CARING IN A CRISIS LISA'S PERSONALISED APPROACH TO END OF LIFE CARE - Royal ...
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NURSING SUPPORT WORKERS' DAY P4
TALKING ABOUT VACCINATIONS P6
CULTURAL AMBASSADOR P14
DESENSITISATION FOR SURGERY P16
FOR NURSING SUPPORT WORKERS ACROSS THE UK SPRING 2021
CARING
IN A CRISIS
LISA'S PERSONALISED APPROACH TO END OF LIFE CARE
E XC LUS IV E
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WELCOME 3
Contents
Update.................................................................... 4-5
Vaccinations.......................................................... 6-7
Proning................................................................... 8-9
End of life care................................................... 10-11
Fair pay for nursing......................................... 12-13
Cultural ambassador..................................... 14-15
Award winner.................................................... 16-17
Time for teams....................................................... 18
After one of the most challenging years in living Developing resilience.......................................... 19
memory, we enter the spring with renewed Your committee..................................................... 20
hope that the COVID-19 vaccine will bring light
to the end of this dark tunnel. Once again,
nursing support workers are central to the UK’s Story to tell?
pandemic response – read about our role in the
vaccination delivery programme on page 6. If you’ve got a work story to share, or there’s a
topic you’d like to see covered in a future issue
Proning patients, an intervention to help of this magazine, get in touch. Email
improve low blood oxygen levels, is something health.care@rcn.org.uk with “Health+Care”
more of us are getting involved in too. Find out in the subject line. And if you see something
more about this on page 8. We also have vital that interests you in this issue, why not join the
debate on the RCN Nursing Support Workers
information on free end of life care training the
Facebook page?
RCN has made available to members on page 11.
I personally want to thank you for your hard Need more Health+Care?
work and dedication during these difficult
times. But I know thanks alone is not enough. Don’t forget RCN Health+Care
Nursing staff must be properly recognised magazine has a website with READ
and paid so I’m asking you to join me in all the latest RCN advice and MORE
campaigning for fair pay. Find out more on member stories. Take a look ONLINE
page 12 and at rcn.org.uk/fairpay today: rcn.org.uk/healthcaremag
After the success of our first ever RCN
Nursing Support Workers' Day in November, Editor: Sharon Palfrey
when people from all over the UK recognised Production: Mark Kalaher
and celebrated our work (page 4), it’s a Design: Debbie Roberts
Published by: Royal College of Nursing
pleasure to see yet more stories about the
20 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0RN
positive difference we make, day-in, day-out,
T: 029 2054 6477
in this issue. Enjoy the read. W: rcn.org.uk/healthcaremag
E: health.care@rcn.org.uk
Kevin Morley Publication code: 009 559
Vice Chair, Cover image: by Steve Pendrill
RCN Nursing Support Workers Committee
Please note throughout the magazine we use the abbreviations HCA (health care assistant), and HCSW (health care support
worker) to cover all those in nursing support worker roles. Nursing support worker is a term specifically used by the RCN to
describe the committee representing HCAs, assistant practitioners, trainee nursing associates, nursing associates and HCSWs.
4 UPDATE
First RCN Nursing Support Workers' Day
a huge success
Held last November, the day was an
opportunity to showcase your work
and say thank you
Nursing support workers dominated social
media on 23 November 2020 when the RCN
celebrated you in our inaugural Nursing
Support Workers' Day.
We premiered a short film about your valued
work and Dame Donna Kinnair, RCN Chief
Executive & General Secretary, joined
hundreds of nursing staff thanking support
workers for everything you do, emphasising posted by colleagues and supporters thanking
how you’ve gone above and beyond during you for your work," she said.
the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But we reached beyond the health care
She said: “Your resilience, your compassion sector with multiple senior members of
and your expertise have been key over the government adding their voice, including
past few months. You’re a valued member of Secretary of State for Health and Social
your health care team and it’s great to have Care Matt Hancock MP, and England’s Chief
this opportunity to say thank you for the Nurse Ruth May. I hope this is just the start
work you do every day.” and that this November’s event will be even
bigger and better.”
Lindsay Cardwell, Chair of the RCN Nursing
Support Workers Committee, was overjoyed Find out more about the event and watch
at the success of the day. “It was fantastic to the RCN film at rcn.org.uk/
see social media full of films and photographs nursingsupportworkersday
The day in numbers
MEMBERS ORDERED THERE WERE MORE THAN
24,000 BADGES 4,000 TWEETS USING
#NURSINGSUPPORTWORKERSDAY
ANOTHER 1,000
BADGES WERE SENT #NURSINGSUPPORTWORKERSDAY
TO NURSING SUPPORT WAS THE EIGHTH MOST POPULAR
WORKER ACTIVISTS TRENDING HASHTAG IN THE UK
AND POLITICIANS ON THE DAY
5
First Steps helps you build your learning portfolio
template to document and record reflective
practice for each topic. If you’re an RCN
member, you can download a certificate
once you’ve successfully completed the
assessment quizzes.
You can use First Steps to learn at your
own pace, with your workplace induction
The RCN’s popular First Steps learning programme, or as a refresher tool to support
resource, aimed primarily at HCAs at the your practice.
start of their career, has been updated to
help users build a portfolio of their learning. Users are encouraged to complete the
feedback form at the bottom of the resource
The resource now includes an assessment so we can continue to make improvements.
quiz at the end of each section and a Visit rcn.org.uk/firststeps
Former cadets support RCN demands higher
pandemic response grade PPE
Former RCN nursing cadets are supporting We want all nursing staff to be given higher
the NHS response to the COVID-19 pandemic grade personal protective equipment
by becoming health care support workers. (FFP2/3 masks) amid concerns that current
PPE may not provide adequate protection
Michaella Parcell is working as a health care against highly infectious strains of COVID-19.
support worker, having completed her cadet
training. “I have transferable skills and In the past few months, a number of new
real-life examples I could use during the COVID-19 variants of concern have emerged
interview process,” she said. “The health across the globe. Early indications are that
board recognised me as a nursing cadet and these are more transmissible than previous
acknowledged I’d learnt so much already.” strains of the virus. That’s why we want an
urgent review of existing infection prevention
Army cadets from across Wales and and control (IPC) guidance and ventilation in
England are working on the programme health care settings.
using a remote learning package, due to the
pandemic. The scheme is now also being A precautionary higher grade of PPE would
offered to young people involved in St John address concerns about the airborne spread
Ambulance Wales. The RCN scheme was of COVID-19 and align the UK IPC guidance
developed to encourage young people to join with World Health Organization advice.
the care sector, giving them an introduction
to the various roles. Visit Read New COVID-19 variants: how we’re
rcn.org.uk/professional-development/ fighting to keep you safe at
nursing-cadet-scheme rcn.org.uk/bulletin
6 ADVICE
Time to talk vaccinations
Nursing support workers have a vital role to play in the delivery
of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, says Helen Donovan,
RCN public health lead
Getty Images
We’re committed to staff, whatever their role people will be needed to
supporting you to ensure in the programme, have complete the work, including
vaccines are delivered safely appropriate education and those who weren’t involved in
so we can protect the public training alongside a period of giving vaccines previously.
and build confidence in supervision and competency
immunisation services. assessment. If you're We support using an
administering the vaccine, extended workforce in
So, we’re making sure you you will need to have an principle, providing people
have all the up-to-date and understanding of the vaccine are appropriately supported
evidenced information you being given, knowledge including having appropriate
need to help save those about the injection process, training, assessment of skills
most vulnerable from the and the importance of and ongoing supervision.
severe effects of COVID-19. informed consent. You must Changes to the Human
be able to recognise adverse Medicines Regulations (HMR)
Can nursing support events and have ongoing allow for this expansion of
workers give the supervision in the workplace the workforce.
COVID-19 vaccination? by experienced vaccinators.
For the RCN this expanded
Yes, in many areas, although As this is such a large-scale workforce will potentially
we would expect that all vaccination programme, more include registered nurses,
7
nursing associates (in
England), assistant Ten tips for talking about vaccinations
practitioners, nursing
support workers and Remember the aim of the conversation is to gain
student nurse members on 1 trust and support people to hopefully accept
placement across the UK. vaccination.
Nursing support workers Raising the subject gives the message that this
in Northern Ireland are 2 is important and gives people permission to ask
not currently supported questions.
to administer vaccines,
although like their colleagues Ask questions to help understand the individual’s
in the rest of the UK, as 3 main concerns. Listen to them.
trusted health professionals
they still have an essential Be empathic. Tell them you understand why they
role to play by supporting the 4 might be concerned and why they may have
clear and positive messaging questions.
around vaccination.
