Managing director/publisher Rhonda Oliver Editor in chief Jean Gray Editor Graham Scott Deputy editor Elaine Cole (maternity leave) Acting deputy editor Janet Snell Assistant editor Roger Evans Associate editor Adele Waters ART&SCIENCE Editor Gwen Clarke Deputy editors Sonia Davies, Tanya Fernandes Clinical editor Noreen Begley NEWS & VIEWS News editor Sarah Harrison Deputy news editor Sally Gillen Reporters Jennifer Sprinks, Kat Keogh Development editor Frances Pickersgill Features editor Thelma Agnew Reflections editor Clare Lomas PRODUCTION & DESIGN Senior production editor Julie Hickey Production manager Arnie Beeson Production editors Sarah Howe, Jennifer Oldfield Deputy production editor Justin Stevens Sub editors Yvonne Byron Nour, Joyce McKimm Art directors Ken McLoone, Paul Swainson Deputy art director Minesh Parmar Designer Sujata Aurora Picture editor Philip Brecht Deputy picture editor Helen Jones Assistant picture editor Karen Gordon Production assistant Annette Taylor-Anderson Ad production executives Sally Gauntlett, Sue Horn IT AND NEW MEDIA Technology director John Day Manager Alex Oldfield Web editor Amanda Carter IT assistant Kerry Taylor ADMINISTRATION Administration manager Maria O’Brien Editorial administrative assistants Sarah Musisi, Jane Yates BUSINESS UNIT Commercial director Tony O’Rourke PA to commercial director Angelina George Head of marketing Helen Sumner Deputy head of marketing Michelle Day Events executive Rachel Weeden Subscriptions manager Beryl John Group educational projects manager Laura Downes RGN Advertisement and sponsorship sales manager Neil Hobson Senior sponsorship and advertising specialist Julia Gomersall Advertisement and sponsorship executives Rachel Fisher, Kelly Smith Classified sales manager Andy McCallum Sales project specialist Freddie Collier Classified sales executives Mandy Croggon, Shona Gethin, Pamela Gethin, Stephanie Mackrill SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT
Telephone 0345 772 6100 Personal rates from £76.80 a year. Institutional rates from £250 a year. Visit www.nursing-standard.co.uk for details. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
The Heights, 59-65 Lowlands Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex HA1 3AW Tel: 020 8423 1333 Fax: 020 8872 3197 ISSN 0029-6570 Email: [email protected] You can email staff at Nursing Standard in the following way: (first name).(second name)@rcnpublishing.co.uk Nursing Standard is published every Wednesday by RCN Publishing Company Ltd, the publishing company of the Royal College of Nursing. It seeks to promote professional excellence, and encourage creativity and innovation in nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice. Nursing Standard also aims to enhance nurses’ and healthcare assistants’ career development and to help them achieve and maintain a healthy and rewarding working environment. Nursing Standard is editorially independent and the opinions expressed are not those of the RCN or of the contributor’s employing organisation unless specifically stated. Acceptance of an advertisement does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of a product or service, either by the RCN or RCN Publishing.
Editorial Graham Scott EDITOR
Leaders must act to prevent care apathy Some myths become so well known that they mutate into received wisdom. An example is the view that the ills afflicting modern nursing can be attributed to the values shared by today’s recruits. This mistaken view has gained traction in part because so many senior and retired nurses insist that the training regime was better in their day. But that does not make it true. RCN general secretary Peter Carter is in no doubt that the overwhelming majority of today’s students start their courses with the right values. He says so from a position of strength, because he visits universities and meets cohorts of new recruits. He is also aware that students and newly qualified nurses are more likely to blow the whistle on poor care than those who have witnessed it for years on end and have become blind to its existence.
