HOW TO PROGRESS YOUR CAREER
GETTY IMAGES
Moving jobs can be daunting, and needs thoughtful planning, says Daniel Allen
NOTICE BOARD
If your job is losing its sparkle, it could be time to think about other options. But how do you weigh up whether a move will result in career development or a dead end? Most career plans involve a four-stage process: Knowing yourself. Researching possibilities. Making choices. Acting on choices. The NHS Jobs website says planning a career properly helps ensure that people apply only for the posts they really want and that suit their skills and abilities. ‘Assess your immediate and long term goals and priorities,’ it says.
Explore your objectives and options Clare Barton is lead advanced neuroscience nurse practitioner at North Bristol NHS Trust and her career biography appears on the NHS Careers website. She believes nurses are not necessarily adept at managing their careers, but asking the right questions can help: What do I see myself doing? Am I ready to move on? Do I want to move? What inspires me? What are my career objectives? Issues to consider include the impact a change of job would have on your personal life, salary, working hours, location and job
Conference A national conference on Implementing and Monitoring Progress against the 6Cs in Nursing will be held on March 11 in London. Chaired by NHS London’s chief nurse Caroline Alexander, the event focuses on delivering Compassion in Practice, England’s chief nursing officer’s three-year strategy for nursing, midwifery and care staff. With an opening address from NHS England’s head of nursing and midwifery Sam Sherrington, the conference will provide practical guidance for implementing the 6Cs and monitoring progress. tinyurl.com/OneyearsixCs Clinical communities The Health Foundation, an independent charity concerned with improving the quality of health care, has
56 february 26 :: vol 28 no 26 :: 2014
satisfaction – as well as your work-life balance. An honest appraisal of your values, skills and experience can prevent you applying for jobs that do not match your abilities. NHS Jobs suggests seeking views from colleagues, friends and family or a careers adviser. The International Council of Nurses’ career development guidance emphasises the importance of a career plan. ‘If you do not have some idea of where you want to go, you will most likely simply react to events.’ It adds: ‘You must move from being the observer to becoming an active goal setter – a doer.’
published a new report, ‘Using clinical communities to improve quality’. It identifies lessons for using the clinical community, a networking approach to deliver improvements in health care and provides a model to help clinicians to implement initiatives that improve quality. The full evaluation report is available from research.mailbox@ health.org.uk Back pain A free event on improving assessment and treatment options for patients with back pain will be hosted by Pfizer on March 20 in Bristol. The session will be chaired by the honorary secretary of the British Pain Society Martin Johnson and will provide practical examples of how case-managed multidisciplinary support can help patients undertake daily activities. tinyurl.com/Practicepain
NURSING STANDARD
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 16, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
CAREERS
Newly qualified nurse Jessica Curtis recently changed jobs to enhance her career prospects. ‘When I decided to change jobs, the main factor that helped me make up my mind was the idea of a new challenge and more learning opportunities to advance my career. It was one of my scariest decisions, but definitely the right choice.’ Just because colleagues are changing jobs does not mean you should too. ‘Job choices are personal,’ Ms Curtis says. ‘Some nurses stay in a job for years but are still inspirational to people like me.’ Reflecting on skills can help identify gaps, and gaining another qualification rather than a new job may be the best move. Clare Barton (see box) says when she is looking for nurses to join her team, she wants to see evidence that applicants have used their time wisely. That may involve study, but it could also be initiating a project. ‘I want to see that they’ve gone above and beyond,’ she says NS Daniel Allen is a freelance journalist RESOURCES It’s your career: take charge tinyurl.com/ICN-careers NHS Careers www.nhscareers.nhs.uk RCN Careers service tinyurl.com/Careers-service-RCN
Support for family carers Nurses’ help is pivotal, say Sheila Payne and Hazel Morbey It is estimated that by 2037 there will be more than nine million family carers in the UK. Many will be looking after children and older relatives, and some will be getting older themselves. People living into late old age form the fastest growing demographic group, doubling in size every decade. Yet only 0.2 per cent of deaths in people aged over 100 occur in hospices. Our research at Lancaster University’s International Observatory on End of Life Care, on behalf of the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care, highlights the challenges for carers and their nursing needs. Family carers are often involved in giving and receiving care, for example when caring for family members with complicated, long term conditions. Professional, voluntary services and family carers need to work together effectively, with a role for nurses in undertaking assessments, giving information and providing other support. Nurses should be involved in undertaking regular assessments of carer needs, and take account of these in relation to patient care. Nurses should provide information to carers on: Disease process and prognosis. Care tasks, equipment and medication. The dying process and symptom management. Medication administration and routine nursing tasks.