Acknowledge we all want what’s best for
How does it work? 5 ourselves and our loved ones.
The legal authorisation Avoid fact-filled lectures which could be
process for the administration 6 counterproductive. Stick to the concerns raised
of the COVID-19 vaccine is and provide a limited number of main points in
possible under a national response, expressed simply.
protocol. This allows
different members of the Focus on the risk to them. Many people have little
workforce to deliver specific 7 experience of diseases because of the success of
tasks and functions. other vaccination programmes.
Authorisation of the Identify a myth as being false and focus on the
vaccines under a patient 8 benefits of vaccination while acknowledging the
group direction or written side effects of vaccines.
instruction for those staff
who can use them, remains, Highlight the consensus among health
as does using a prescription 9 professionals and scientists about the evidence
or patient specific direction. in support of vaccination. Confirming that you’ve
received the vaccine sets an important example.
We’ve designed a resource
to signpost you to all the If people decide not to be vaccinated, be clear
available information, 10 they can change their mind at any stage and leave
guidance and relevant RCN the door open for further discussion.
positions on the COVID-19
vaccine programmes and
I urge you to check it out. These practical tips are adapted from Bedford H and
Elliman D (2019) Fifteen-minute consultation: Vaccine-
Visit rcn.org.uk/covid-19- hesitant parents Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed:BMJ
vaccination
8 CLINICAL
Why is proning
important now?
Patients in intensive care units are benefitting from proning,
an intervention to help improve low blood oxygen levels
What is proning? patient is not responding well anaesthetist, intensive care
to mechanical ventilation. unit doctor or advanced
It’s a manual handling critical care practitioner),
procedure where a multi- Oxygenation can be and the nurse looking after
disciplinary team carefully significantly improved in the patient.
manoeuvres a patient’s patients with acute
position, so they are lying on respiratory distress syndrome Where can I get more
their front, face down, in a (ARDS) when ventilated in the information?
“prone” position. prone position.
The Faculty for Intensive
The aim is to change the way Lung injury with features Care Medicine and the
the patient is resting, which of ARDS is one of the key Intensive Care Society have
is usually going from lying on characteristics of patients released guidance for prone
their back to their front and with COVID-19, which is why positioning in adult critical
back again. Lying on their this intervention is applied. care. Visit ics.ac.uk for more
front encourages a larger information.
part of the lung to expand, What’s the nursing
allowing the diaphragm support worker’s role? For the latest RCN guidance
to increase its range of and advice, visit
movement so patients can A team of at least five rcn.org.uk/criticalcareforum
take bigger breaths. people should undertake
the proning procedure, and
Although turning a patient this may include nursing
to the prone position is support workers.
not an invasive procedure,
it is complex and has They may be hands-on
many potential risks and during the procedure,
complications, such as loss overseeing equipment,
of airway, pressure ulcers preparing trollies, or they
and line displacement. may document the process.
Why is it important in The team will also include
critical care? at least one health care
professional who is
Proning is usually carried out competent in managing
in intensive care units when a airway (usually an
9
Suman Shrestha, RCN professional lead for critical care, Kelley Burns on how
discusses the issues that arise when proning is being proning became a vital
used to support intubated and non-intubated patients procedure in the fight
with respiratory failure in acute and critical care units against COVID-19
In intensive care, this complex procedure poses risks to a
patient’s physiological instability. There’s also a huge risk
of dislodgement of the endotracheal tube, which
maintains the patient’s airway, and dislodgement of lines.
Everyone needs to be aware of the potential risks and
perform the intervention very carefully.
I was redeployed to an ICU
Proning checklists must be followed thoroughly, especially during the first wave of the
when redeployed health professionals are helping because pandemic. When patients were
they might not be as familiar with the procedure. It’s being proned, I often assisted
important for health care professionals to be trained in with the airway trolley, ensuring
proning because this is a risky procedure. Always speak up that if equipment was required,
it was quickly accessible.
if you feel unsure about what you’ve been asked to do.
We had a prone pack which
We prone for about 18 hours at a time, and at the moment, had pads for the face to help
because ICU services are so stretched, patients might not reduce the risk of pressure,
be proned and de-proned in a timely manner; that will add and it included a checklist.
some risks such as pressure area damage. Part of my role as a runner
on the ward also involved
documenting information.
