Nursing Standard Podcast

Is it possible for nurses to truly excel in a system that seems stacked against them? In this week’s podcast episode, Clare Cable and Kate Greenstock – authors of Flourish: Thriving as nurses against the odds: a practical and emotional guide – discuss why and how they believe nurses’ careers can succeed, even in challenging circumstances. The pair also offer simple practical tips [from 29:13 minut...

Are traditional, so-called ‘nil by mouth’ practices damaging to patients? In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, University of Gloucestershire senior nursing lecturers Rachel Jefferies and Leigh Crossland discuss best practice in fasting – and why some nurses may be following outdated guidelines. They talk about the need for a person-centred approach to preoperative fasting, balancing nu...

What if there was an app on your phone where you could flag work issues directly to your manager on every shift? And then your manager acted to make changes? Nurses Olivia Crossing and Annie Taylor launched the Rate My Shift app to allow staff to give feedback to managers at the end of every shift via an emoji with a particular expression, capturing how they feel at the end of each working day. Af...

How can personal bereavement inform – and even inspire – your nursing practice?  Catherine McAllister’s journey into nursing began in a hospital room when her daughter Ellie died at the age of three. ‘I remember standing in the hospital watching all these healthcare professionals rush around, trying to do everything they could to save my daughter. I remember thinking that I couldn't do anythi...

How can you tell what a job advert is really asking of you? And what should you do if you don’t meet all the essential criteria in the person specification? RCN careers coach Julie Watkins and Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust lead nurse for safe staffing and workforce Charlotte Collings help listeners decode some common words and phrases that feature in adverts for nursing jobs. They also tal...

This week we  published a special investigation  into cuts to bank pay and shifts, which are costing some nursing staff hundreds of pounds a month in lost income. Joining us on the podcast this week are representatives from the RCN north west region Simon Browes and Paul O’Keefe, who talk to senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi about how bank cuts are affecting nursing staff and why. O...

Nursing offers so many different career paths, so how do you decide which one to take? University of Nottingham professor of critical inclusive leadership Stacy Johnson says leaning into what makes you unique is the right path to follow. In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Professor Johnson describes how her ‘quirky’ career led her to becoming the 83rd black female professor in...

Are there ways of making the revalidation process quicker and easier? Claire Picton – a nurse consultant, author and intuitive nurse coach – acknowledges that a lot of registrants, including herself, do not begin to think about revalidation criteria until towards the end of the three-year cycle. Ms Picton, a self-described ‘lastminute.com-type person’, has developed methods to make the revalidatio...

How can you change your communication style to build your confidence and present yourself as a leader? RADA Business  practitioner Jonny Lewis, who runs communication courses for the  Florence Nightingale Foundation ’s leadership scholarships, gives nurses some tips in the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast. Joining him is nurse Agi Pradeep, recent Florence Nightingale Founda...

Why was a national paediatric early warning system (PEWS) introduced in England and how can nurses use it to spot deterioration in babies, children and young people? In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Nursing Children and Young People editor Christine Walker unpicks PEWS in more detail. She is joined by West Midlands Children’s Network paediatric critical care lead educator Vic...

What is a ‘normal’ relationship with alcohol – and how do you know if yours needs addressing? In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Southmead Hospital’s lead nurse for addictions Sally Quigley discusses nurses’ relationship with alcohol – and the factors behind  evidence that suggests alcohol misuse might be higher among nurses than in the general population . She also discus...

Who can you learn the most from in your workplace – the good or ‘bad’ nursing leaders? Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust associate chief clinical information officer Amanda Jackson discusses why she believes all sorts of leaders – positive and negative – can be sources of inspiration in your career. In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Ms Jackson also discusses her own leaders...

A chief nurse who  took on her employer and won a landmark employment tribunal case  discusses the two-year battle to clear her name. In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Evonne Hunt talks to Nursing Standard senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi about how it feels to be back in her role at Medway NHS Foundation Trust. She also offers advice to nurses who might be in a...

Maintaining adequate hydration for patients, care home residents and other service users can be challenging – so what can nurses do to ensure those in their care do not become dehydrated? In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, NHS South West London regional hydration project manager and registered nurse Charlotte Trumper discusses how to identify and manage dehydration in hospital...

Nursing staff have seen two major announcements in the past week – a  3.3% pay award  for NHS nurses in England and Wales and  band 5 role reviews for all nurses in England . In this week’s episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, RCN general secretary Nicola Ranger talks all things pay, including her message to nursing staff who are calling for demonstrable action by the union on b...

A nurse-led female external catheter trial proved hugely successful at one trust by almost eradicating incontinence-related dermatitis on two wards. In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, continence nurse Elinor Howcroft discusses what inspired her to start the trial and the positive impact it had on staff and patients. Ms Howcroft also shares tips and insights into how nurses can...

What are the career opportunities in general practice and is it a good place for newly registered nurses to start out? In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board lead primary care nurse Frances Baverstock challenges some common misconceptions about working in general practice, and outlines the opportunities and challenges for nurses in this sector at a...

How do you decide when the time is right to step up from band 5 to band 6? For many nurses, the move to a band 6 role is seen as a natural step within a few years of registering, but it is not for everyone. Moving from band 5 to 6 may mean more money, but it could also mean less flexibility. The latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at the differences between a band 5 and a band 6 r...

Who is your unsung nursing hero of 2025, that person you work with who has your back and deserves recognition? In the final Nursing Standard podcast episode of 2025, previous guests including Queen’s Nurse Caron Sanders-Crook and RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Kirsty Cartin tell us who they think should be applauded for the work they have done over the past 12 months. From the nursing lecturer who...

Nurses’ distrust of senior management comes under the spotlight in this week’s episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, as nursing staff at one London trust  reported feeling suspicious of managers making ‘biased’ decisions  based on close relationships. RCNi content editor Alistair Mason and senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi also discuss a  medicines management error linked to...

The latest Nursing Standard podcast discusses an NHS trust’s decision to restrict bank shifts, news of a chief nurse being reinstated to her role following suspension, and free tea and coffee being scrapped for one trust’s staff, among other hot topics. For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you write a reflective account for revalidation – and how often should you reflect as a busy nursing professional? This episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at the reflective elements of the NMC’s revalidation requirements, which include writing five such accounts every three years. Our podcast guest, Queen’s University Belfast senior lecturer Barry Quinn, also argues that reflecti...

Working two full-time jobs: why would a nurse risk their registration? This week’s episode of the Nursing Standard podcast discusses the case of a nurse who was suspended after secretly working two full-time jobs. RCNi content editor Alistair Mason and senior journalist Shruti Sheth Trivedi also discuss the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s proposed registration fee rise, and the government’s recomm...

How can nurses help to counter the spread of health misinformation? Birmingham City University senior nursing lecturer Scott Colton believes nurses are in a unique position to help intervene with patients who may be getting poor quality information online and help them to make informed healthcare decisions. In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Mr Colton describes what he believes...

A proposed rise in the Nursing and Midwifery Council's annual registration fee is one of the main topics discussed in this week’s episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, as the nursing regulator approves plans to launch a public consultation on increasing it. A nurse’s £300 parking fine and clocks going back at the weekend are also discussed in the episode by RCNi content editor Alistair Mason an...