Change management A one-day workshop for managers undergoing and supporting staff through change programmes will be held at Manor Mills, Leeds, on February 11. Speakers and participants will explore the merits of different approaches to implementing change and an understanding of the role and skills of an effective change agent. Workshops will use presentations, group work, case studies and simulation to encourage delegates to consider their reactions to change and equip themselves with the tools to implement change. tinyurl. com/Implemenntchange rcnbulletin
JOBS
FAIR
GLASGOW
Jobs fair The RCN Bulletin Jobs Fair will take place on April 9/10 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow. Exhibitors include trusts and health boards, recruitment agencies,
NURSING STANDARD
Referral to carer groups, volunteer services and social opportunities. Benefits. Many health professionals feel unprepared for understanding the experience of carers and conversations around end of life care can be challenging for staff. There is also evidence that the transitions into and out of care settings in the final year of life are managed poorly and increase the demands on carers. Nurses could be instrumental
NURSES CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN MINIMISING STRAIN – Sheila Payne
in managing these transitions to reduce disruption to patients and carers. Government policy is to allow more people to die at home, although evidence to the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care has highlighted concern about the shortage of hospice places. Nurses with the ability to ensure integration between home caring and professional support will play a critical role in minimising strain on families NS Sheila Payne is Help the Hospices chair, International Observatory on End of Life Care, and Hazel Morbey is research associate, both at Lancaster University
charities, care homes and international companies. A programme of free seminars is planned, offering expert guidance on a variety of career topics. To pre-register, go to tinyurl.com/RCNJobsFairGlasgow Care Makers Nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and healthcare assistants who act as ambassadors for the 6Cs are known as care makers. They are selected for demonstrating a commitment to spreading the word about Compassion in Practice across the NHS. NHS Employers is helping to recruit 1,000 care makers and is challenging employers to identify at least one colleague or peer to demonstrates the values of the 6Cs. More information about the role is available on the care maker hub. Go to tinyurl.com/NHSRACM february 26 :: vol 28 no 26 :: 2014 57
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 16, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
GETTY IMAGES
Moving jobs can be daunting, and needs thoughtful planning, says Daniel Allen
NOTICE BOARD
If your job is losing its sparkle, it could be time to think about other options. But how do you weigh up whether a move will result in career development or a dead end? Most career plans involve a four-stage process: Knowing yourself. Researching possibilities. Making choices. Acting on choices. The NHS Jobs website says planning a career properly helps ensure that people apply only for the posts they really want and that suit their skills and abilities. ‘Assess your immediate and long term goals and priorities,’ it says.
Explore your objectives and options Clare Barton is lead advanced neuroscience nurse practitioner at North Bristol NHS Trust and her career biography appears on the NHS Careers website. She believes nurses are not necessarily adept at managing their careers, but asking the right questions can help: What do I see myself doing? Am I ready to move on? Do I want to move? What inspires me? What are my career objectives? Issues to consider include the impact a change of job would have on your personal life, salary, working hours, location and job
Conference A national conference on Implementing and Monitoring Progress against the 6Cs in Nursing will be held on March 11 in London. Chaired by NHS London’s chief nurse Caroline Alexander, the event focuses on delivering Compassion in Practice, England’s chief nursing officer’s three-year strategy for nursing, midwifery and care staff. With an opening address from NHS England’s head of nursing and midwifery Sam Sherrington, the conference will provide practical guidance for implementing the 6Cs and monitoring progress. tinyurl.com/OneyearsixCs Clinical communities The Health Foundation, an independent charity concerned with improving the quality of health care, has
56 february 26 :: vol 28 no 26 :: 2014
satisfaction – as well as your work-life balance. An honest appraisal of your values, skills and experience can prevent you applying for jobs that do not match your abilities. NHS Jobs suggests seeking views from colleagues, friends and family or a careers adviser. The International Council of Nurses’ career development guidance emphasises the importance of a career plan. ‘If you do not have some idea of where you want to go, you will most likely simply react to events.’ It adds: ‘You must move from being the observer to becoming an active goal setter – a doer.’
