Nursing Standard Podcast

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

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

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

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

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 questionsShould 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 

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

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

Tips on defusing conflicts, responding to aggression and the importance of staying calmFor more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast