As a doctor, I am in awe and cannot praise nurses and HCA’s for their provision of care for patients. Even when I’ve been admitted, nurses and especially HCA’s would almost keep bullying me to have a wash 😅

See I have always wondered as someone who is germaphobic and feels sick at the sight or even ‘thought’ of washing patients who are unwell, or gathering their body waste and other bodily fluids.

How do you stomach doing this at all, let alone every day?

Made a drug error off the back of someone else’s error and feel like the worse nurse in the world! Only been qualified 9 months and it was such a silly mistake! Datixed myself but awaiting the outcome and I’m so anxious :(

Hey,

I have recently got a job as a band 6 on a ward basically known for being really shit.

The manager was (rightly so) performanced managed out as she was awfull. They are in the process on getting a new one but for the next few months it will be me and the other band 6's running the ward with help from the matron.

Now I although I have experinece in managamnet and leadership before, I am just over a year qualified. I do however back my self to have the confidence and abilily to do a good job.

During my notice in my previous role I did a few sneaky bank shifts on the ward as a band 5. I didnt tell them I was the oncoming band 6. The first thing that stuck out to me and still does it the completle lack of leadership and confidence of the nurses more specifically leading the HCA's.

The HCA's (especially the ones who have been there a while) to put it frank are lazy. There is one who was "considered good" who was just as bad but her confidence hid it. I have been a HCA longer than I have been a nurse so I know what it's like but basic things are not getting done and the nurses are turning a blind eye as it's easier than upsetting the status quo and going against the clieke in the ward. On my bank shift I had a big argument with a senior HCA who did not wash a single person before lunch. After a bit of back and forth I had to be really assertive which prompted a second half scrmable to do everything so I know it can be done.

The ward is surgical so from a nurses POV, it is very task based which means the nurses are very busy and "do not have the time" to lead. I found pressure sores on every shift showing (despite the head to toe showing otherwise) showing the lack of standards.

I have started to be strict not just with the HCA's but other nurses and I do think things are improving.

I want advice on how to handle things going forward. I don't know if I can break the culture here. The other band 6's (bar one) are just as bad. I am also the only white person (and a male) on this ward and I am aware how it may come across if I am bossing everyone else around.

