how being confident can make you a better leader. 

Guests RCN Nurse of the Year 2023 and head of nursing primary care at East London NHS Foundation Trust Julie Roye and lead nurse for safe staffing at University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust Pippa Clark speak about why a good organisational culture is vital to enable nurses to build their confidence, the importance of reflection in nursing and how to handle negative feedback. 

Celebrating your successes as a nurse is also vital in building confidence, they tell RCNi career development editor and podcast host Clare Lomas, and never forget – there is no such thing as a silly question.

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

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Nurses and other healthcare staff face constant workplace pressures, especially during the colder months when respiratory conditions are more prevalent. 

Staff shortages and industrial action have also impacted services.

But what support is there for nursing staff and managers to navigate challenging times?

This episode examines how the NMC code acts as a professional anchor, helping nurses manage risks and escalate concerns. It provides a framework for decision-making and professional accountability. 

Guests NMC executive director of professional practice Sam Foster and assistant director, national and regional outreach Sam Donohue speak about how the code should never be used in a negative way, but rather as a tool to support nurses and promote patient safety. 

Managers also have a role in supporting staff and making tough decisions to mitigate risks and keep people safe, they tell Nursing Standard editor and podcast host Flavia Munn.

Our guests also discuss the importance of tackling incivility at work and Ms Donohue shares the findings of her research into joy in nursing.

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

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