NURSES WHO ARE STUCK IN A RUT SHOULD BE OFFERED A NEW JOB AND A FRESH START
Yet the government’s flagship policy in response to the Francis report is for would-be nurses to spend up to a year working as healthcare assistants. Setting aside the practical problems this policy presents – of which there are many – it would appear to be wholly unnecessary. In an interview with Nursing Standard this week, Dr Carter points out that poor care is much more likely to be delivered by nurses who are worn down and worn out. Typically they have worked for many years with patients who rarely get better, such as older people or those with learning disabilities. There are plenty of nurses in such settings that maintain high standards, but some find it impossible and become unfit to practise as a result. This does not absolve individuals of responsibility for their actions, but it is incumbent on those in leadership positions to do something about it. Dr Carter’s remedy is for nurses who are stuck in a rut to be offered the chance to change jobs and be given a fresh start. Several speakers at this year’s RCN congress pleaded that ‘something should be done’ about those nurses whose poor care gives the profession a bad name. Here is an example of what that something might be. See news page 5, analysis page 12 and Art & science page 41 Air your views on
Nursing Standard and
@NScomment
Have your say by joining our weekly Twitter debate. Every Thursday from 12.30 to 1.30 use #NScomment and share your views with other nurses on the hot topic of the day june 5 :: vol 27 no 40 :: 2013 1
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Telephone 0345 772 6100 Personal rates from £76.80 a year. Institutional rates from £250 a year. Visit www.nursing-standard.co.uk for details. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
The Heights, 59-65 Lowlands Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex HA1 3AW Tel: 020 8423 1333 Fax: 020 8872 3197 ISSN 0029-6570 Email: [email protected] You can email staff at Nursing Standard in the following way: (first name).(second name)@rcnpublishing.co.uk Nursing Standard is published every Wednesday by RCN Publishing Company Ltd, the publishing company of the Royal College of Nursing. It seeks to promote professional excellence, and encourage creativity and innovation in nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice. Nursing Standard also aims to enhance nurses’ and healthcare assistants’ career development and to help them achieve and maintain a healthy and rewarding working environment. Nursing Standard is editorially independent and the opinions expressed are not those of the RCN or of the contributor’s employing organisation unless specifically stated. Acceptance of an advertisement does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of a product or service, either by the RCN or RCN Publishing.
Editorial Graham Scott EDITOR
Leaders must act to prevent care apathy Some myths become so well known that they mutate into received wisdom. An example is the view that the ills afflicting modern nursing can be attributed to the values shared by today’s recruits. This mistaken view has gained traction in part because so many senior and retired nurses insist that the training regime was better in their day. But that does not make it true. RCN general secretary Peter Carter is in no doubt that the overwhelming majority of today’s students start their courses with the right values. He says so from a position of strength, because he visits universities and meets cohorts of new recruits. He is also aware that students and newly qualified nurses are more likely to blow the whistle on poor care than those who have witnessed it for years on end and have become blind to its existence.
NURSES WHO ARE STUCK IN A RUT SHOULD BE OFFERED A NEW JOB AND A FRESH START
Yet the government’s flagship policy in response to the Francis report is for would-be nurses to spend up to a year working as healthcare assistants. Setting aside the practical problems this policy presents – of which there are many – it would appear to be wholly unnecessary. In an interview with Nursing Standard this week, Dr Carter points out that poor care is much more likely to be delivered by nurses who are worn down and worn out. Typically they have worked for many years with patients who rarely get better, such as older people or those with learning disabilities. There are plenty of nurses in such settings that maintain high standards, but some find it impossible and become unfit to practise as a result. This does not absolve individuals of responsibility for their actions, but it is incumbent on those in leadership positions to do something about it. Dr Carter’s remedy is for nurses who are stuck in a rut to be offered the chance to change jobs and be given a fresh start. Several speakers at this year’s RCN congress pleaded that ‘something should be done’ about those nurses whose poor care gives the profession a bad name. Here is an example of what that something might be. See news page 5, analysis page 12 and Art & science page 41 Air your views on
Nursing Standard and
@NScomment
Have your say by joining our weekly Twitter debate. Every Thursday from 12.30 to 1.30 use #NScomment and share your views with other nurses on the hot topic of the day june 5 :: vol 27 no 40 :: 2013 1
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jun 21, 2016. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
