Practice Vs Paper

When preparing to deliver a training session, I found that the room I was allocated did not have the facilities needed. I spoke to another trainer, who suggested I cancel the session. I decided that, if I couldn’t get hold of the resources required, rescheduling the training would be the best thing to do. However, Learning and Development had a different perspective. This presented me with another example where paper is prioritised over practice. If those on the training were rescheduled, they would be marked as being ‘non-compliant’ with training, which obviously has its impact on Learning and Development stats. From my perspective, the environment not being conducive to learning means substandard training. Luckily, the resources I needed were provided and I was able to start the session, albeit half an hour late. The group were very understanding, and it ended up being a really constructive session. It did make me wonder though – how many trainers would feel pressured into ca...

As a nurse, there are countless moments interacting with staff where the urge to roll one’s eyes is difficult to supress. Being told by a matron that ‘you’re actually meeting the safe staffing levels’ is one of these moments.   An article by the Nursing Times (26/03/2019) explained that nurses are critical to safety, but a ‘simple algorithm’ doesn’t exist to determine exactly how many nurses should be staffing a ward. Hundreds of studies have shown association between nurse staffing and safety, satisfaction (patient and staff) or omission of tasks which, having experience on a range of wards, I can’t imagine anyone would find surprising.  So, when I raised with my matron that I don’t feel safe on the ward, being informed that we have ‘safe staffing levels’ made me wonder why I bothered.  Safety isn’t the number of staff on a piece of paper. Yes, it contributes towards safety but without taking into account skill mix, experience, environment and patient mix it is no...

During a discussion with a non-clinical colleague about a member of staff that had been involved in several ‘incidents’ on the ward, and was subsequently signed off with PTSD (along with some physical injuries), the comment came up around why this member of staff was involved in so many incidents.   It was something that I was expecting to be mentioned at some point, and I already had an answer ready – the job role meant that they were most often in communal areas such as the lounge/dining area, where incidents are most likely to happen. My non-clinical colleague briefly acknowledged this, and then went on to say maybe the member of staff needs more training to prevent incidents.  I acknowledge that for those who do not work on an acute mental health ward, predominantly caring for those experiencing an acute episode of psychosis, the nature of the work is not always understood. However, as I’m only human, I felt a rush of frustration, and that I needed to jump to the de...

I’ve recently left the ward environment, which was due to a number of reasons. However near the top of the list was the concern for my own wellbeing. There were constant incidents, and never enough staff to keep the patients (and ourselves) safe. Several staff were off sick due to the physical or mental effects of being attacked by patients, and I knew that I did not want to get to this stage. I am vocal when I feel changes need to be made, but I was starting to feel that the NHS was is such a dire state, there was no hope of saving it. It seems dramatic, I know, but it is how I felt. I took some time off for my mental health, and during this time decided that I did not want to compromise my health any longer. I was lucky to be seconded to a role which was not patient-facing.   When a very senior member of staff started getting involved in the constant incidents that were happening on the wards, I felt such a relief.  I desperately want to change things for the staff on the...