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Why you should read this article: • To reflect on the role of nursing leadership in supporting healthcare systems, nursing teams and high-quality patient care • To increase your understanding of relational leadership styles • To recognise the benefits and challenges of relational leadership in nursing. Leadership is an essential skill in nursing and has a fundamental role in ensuring high-quality patient care and the effective functioning of healthcare systems. Effective nursing leadership is vital to support nursing teams as they negotiate the challenges confronting the profession, such as ageing populations and the increased use of healthcare technology. This article discusses various relational leadership styles that can be used to promote nurses’ health and well-being and enhance productivity. The author also explores the benefits and challenges of implementing relational leadership in nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Everyone has the right to a healthy balance between their work and home life, and having autonomy over when and how you work can help strike that balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employee recognition and non-financial rewards can have significant positive effects on work performance – that is the conclusion reached repeatedly by researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your understanding of the principles and benefits of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) • To explore mindfulness, acceptance and values clarification as techniques for enhancing staff well-being • To consider incorporating ACT principles in everyday conversations with staff to reduce stress and burnout Healthcare organisations implement a range of staff well-being initiatives and increasingly focus on compassionate leadership. While formal interventions aimed at maintaining and enhancing staff well-being can be beneficial, they have practical limitations, such as staff turnover and challenges in meeting demand. Therefore, everyday conversations between nurses in leadership positions and their team members also have an important role in supporting staff well-being. One psychological model that nurse leaders may wish to use is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which involves techniques such as mindfulness, acceptance and values clarification. This article outlines the principles of ACT and explains how leaders can use these to guide well-being conversations with staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the importance of enhancing nurses' well-being in the workplace • To understand the work-related factors that can adversely affect nurses' well-being • To consider self-care practices that may be beneficial for you and your colleagues Nurses experience a range of challenges in their practice that can adversely affect their well-being, for example work-related stress and workforce issues. These challenges may have been intensified by various factors, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and shift working. This article considers the concept of well-being and explores nurses' well-being in the context of ongoing stressors and workforce issues. It also examines some of the effects of shift work on nurses' well-being and how these could be mitigated. The authors outline a range of self-care practices that nurses could engage in and consider how they may be supported in this by their line managers and healthcare organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mistakes are a normal part of life and nurses are human. That means that nurses, like everyone else, will have to cope with the consequences of making a mistake at some point in their career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative workplace culture is one of the top reasons nurses give for quitting the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does one colleague always seem to be allocated the best shifts, have their pick of the most desirable annual leave slots or have a less demanding workload than the rest of the team? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racism has no place in healthcare, the NHS insists. And yet we know it still exists there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the effects that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had on the care of people with dementia • To understand the importance of dementia awareness and education for nurses • To consider how nurses can promote person-centred dementia care in their practice In recent years, nurses have experienced increased workplace pressures in part due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which exacerbated challenges in the delivery of person-centred dementia care. This article examines how people with dementia were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as exploring the ongoing effects on nurses and the care they provide for people with dementia. The author discusses the importance of dementia awareness and education for nurses that supports them to promote the needs of people with the condition. The article also outlines how nurse leaders can promote person-centred care for people with dementia through reflection and clinical supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes how to make compassionate leadership a reality in the nursing profession and in the National Health Service (NHS) in Great Britain. It describes practices of compassionate leadership that include supporting staff in understanding the meaning of self-compassion, teaching emotional intelligence, showing visibility as a leader and looking after the people doing the looking after to help with retention and ensure that nurses feel empowered, confident and knowledgeable.

NHS nurses in England remain in dispute with the government after a majority of eligible RCN members rejected its pay offer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nursing associates only entered the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in 2019, they have already become an integral part of the nursing workforce, says Claire Whittle, head of trainee nursing associates at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morale among NHS staff has fallen over the past few years, with the most recent staff survey suggesting nearly a third of those working in the overstretched NHS are considering leaving their jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sometimes it can seem like the world is dominated by bad news – from the climate crisis to COVID-19 and devastating conflicts, television coverage, newspapers and social media may seem to bring only grim updates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even in a post-pandemic NHS littered with challenges, most would agree that the nurse-patient relationship is crucial to good nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long shifts, poor access to healthy food at work, and the constant temptation of chocolates and biscuits from patients and their families when you need a quick energy fix – is it any wonder that so many nurses struggle with their weight? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses issues facing nurses in the United Kingdom (UK), particularly on whether to remain in their profession or seek other endeavors. Also cited are the efforts by the National Health Service (NHS) to attract retired nurses back to practice and convince nurses to delay their retirements, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) data on the number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates who are eligible to practise in 2022.

When did you last say sorry? In a professional capacity, perhaps it was at the height of the pandemic when you could not allow a family member to be at the bedside of a loved one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When North Bristol NHS Trust's chief nursing officer Steve Hams posted a photograph on Twitter of tablets he had been prescribed, he was not expecting much of a response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses are being forced to eat in corridors, outside in the rain, in their cars and near toilets as they struggle to find somewhere to refuel at work, an exclusive Nursing Standard survey has found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the importance of nurses understanding research and applying research evidence in their clinical practice • To understand the motivations and barriers to engaging with research • To consider opportunities for increasing your engagement with research Nurses at every level can reflect on their active engagement with clinical research. This article aims to support nurses to understand how they can facilitate and lead research. It provides practical advice to support the integration of research evidence into care delivery and increase the opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research. This is important because patients can benefit from nurses who are knowledgeable, confident and supported in applying research evidence. Furthermore, nurses can support and inform patient choice through increased confidence and competence in engaging with research and implementing research findings. Organisational culture and leadership are also important elements in fostering environments where evidence and research are promoted throughout the nursing workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the view of the Trades Union Congress in the report "Building Worker Power," published in July 2022, that the system is stacked against staff who want to campaign for fairer conditions, with employers given ample opportunities to silence workers' voices. Topics include the low record of trade union membership in the United Kingdom, comments from Royal College of Nursing (RCN) head of organising Stephanie Goodwin, and what organising can achieve.

Like most nurses, I have spent my career looking after others who are affected by ill health and disability. I hadn't considered how I would cope if I became the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NHS sickness absence rates are rising, with mental ill health a leading cause. The NHS needs to have policies and procedures in place to function effectively but do these policies function as they should, especially in relation to mental health? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To learn about the concept of moral injury and how it can be applied in the healthcare sector • To enhance your knowledge of the manifestations and risk factors associated with moral injury • To enable you to consider the strategies that could be implemented in your area of practice to mitigate and/or prevent moral injury Moral injury may be experienced when a person perpetrates, witnesses or fails to prevent an act that conflicts with their moral values and beliefs. The concept of moral injury has its origins in the context of military personnel encountering ethically challenging decisions during armed conflict. The term has been applied to healthcare and moral injury is increasingly acknowledged to be a challenge for healthcare professionals. Nurses across all specialties and settings are frequently required to make or witness ethically challenging decisions about patient care. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased nurses' risk of sustaining moral injury. This article discusses the manifestations of moral injury and its associated risk factors, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also outlines various strategies that can be used to mitigate and/or prevent moral injury in nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the UK's highest recorded temperature already having been surpassed this summer, nurses may face further days of uncomfortably hot working conditions ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses on nurse staff well-being in the United Kingdom, particularly the need for National Health Service (NHS) employers to establish period policies to help female staff in managing bleeding and pain at work. Also cited are the NHS employers with period policies like the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, and the campaigns by charity group Bloody Good Period for menstrual equity.

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your understanding of intersectionality and its relevance to healthcare staff, including nurses • To recognise the intersecting factors that may contribute to the disproportionate effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among nurses from ethnic minority backgrounds • To consider how an intersectional approach could be implemented in your area of practice People from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with higher death rates and suboptimal health outcomes compared with those from white ethnic backgrounds. This trend is reflected in healthcare staff from ethnic minority backgrounds, including nurses, who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and have higher death rates from the disease. The theory of intersectionality contends that social categorisations such as gender, race and class can contribute to discrimination and result in disadvantages. In this article, the authors outline several intersecting factors that could be contributing to the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 among nurses from ethnic minority backgrounds, as well as making recommendations for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurse A is given an informal warning because of recurring lateness, leaving work a few minutes early on several occasions and using a workplace computer for personal administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working under great pressure with ever-changing teams means working relationships for nurses can be pushed to breaking point. But what is the best way to tackle issues when they flare? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses have revealed the many daily irritations they encounter in their working lives that threaten to knock a shift out of alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One estimate of the number of people in the UK living with chronic pain suggests up to half the population may be affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 34,000 nurses left their jobs in the NHS in 2020-21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The employment tribunal judgement runs to 98 pages, but just ten words form the key content: 'The claimant was constructively dismissed and the dismissal was unfair.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on how to take a patient's temperature. Topics covered include preparation and equipment, the procedures in taking tympanic temperature readings, non-contact forehead temperature readings and oral temperature readings and the importance of the regular monitoring and recording of a patient's temperature.

The article discusses a 2021 study on the effects of a high-fidelity simulation environment on improving confidence and the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in nursing students. Results show that there was no significant improvements for the intervention group compared with the control group, and with both reporting overall improvements. Also noted is the non-necessary improvement of CPR performance by a high-fidelity simulation environment.

The article discusses how workplaces can support gender diversity in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2021. Topics covered include the uncertain number of transgender staff in the National Health Service (NHS), policies to address transphobia, the lesser representation for bisexual and trans people compared to lesbian and gay groups, and staff access to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender + (LGBT) networks. Also noted is the involvement of staff in LGBT policy making.

The article discusses the increase of victims of domestic abuse and coercive control among nurses and healthcare staff in the United Kingdom (UK) during the pandemic. Topics covered include signs a colleague may be experiencing domestic abuse, course of actions that may be taken when signs are spotted, and abuse perpetrators' charming exteriors and manipulative behaviors. Also noted is support for affected nurses in the workplace.

I wonder if the famous tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde could be based on a real-life healthcare professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NHS England's Long Term Workforce Plan, published in June, is ambitious in its goals to expand education, training and recruitment to meet future population health demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During my return to practice course 20 years ago, I had a Victor Meldrew moment – 'Whaaat? I don't believe it!' – when we were informed clinical supervision was readily available to nurses, offering emotional and practical support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When heavy rain falls on Lynfield Mount hospital in Bradford, West Yorkshire, sewage swells up through its bathroom sinks, and seeps under doors and onto the wards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the pressure for nurses to sacrifice their time off and well-being to maintain patient safety amid high staff absences as of February 2022. Topics covered include the drafting of military personnel to help the National Health Service (NHS), the nursing shortage due to high sickness and self-isolation levels, and the opening of patient hubs for those needing minimal hospital support. Also noted are the rising number of nurses planning to leave the profession.

Being moved to a different ward or clinical area, often at the last minute, is sometimes referred to as working a 'floating shift'. Nurses may arrive at work and be told they are being reassigned to another area. It seems to be particularly common in hospitals, but can happen elsewhere too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perimenopause and menopause can have a significant impact on women's professional and personal lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Becoming an expedition medic allows nurses to combine their clinical skills with the chance to see the world and take part in new adventures and pursuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giving exhausted NHS staff gifts of sunflower seeds to plant as a symbol of resilience, setting up well-being tents that overstretched professionals can't take the time to visit, and providing water bottles that are banned from clinical areas are among the ways managers have tried to show appreciation during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare has always been a sector where staff have to deal with constant change, but never has this flux been so extreme as during the pandemic of the past 18 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]