From diverse first jobs for newly registered nurses to a progressive career pathway, opportunities in social care nursing is the topic discussed in the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast.

Chief nurse for adult social care in England Deborah Sturdy counters common misconceptions about the sector and talks about how these nursing roles offer autonomy to improve and make an immediate difference to people’s lives.

Professor Sturdy is speaking at Nursing Live, RCNi’s free event for nursing staff and students at the NEC, Birmingham on 5-6 November.

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Three ex-leaders at Lucy Letby’s former trust were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter this week – a story we examine in this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast.

Another former nurse and convicted murderer, Colin Campbell, came under the spotlight when he lost a legal appeal to overturn his convictions recently.

RCNi content editor Alistair Mason and senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi discuss these stories and many others in this podcast episode.

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The mass rollout of weight-loss drugs on the NHS in England began this week as GPs became able to prescribe the drugs for the first time. Some 220,000 people with the ‘greatest need’ are expected to receive Mounjaro, the commercial name for tirzepatide, over the next three years.

In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Lisa Rickers – a registered nurse with more than 15 years’ experience as a bariatric specialist in the NHS – explains that the health benefits of these drugs extend far beyond shedding excess pounds. She also discusses their potential risks, and offers advice for nurses when caring for patients who are using them.

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New principles for advanced practice, and nursing staff recognised in the King’s birthday honours, are among the headlines grabbing nurses’ attention this week.

In our latest podcast episode, RCNi content editor Alistair Mason and senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi bring you fresh insights on issues affecting nursing staff. These also include harrowing accounts of nurses experiencing suicidal ideation due to intense workplace pressures, and an RCN Foundation survey that explores the domestic abuse experiences and support needs of nursing and midwifery staff in the UK.

They also highlight tributes paid to an Indian nurse who was killed in the recent Air India plane crash.

RCNi subscriber content discussed includes six ways employers can help reduce the risk of burnout in nursing staff.

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Nursing leadership skills are in the spotlight in this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast. RCN Nursing Leadership Academy associate director Emily McWhirter discusses essential leadership skills, from active listening to conflict resolution and emotional intelligence.

She also offers tips too on how to develop these. This podcast was recorded at the RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair Birmingham on 3 March 2025.

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NHS pay, changes to funding for advanced practice programmes and a petition to recognise nursing associates in their own right – these are some of the issues getting nurses talking this week.

In our latest podcast, RCNi content editor Alistair Mason and senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi bring you fresh insights on the nursing headlines grabbing our attention.

They also discuss RCNi subscriber content, including next steps and key dates for the 2025-26 pay award and an article on continuing professional development (CPD) using the national Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) for England.

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Sepsis treatment continues to evolve. In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast Suman Shrestha, a consultant nurse in critical care at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, looks at best practice guidelines and discusses why traditional thinking on various aspects of care, including the use of antibiotics, is changing.

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Pay, legislation on the use of the nurse title and a fitness to practise case feature in the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast.

Content editor Alistair Mason and senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi discuss the issues getting nurses talking, including changes to pensions and how it will soon be a criminal offence for someone to claim they are a nurse if they are unregistered.

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What can you do to support yourself when you’re feeling totally overwhelmed? And, crucially, how can your manager help you cope with stress via their leadership style? In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Caron Sanders-Crook – a Queen’s Nurse, coach and nurse educator – argues for a trauma-informed approach to leadership. She discusses how leaders who understand their own nervous system responses can model stability for their teams, and demonstrates two exercises that nurses can use to help prevent emotional exhaustion [go to 12:51 in the episode].

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In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, RCN general secretary Nicola Ranger discusses the latest on NHS pay, recruitment freezes and cuts to bank pay with RCNi senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi. She also talks about the hot topics set to be discussed at the college’s annual congress from 12-15 May, and shares what she loves about RCNi’s Nursing Live event.

Follow the Nursing Standard podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or wherever you get your podcasts.

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