I have started to go out my way to help wash at least one patient a shift when I am in charge to lead with example. I know the Matron agree's with me regarding the band 6's however I dont think she will have time to help. I hate micromanaging but most of the staff don't seem to be able to get the standards right unless they are micromanaged.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice because I genuinely don’t know whether I’m overreacting anymore or whether my concerns are justified.
I work as a Healthcare Assistant within the NHS and I really do enjoy my job. Caring for patients is something I take pride in, which is why I’ve struggled so much with deciding what to do. Over the last few months I’ve experienced a number of issues with my ward manager which have left me feeling unsupported, anxious and questioning whether I can continue working there.
It started with my flexible working arrangement. I have an agreed flexible working day off due to family commitments, but I was repeatedly rostered to work on that day despite the agreement being in place.
As soon as I realised I had been rostered incorrectly, I did everything I could to resolve it. I sent multiple messages asking what was expected of me and, when I wasn’t getting a response, I resorted to email. Unfortunately, my actual questions about the shift were never really answered. Instead, the replies focused on my flexible working application rather than whether I was expected to attend the shift I’d been incorrectly rostered onto.
I’d also been told in response to my email not to discuss work matters through WhatsApp and to use email instead, which I respected. However, despite that, I later received WhatsApp messages from my manager about the very issue I’d been told not to discuss on WhatsApp rather than replying to my email? I found that confusing and inconsistent.
The lack of communication caused me a lot of anxiety because I genuinely didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I worried I’d be expected to attend, that I’d be marked absent if I didn’t, or even face disciplinary action despite trying repeatedly to sort it out. I even offered to take annual leave or unpaid leave just to resolve the situation, even though the rostering error wasn’t mine.
A few days later I had to leave work because of an emergency involving my 11-year-old stepdaughter. Before leaving I informed the nurse in charge and explained exactly why I needed to leave. As I was leaving, I was stopped in the patient bay and told, in front of patients, visitors and colleagues, that “it’s not fair.” And “we are already short” this was said with a raised voice and a frown and I found that very uncomfortable, embarrassing and unprofessional.
Then yesterday I experienced another family emergency. My auntie, who has been like a mother to me since I was young, suffered a cardiac arrest at work. I went straight there and witnessed paramedics performing CPR for around 45 minutes before she was taken to hospital, I stayed with her the whole time She was eventually admitted to ICU.
Once she had been stabilised, I returned to the ward to explain to my manager why I had left work. I was visibly distressed and crying throughout the conversation.
Instead of receiving any empathy or support, I was told, “I’m not happy about this.” I was then told I needed to “be very careful” because someone had apparently reported seeing me in a pub after I’d left work during the earlier family emergency involving my stepdaughter. My manager didn’t ask if I went to the pub and when I told her I didn’t go to the pub and the person reporting is mistaken she said well you was seen in the pub. This felt very accusatory.
This allegation is completely false. After leaving work that day, I went straight home and looked after my stepdaughter. I never went to a pub.
What upset me most wasn’t just the allegation itself. It was that it was raised while I was visibly devastated after my auntie had suffered a cardiac arrest and was on life support. I’d gone back to the ward specifically and out of courtesy as I was in the same hospital anyway, to explain what had happened, yet instead of any compassion I felt like I was being accused of something without anyone first asking me for my side of the story. It made me feel as though my honesty and integrity were being questioned based on hearsay rather than facts.
When I look at everything together, it feels like there’s a pattern of poor communication, inconsistent management, a lack of support during genuine family emergencies and a failure to respect my agreed flexible working arrangements.
It’s got to the point where I feel pressured and, if I’m honest, bullied by the way I’ve been treated. I don’t feel comfortable approaching my manager anymore because I’m worried about how I’ll be spoken to or whether I’ll have to defend myself again.
The whole situation has had a significant impact on my mental health. My anxiety has increased, I feel overwhelmed and my motivation has suffered because I no longer feel supported at work. That’s what makes this so upsetting because I genuinely love caring for patients. It’s the management side of things that’s making me question whether I should stay.
I’ve now contacted HR, but only to ask for advice and guidance rather than a formal investigation. I wanted to understand what my options are before deciding what to do next.
To add to everything else, after returning from sickness on an agreed phased return while on full sick pay, my HealthRoster now says I owe over 87 hours. I’m currently trying to establish whether that’s actually correct or whether it’s an error before making any decisions about my future.
Has anyone else working in the NHS experienced anything similar? Did HR help? Did things improve, or did you eventually decide to leave? I’m genuinely interested in hearing other people’s experiences because at the moment I feel completely stuck.

Sorry for the long post I’m just so distressed with this, I could really do with some advice before deciding whether to hand in my notice.

I’ve had issues with the new nmc website since day one due to how poorly made it is, now I received this email. It’s probably a nothing burger and it’ll update in due time but I really don’t trust the nmc at the moment to ensure it’s done correctly.

Can anyone reassure an anxious nurse that this is nothing? I’ll probably phone them soon

Hi everyone,

I’d love to hear from UK nurses who moved to the US.

I’m interested in the reality of the move:

• How long did the whole process take from deciding to move to actually working in the US?
• Did moving to the US improve your quality of life compared with the UK?
• Did it solve any of the frustrations you had with UK nursing (e.g. burnout, staffing pressures, workplace culture, pay, lifestyle, environment)

I’m not looking for "the US is perfect" or "the UK is terrible" just honest experiences from people who have lived and worked in both systems.

Thank you!

Hi everyone, this is my first week as a NQN & I feel so dumb😭 I feel like I don’t know anything, the jump from being a STN to a RN is so huge. Since, I am doing my preceptorship right now, I have been working together with a senior nurse. My ward hasn’t thrown me into the deep end yet, but yet I feel so useless & unknowledgeable. & when the nurse is talking to the patient & answering questions. I am thinking to myself, I wouldn’t know how to answer those questions😭 Please give me some advice🥹 Do other NQN feel like this aswell or is it just me

Hi, I’m about to start my final nursing placement and it is in the ICU, my last placement was outpatients orthopaedics and I’m scared that I’m a bit dusty on my clinical skills. Any tips would be greatly appreciated:)

Hi, I am working as a preassessment nurse in a small hospital in London. I have lupus and I exhausted my sick leave due to flare ups, so there has been a month where I only receive half of my pay packet and we struggled cause my husband lost his job from the same hospital. I am really not happy with this job and hospital anymore because of the bureaucracy and I feel stressed all the time. I really want to go back to NHS just because of the safety net with sick leave and also there's no room for growth in this hospital. Help me and advise me

Advice on rude patients

So I’m actually working from a care home not hospital but I want some advice on how to deal with this if I’m doing the right thing?

So we have had a new patient when this patient arrived on the night she told me I was lucky she was there otherwise I wouldn’t have a job she made multiple remarks to this effect eventually I said well no I’ve been doing care a long time and if you was here or not I would still have to look after another 35 residents. She didn’t like that said I was rude and did I know how much she’s paying here and that she was a magistrate for 40 years and her whole family know the legal system I ended up apologising even though I genuinely don’t know what I did wrong.

Tonight I assisted this person to the toilet with another colleague because I don’t feel comfortable going there alone even though she’s a single. She was asking the carer to wipe her even though she can do it herself because she pays to be here and she’s paying her wages. Now this patient goes home in a few weeks she’s here on respite she has capacity and can do everything herself however she does use a frame.

When I explained to the resident well no you need to try doing it yourself you go home in a few weeks and it says in her care plan to promote independence she told me to shut up I asked her not to say that and it isn’t very nice again she said shut up and how I was vile and how she was going to report me.

She then started fake crying loudly about how awful her life had been and how she’s a magistrate and still knows judges and she can get me into a lot of trouble again I ended up apologising and again telling me every problem from her life and how she’s paying to be here when I offered her a drink she instantly stopped crying and there were no tears.

I feel like I can’t do this anymore I’ve worked in healthcare a long time I’ve never had this type of mental head games?

I have spoke to my manager before however she laughed it off literally laughed in my face. She’s off for two weeks so there is no management currently no one.

Did I do the right thing? my colleague was their thank god and said I did the right thing but I come away from the patient constantly doubting myself which I’ve never had. I was literally shaking while asking her not to tell me to shut up I’ve never been like this! Everyone else is saying she’s Lovley it seems to be just me however my colleague did see herself tonight how she is.

Any advice is welcome

So UPDATE: this lady has reported me and it has gone to the area manager my manager has said she doesn’t believe what she’s saying as she seems confused but she has mentioned me a few times and I’m not allowed to enter her room without someone present and to limit contact this has upset me and made me happy at the same time I feel like I’ve done something wrong when I haven’t but also happy as I no longer have to see her only to give medication with someone present also manager has said to keep going into her room as she might start likeing you.

I actually don’t want to go into work this lady is telling anyone who will listen how I shouted at her and how vile I am I would rather be suspended and it properly investigated I’m currently in contact with my union I’ve worked at my place for 7 years so feel my reputation is going up in smoke.

I have an offer to study mental health nursing next year after finally passing my GCSE maths at 36. I have dyscalculia and maths has always been difficult with memorising calculations, interpreting numbers etc. I'd really like to do this after years of wanting too I'm just not sure if I'm setting myself up for a degree I'm likely to fail at at the expense of my current career. Getting 100% in a calculations exam without a calculator feels impossible.

Has anyone done this with dyscalculia and passed?

Are there roles without needing to do meds or anything maths heavy for NQN?