Particularly during this second COVID-19 surge, we’re We started off with the team
proning more patients who are awake. It’s carried out to introducing ourselves – which
improve oxygenation and prevent patients requiring was important because it’s
intubation, mechanical ventilation and admission to ICU. hard to recognise each other
Maintaining dignity is important so it’s vital we talk to the in full PPE. It’s not a quick
patient, explain why we are proning them, and make them procedure, but one that is
as comfortable as possible. controlled and monitored.
Between the consultants
and the nurse responsible
for the patient, there’s a
lot of discussion before a
decision is made to move
a patient. There are ethical
considerations, as well as
clinical. We’re constantly
monitoring how things go,
and obviously we’ve got
to consider the patient’s
personal hygiene and dignity.
Warrant officer class 2
Kelley Burns, a health
care assistant with Queen
Alexandra's Royal Army
Copyright Dr JD Williamson Nursing Corps
10 PEOPLE
No-one should die alone
Lisa Dodd reflects on the difference personalised nursing can
make, after working in a unique role in end of life care set up in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Photograph of Lisa
by Steve Pendrill
Even in these most a role introduced in direct of their lives. My focus was
challenging of times, Lisa response to COVID-19 and the always on the patient and
believes we must make it increase in patients dying in their family,” she adds.
possible for patients to have the hospital at a time when
a good death. visitors weren’t allowed. The nursing role sought
to bring humanity back to
Currently working as a health “It’s an unusual job title but patients, just as COVID-19
care assistant in the NHS the reasoning behind it is seemed to be taking so
Nightingale North West, simple,” Lisa says. “We follow much away, with staff
she’s recently worked in the SWAN – sign, words, talking, laughing, crying, and
a role where her priority actions, needs – model of even singing with patients.
was to ensure people did care, and the cygnet and the
not die alone, working as swan are inexorably linked.” Lisa says: “We provided the
a “cygnet” in the palliative human touch. I got to know
and bereavement care “I was there to support my patients’ individual needs
team in North Manchester patients, and their families, and preferences. Music is
General Hospital. It was in their last days and hours important to ask about as we11
know that hearing can be one pandemic made developing Looking after ourselves
of the last things to go, so relationships with relatives
if listening to their favourite more challenging. Lisa says the job gave her
music brings comfort, we the chance to truly care
could arrange this. Flavours “There was little or no for people when they
and tastes are important face-to-face contact – my needed it most, however,
too as I could incorporate patients were only allowed the emotional impact of
these considerations into one person visiting them this kind of work can’t be
their mouth care.” for one hour a day – so it underestimated.
was important that our
communication was “I always tried to remain
supportive but clear. professional, but I am human
and there were times when
"A distressed relative will it was extremely difficult,”
We provided the often only pick up odd she says. “As a team we
human touch words and soundbites. If were there for each other
we needed to tell them and we were all encouraged
Lisa says she was given the their relative had died, to use the breakout area for
freedom to think outside there was no room for a cup of tea and a chance to
the box to ensure that the misunderstanding. We gather our thoughts when
personal care, which can needed to be careful not to that was needed.
make such a difference, use euphemisms like
happened – however busy ‘they’ve passed’.” “But for me it would always
everyone was. come back to one thing.
FaceTime calls for patients It was about my patients
“If a patient was usually became commonplace, but and their families. It was
clean shaven, I could shave by facilitating these for all about them. It was their
them – and all the better if patients and their families, story, not mine.”
I could play their favourite when it was the last chance
music while I was doing this.” for personal contact, Read more about the SWAN
they took on heighted model of care at
She adds: “One family importance. But this was tiny.cc/swanmodel
member told me she’d ‘love just one of the ways Lisa
dad to be able to have a and others in the cygnet
pint’. His favourite beer was team connected patients A learning
John Smiths, so we got a with their loved ones. opportunity
thimbleful and gave him a
taste. He hadn’t reacted to “We were trained to take The RCN has a free online
anything before that, but he hand and kiss (lipstick) learning programme
reacted verbally to the taste prints, and we put for nursing staff new
of his favourite beer, which I fingerprints in keyrings to end of life care. Sign
hope brought comfort to him too. Small woollen hearts up today at rcn.org.uk/
and his family.” were given as a token to endoflifeprogramme
patients; these stayed with and visit rcn.org.uk/
Making memories them after they’d died, endoflifecare for more
with duplicates given to information from the RCN
Necessary safety policies relatives and loved ones as on end of life care.
introduced during the precious keepsakes.”12 ACTION
We must demand fair pay
for nursing now
Nursing staff are underpaid, undervalued, and overstretched,
so what’s the RCN doing, and how can you help?
Nursing staff are
worse off now than
they were 10 years ago
We’ve reiterated our demand COVID-19 crisis are quoted deprived of investment
for a fully funded 12.5% pay extensively and we reinforce and resources.
increase for nursing staff in what was already known
our evidence to the NHS pay before the pandemic; the Our Fair Pay for Nursing
review body. nursing workforce is campaign is asking for a
suffering from severe staff 12.5% pay increase for all
Members’ experiences shortages, low morale and Agenda for Change staff so
of working during the operating in an environment we’ve made the economic13
that it does not plan to ask should be awarded improved
the pay review body to make pay, terms and conditions of
recommendations for employment. We’ve recently
2021/22. launched a new strategy
Let's redouble our setting out how we’ll better
efforts to make 2021 The RCN has written to the engage, empower and
the year the tide turned prime minister to say it is represent members working
unfair to expect nursing in the independent health
case for the pay rise while staff to wait until the and social care sector, and
stressing the link between summer and that the process improving pay, terms and
fair pay, recruitment, should be quickened. Get working conditions is a key
retention and safe staffing. the latest information at part of this.
rcn.org.uk/fairpay
RCN Chief Executive & We’re looking at how we can
General Secretary Dame What about members work to better influence and
Donna Kinnair says: working in the lobby on behalf of members
“Members of the RCN have independent sector? working in these settings and
been extensively involved in RCN Council is committed to
our pay campaigning in the We believe that nursing staff delivering this by listening
last six months and I’m urging in all health and care settings and engaging with members.
even more of you to become
vocal and visible in the next
six months. It is time to pay What can you do to support the campaign?
you fairly – let's redouble our
efforts to make 2021 the year • The Chancellor must use the Budget on 3 March
the tide turned.” to set money aside for fair pay for nursing. Sign
our petition to demand this happens, and ask your
What’s the pay review friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
body’s role? • Support our campaign on social media by using our
campaign downloads to share posts or follow our
It’s responsible for advising guide to record a campaign video.
the government on pay for
NHS staff and takes evidence • Share our new film explaining the aims and need for
from trade unions, employers our campaign.
and governments to inform its
recommendations. • Display and distribute campaign materials in your
workplace by downloading the posters and leaflets
Health ministers in England, from our website.
Northern Ireland and Wales
have asked the pay review • Engage with your MP by sending and responding to
body to recommend what their emails using our templates.
pay increase NHS staff in
those countries should • Become an e-campaigner by signing up to receive a
receive for 2021/22. regular email with a quick and easy online action you
However, the PRB process can take to support the campaign.
may continue until the
spring, The Scottish Get more information at rcn.org.uk/fairpay
government has confirmed14 DIVERSITY
Breaking down barriers
Andrew Mutandwa explains how he’s supporting BAME staff
in his role as a cultural ambassador
I can see more positive
change coming
Some colleagues have told
me they have had to tone
down and lower their voices
in their workplaces. That’s
not always an easy thing
to do if that’s how you’ve
learnt to speak. Thankfully,
in my role as a cultural
ambassador, I can help.
Tackling inequalities
Getty Images
After making a Freedom
After a long day at work a misunderstood, even if of Information request
few years ago, I was asked they’re trying to be helpful. back in 2015, activists from
if I wanted tea. I didn’t want This is especially the case black, Asian and minority
tea at that point, I was if someone’s first language ethnic (BAME) backgrounds
hungry, and I wanted a meal. isn’t English. Some alerted the RCN West
communication can even Midlands office to the over-
To be honest I was a little be seen as offensive, and representation of BAME staff
put out that I was offered people acting with the best in disciplinary processes.
just a hot drink. I politely of intentions can find
declined, only to later find themselves in trouble. As a result of this, and
out that what I was being the fact that research
offered was, in fact, a meal. Speaking and understanding has shown that staff from
A meal called tea. No in your second, or sometimes BAME backgrounds often
wonder I was confused. third, language can be a experience inequality,
challenge at any time, and discrimination and prejudice
But what happened back even more so when operating in the workplace, the
then just goes to show how under the workplace pressure RCN started training
easily people can be of the health care frontline. cultural ambassadors.15
I now identify and explore issues I now know my organisation much
of culture and behaviour – where better. Before people were just
staff may be treated less names in a mailbox.
favourably – potential
discrimination and unconscious I interact with a wider pool of staff It really is so
or conscious cultural bias. I’m not at all levels and feel more valued important
here to judge but to be curious as a member of staff. The trust to have
about these issues, make them involves me at the highest level, representation
transparent, and create a dialogue and I’ve been invited onto a panel at all levels
to establish their potential impact. to interview for non-executive
board directors.
It’s a voluntary role undertaken by
BAME staff and it enables me to be However, for me, the most
part of an investigation team or important outcome has been
member of a decision-making panel the positive change the role has
for grievances and disciplinary brought to the organisation.
hearings where a BAME member I’m starting to see a clear
of staff is involved. I work on all impact where teams have
stages of workplace investigations previously worked with a cultural
and hearings – but we always see ambassador. For them it’s no
if a case can be dealt with before it longer just a process; they’ve
becomes formal. now changed the way things are
thought about.
When the role was first introduced
it seemed to be aimed at senior Best of all, I can see more positive
people. I argued successfully that change coming as the role embeds
this approach brought drawbacks. itself into the organisation. It’s
If you hold a very senior position worked so well because the
in an organisation, it can be more managers I’ve worked with get
difficult to see the issue from it too. They’re very supportive,
anything other than the looking at the bigger picture, and
workplace perspective. the organisational benefits of
everyone getting a fair chance.
I’m a nursing support worker and
have worked in health care since The way people think is changing
2003, but my background is in so rapidly. Black History Month
writing, the media and diplomacy. was amazing last year. People
I believe my experience makes me didn’t need to be asked to
an ideal cultural ambassador as participate. They just did.
I’ve always been aware of issues
of culture and the impact they I’d urge other nursing support Andrew
can have on people whose first workers to consider becoming
language isn’t English. cultural ambassadors too. It
Find out more
really is so important to have about the RCN
Seeing positive change representation at all levels so cultural ambassdor
we reflect the staff working at programme
Being a cultural ambassador has all grades and continue to break at rcn.org.uk/
helped me personally too. down barriers. culturalambassador16 INNOVATION
Making the difference
Learning disability champion Rea Pugh-Davies reflects on a time
when a patient needed a four-week desensitisation programme
to prepare him for surgery
Photograph of Rea
by Stephen Shepherd
A patient with complex arrangements for him to I made posters of his
learning difficulties was due deliver a letter to me at the favourite TV programmes
to have a planned procedure hospital, before having a and positioned them at
under general anaesthetic. breakfast out, as a treat. eye level for him to follow.
He’d lived with the same We also minimised other
routine for many years so to There was a formalised distractions, like loud
avoid causing further stress admission plan in place, but noises or groups of people
and anxiety we needed a we communicated directly gathering.
precise plan to introduce with the patient using
this new experience over a pictures to show him the Slowly he became more
number of visits. plan for the day where he comfortable with what he
could see himself delivering was doing, so we added a
I found out he liked the letter and eating blood pressure cuff being
stationery, so we made breakfast at the café. placed on his arm to his17
saw me, glanced at his shoes and
went back to sleep. He left an
hour later but asked to return the
next day to say thank you, which
Reasonable adjustments was very moving.
can be made for all patients
This approach has now been
social story. Soon he was putting adopted in his care home for visits
his arm out when he saw me and to the GP and dentist. I’ve also
was happy to give me permission seen photographs of him taking
to put the cuff on. To make sure part in painting activities with
he felt as comfortable as possible friends since – this is something
I put his favourite film on or played he wouldn’t have done without
music he liked in the background. the surgery.
He did, however, often remind
me he was going for breakfast It doesn’t matter what band you
straight afterwards, which was my are or what role you do, we all
cue to hurry up. need to remember that reasonable
adjustments can be made for all
Calm environment patients, not just those with a
physical disability or impairment.