published a new report, ‘Using clinical communities to improve quality’. It identifies lessons for using the clinical community, a networking approach to deliver improvements in health care and provides a model to help clinicians to implement initiatives that improve quality. The full evaluation report is available from research.mailbox@ health.org.uk Back pain A free event on improving assessment and treatment options for patients with back pain will be hosted by Pfizer on March 20 in Bristol. The session will be chaired by the honorary secretary of the British Pain Society Martin Johnson and will provide practical examples of how case-managed multidisciplinary support can help patients undertake daily activities. tinyurl.com/Practicepain
NURSING STANDARD
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 16, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
CAREERS
Newly qualified nurse Jessica Curtis recently changed jobs to enhance her career prospects. ‘When I decided to change jobs, the main factor that helped me make up my mind was the idea of a new challenge and more learning opportunities to advance my career. It was one of my scariest decisions, but definitely the right choice.’ Just because colleagues are changing jobs does not mean you should too. ‘Job choices are personal,’ Ms Curtis says. ‘Some nurses stay in a job for years but are still inspirational to people like me.’ Reflecting on skills can help identify gaps, and gaining another qualification rather than a new job may be the best move. Clare Barton (see box) says when she is looking for nurses to join her team, she wants to see evidence that applicants have used their time wisely. That may involve study, but it could also be initiating a project. ‘I want to see that they’ve gone above and beyond,’ she says NS Daniel Allen is a freelance journalist RESOURCES It’s your career: take charge tinyurl.com/ICN-careers NHS Careers www.nhscareers.nhs.uk RCN Careers service tinyurl.com/Careers-service-RCN
Support for family carers Nurses’ help is pivotal, say Sheila Payne and Hazel Morbey It is estimated that by 2037 there will be more than nine million family carers in the UK. Many will be looking after children and older relatives, and some will be getting older themselves. People living into late old age form the fastest growing demographic group, doubling in size every decade. Yet only 0.2 per cent of deaths in people aged over 100 occur in hospices. Our research at Lancaster University’s International Observatory on End of Life Care, on behalf of the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care, highlights the challenges for carers and their nursing needs. Family carers are often involved in giving and receiving care, for example when caring for family members with complicated, long term conditions. Professional, voluntary services and family carers need to work together effectively, with a role for nurses in undertaking assessments, giving information and providing other support. Nurses should be involved in undertaking regular assessments of carer needs, and take account of these in relation to patient care. Nurses should provide information to carers on: Disease process and prognosis. Care tasks, equipment and medication. The dying process and symptom management. Medication administration and routine nursing tasks.
Change management A one-day workshop for managers undergoing and supporting staff through change programmes will be held at Manor Mills, Leeds, on February 11. Speakers and participants will explore the merits of different approaches to implementing change and an understanding of the role and skills of an effective change agent. Workshops will use presentations, group work, case studies and simulation to encourage delegates to consider their reactions to change and equip themselves with the tools to implement change. tinyurl. com/Implemenntchange rcnbulletin
JOBS
FAIR
GLASGOW
Jobs fair The RCN Bulletin Jobs Fair will take place on April 9/10 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow. Exhibitors include trusts and health boards, recruitment agencies,
NURSING STANDARD
Referral to carer groups, volunteer services and social opportunities. Benefits. Many health professionals feel unprepared for understanding the experience of carers and conversations around end of life care can be challenging for staff. There is also evidence that the transitions into and out of care settings in the final year of life are managed poorly and increase the demands on carers. Nurses could be instrumental
NURSES CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN MINIMISING STRAIN – Sheila Payne
in managing these transitions to reduce disruption to patients and carers. Government policy is to allow more people to die at home, although evidence to the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care has highlighted concern about the shortage of hospice places. Nurses with the ability to ensure integration between home caring and professional support will play a critical role in minimising strain on families NS Sheila Payne is Help the Hospices chair, International Observatory on End of Life Care, and Hazel Morbey is research associate, both at Lancaster University
charities, care homes and international companies. A programme of free seminars is planned, offering expert guidance on a variety of career topics. To pre-register, go to tinyurl.com/RCNJobsFairGlasgow Care Makers Nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and healthcare assistants who act as ambassadors for the 6Cs are known as care makers. They are selected for demonstrating a commitment to spreading the word about Compassion in Practice across the NHS. NHS Employers is helping to recruit 1,000 care makers and is challenging employers to identify at least one colleague or peer to demonstrates the values of the 6Cs. More information about the role is available on the care maker hub. Go to tinyurl.com/NHSRACM february 26 :: vol 28 no 26 :: 2014 57
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 16, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