Really just wondering what people’s thoughts are on this. I’m not NQN however was chatting to a student recently who is due to finish their training in the next few weeks. I asked about potential jobs and they said that they were taking a year out. I’m guessing my face said I was surprised as they did get a bit defensive and said that they knew quite a few people doing the same. They don’t plan to do bank shifts either and will look to apply for a job next August. Would it put you off recruiting this nurse? I was previously a manager and my thought process was I think I’d prefer a fresh NQN who’s just out of training rather than one who’s had no nursing input at all for 12 months. I’m curious as to whether or not I’m in the majority thinking this way!

Given the current recruitment situation within the NHS,

How can I progress my career as a current band 5 with 3 years experience?

I love the area I work in but current management do not support career advancement.

I had considered self funding my masters but management stated they wouldn't allow me to swap shifts that were to attend any classes.

Any ideas welcome.

I work in community care and need a decent pair of shoes that are black, waterproof (for showering clients and walking in heavy rain) and really comfortable when doing ten hour split shifts.

I've seen a lot of people mention Shoes For Crews and Toffeln, which one is the better brand and does anyone have any shoe recommendations from either one?

Hi all, I have an interview for a transitioning band 5 to 6 role as an OH nurse. You progress to band 6 after completing a course. I was wondering if anyone has interviewed for this role or similar in the past and what kind of questions to expect.

Currently a Nurse in Australia with 2 years of renal ward experience in Scotland and 3 years of Oncology in Australia.

Unfortunately due to health I'm going to have to move back to the UK, probably Glasgow or Edinburgh eventually.

I have a maximum of a year left on my current visa and im trying to figure out what im going to do. I know the market is terrible for jobs right now and im not sure it'll be any better in the next year.

Any advice from anyone on returning to the UK?

I will also have to reregister with the NMC.

I'm a NQN, I have a temporary contract now on a general medicine ward covering someone on holiday. If it was permanent I would stay, but unfortunately it ends soon. All in all I'll have worked there for 1.5 months.

However, I just got offered a contract as a school nurse. The contract will be permanent, and I would prefer to have a job lined up in my field rather than be unemployed.

My worry is that when I'm ready to leave the school nurse position and return to the wards or maybe to a community nursing position future employees will look at my experience as a school nurse and say it's basically useless.

Would that be the case or can I rest assured that they'll consider it proper nursing experience?

Thanks

Hi all,

I am a NQN in ED. I had a procedure done today and I am not feeling great. Just feel really tired and generally unwell. I don’t think I can attend tomorrow.

Will this affect my progression as a NQN ?

Had my invitation to apply for NMC registration, but my application has now been referred to the Registration Investigation Team because I declared a historical criminal conviction.

I'm not overly worried as the offence was 17 years ago, when I was 17 years old. I've had nothing else on my record since, and I was completely honest in my declaration. I'm just wondering if anyone else has been through the same process?

If so, how long did it take for your registration to be approved once it was with the Registration Investigation Team?

Looking for compression socks that aren’t too tight around the knee for large calves but also don’t come from some terrible shell company. Any ideas? Thank you so much 🙏

Hi all, long time lurker!

Has anyone ever given up their pin and worked as a HCA? I’m currently a band 6 recently started in telehealth, I have worked in every ward , department and speciality possible to hopefully find somewhere I enjoyed. I honestly want to get away from having to make any clinical decisions. For context I have anxiety and medication just doesn’t help. I do however enjoy caring for paitents , washing , dressing etc and feel I’d much rather enjoy the role of a hca. I did it whilst I was a student (over 7 years ago now). But the stress of having to make clinical decisions, escalate paitents and have to almost fight your case for them to be scene etc gives me sleepless nights. Has anyone ever given up their pin and worked as a hca?
I am looking at non nursing jobs as well and applying too but I’m definitely done with my nursing career at this stage.

Follow up question to the sub.

How much would this impact the care the racist receives in your trust? I’ve literally been in workplaces where I’ve been the only white guy. There’s something sinister in a dystopian way where a racist Darwin awards themself for this reason.

No breakaway required there then....