As the day of the operation
approached, we updated his social Rea Pugh-Davies is a health care
story booklet with information support worker at Swansea Bay
about what would happen on that University Health Board
day. The slow approach we had
taken worked well so by the time
he reached the day of his surgery, Awards success
his routine wasn't really altered Rea’s can-do attitude and
– although he did have to wait determination to alleviate
until after his surgery to get his her patients’ anxiety was
breakfast. recognised at the RCNi
Nurse Awards where she
We chose the operating theatre won the nursing support
worker category.
that was the easiest to access and
that had a big screen TV where Rebecca Greenacre, Michelle Milne, Robin Kelly and
his favourite TV programme was Alex Worgan were all shortlisted.
being shown when he arrived. Lindsay Cardwell, Chair of the RCN Nursing Support
Theatre staff remained out of Workers Committee, sat on the judging panel. She said:
sight and sensory lights were “As a group of staff, our work often goes under the radar,
used so the environment he came so I am delighted to see a light shone on the dedication
into was very calm. shown by so many nursing support workers in their
day-to-day roles. Huge congratulations to everyone who
The procedure took 20 minutes was shortlisted for the award.”
and when it was completed, we Read more on the RCN Health+Care magazine website
put his comfort blanket over him at rcn.org.uk/healthcaremag and find out more about
and put his favourite shoes on. Michelle's story on page 18.
When he initially woke up, he18 WELLBEING
Making time for teams
Senior nursing support worker Michelle Milne's initiative to boost
staff morale saw her shortlisted in the nursing support worker
category of the RCNi Nurse Awards 2020
Colleagues’ morale was at
a low ebb during a period
of change at the children’s
hospice where she works, so
Michelle came up with the
idea for – and implemented
– Time4Teams.
The four sessions a year
bring staff together Coastal rowing
together
to help foster team
bonding, offering staff the
opportunity to do something “There was lots of laughter.
a bit different together. The families from the
hospice could see us and
The first session was a were cheering us on – it was
great success. “My fitness energising and uplifting
instructor – an ex-marine – for everyone.” The bonds we’ve
did some team building and made have helped
a tug of war with us. We Time4Teams has now us navigate this
discovered things about been rolled out to the tough time together
each other we didn’t know,” rest of the organisation.
says Michelle. And despite the pandemic preventing
physical meet-ups, they’re
currently exploring a virtual
Time4Teams.
“Everyone has had to be
flexible and adapt to things
they wouldn’t normally do
in their role such as wearing
PPE for long periods of time,”
Michelle adds. “But the
bonds we’ve made through
Time4Teams have helped
us navigate this tough time
nd together, as a team.”
ing with sa
Team build19
Top tips to develop resilience
Anyone can learn how to create strategies to help
increase resilience and coping mechanisms
1 Don’t spend time
worrying about
something over which
6 Be honest with
yourself and
others. If things are not
you have no control. going well, address them.
Allowing problems to
fester makes them worse.
2 Try to maintain
a good work-life
balance.
7 Don’t try to
solve everything
alone. Seek help and
3 Look after
yourself
physically. Get enough
support from family
and colleagues.
8
rest and regular time
with family and friends Develop outside
(although this might interests so that
need to be digitally right not everything in your life
now) to maintain good revolves around one thing.
out-of-work support.
4 Be optimistic.
Being a glass
9 As a team,
celebrate success,
reflect on what is going
half-empty person well, and learn from
can wear you and things that don’t go well.
colleagues down.
5 Develop self-
confidence and
10 Be kind to
yourself.
Some people are more
make sure you give resilient than others and
yourself credit and there are times when we
praise when you do cope better or less well
something well. than others.
Michelle Milne
Take a look at the RCN subject guide on wellbeing, self-care
and resilience at tiny.cc/subjectguideresilienceReturn address
RCN Direct, Copse Walk
Cardiff Gate Business Park
Cardiff, CF23 8X
The committee reports directly to
Your RCN UK RCN Council through its dedicated
Nursing Support Worker Council
Nursing Support member and provides a platform
for HCAs, HCSWs, TNAs, NAs and
Workers Committee APs to influence RCN policy at UK
and local level.
Nursing Support Worker member of Council
Evan Keir To contact your rep, email
governance.support@rcn.org.uk
Country and regional representatives
Sagila Kevin Morley
Maive Coley Thiruthanikasalan (Vice Chair)
East Midlands London Northern
Lorraine
Sunday Babanumi McLauchlan Annette Bailey
North West Scotland South East
Lindsay Cardwell Alison Vacancies
(Chair) James-Herbert Arrangements are being made
South West Wales to fill the vacant committee
seats for the Eastern, Northern
Ireland and West Midlands
regions, as well as the Trade
Katherine Davis Tracie Culpitt Union Committee member seat.
Yorkshire & Professional Nursing Find out the latest news at
the Humber Committee member rcn.org.uk/electionsYou can also read
