Retaining the Passion: Journeys Through Nursing

We are back for a new session with a new presenter, Dawn Marr whilst Craig takes a break after tying the knot to the love of his life, Patrick.  Dawn was a guest on the pod in Season One and will join Clare for the remainder if Season Three. 

This episode see Dawn and Clare catch up on what they have been doing during the extended break and keeping you all up to speed with some exciting job changes!

Writing is a skill that all Nurses need and learn through their training but this episode focusses on moving that forwards and how as a Nurse we can still use a wide variety of writing in practice and for our own development.  Dawn and Clare discuss their own journeys in writing and how they have found this has changed since being students. 

Joining the Pod for an interview Dawn and Clare are delighted to have had the chance to interview Heather Henry who has recently published her first book - Be a Leader in Nursing for Student Nurses.  Heather is a Queens Nurse and Writer and nurse entrepreneur. Heather talks to Dawn and Clare about all types of writing from academic and peer reviewed articles to creative writing and poetry.  

In this latest episode, we join Clare and Craig to talk about imposter syndrome in nursing and also about how the new NHS England Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) programme can work in some way to address this phenomenon, which is all too real for so many of us nurses.

They are delighted to be joined by two fantastic nurses. First, Daneka Dunne, a Registered Nurse (Mental Health) working in an Accident and Emergency Liaison Team in Greater Manchester joins them to share her candid, heartfelt, open and honest story of her own experiences with imposter syndrome and how it affects her in her day-to-day life as a nurse. We are so grateful to her bravery in discussing what can be a very difficult topic to address.

Next, Clare and Craig speak to the inspirational Dr Emma Wadey PhD, a Registered Nurse (Mental Health), and Deputy Director of Mental Health Nursing for NHS England and Improvement and a Consultant Nurse in Psychiatric Liaison. Emma talks about even at her stage in her career she also experiences imposter syndrome. She also goes on to discuss the fantastic Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) programme and its role in NHS England.

The PNA programme delivers training and restorative supervision for nursing colleagues right across England. The programme launched in March 2021, towards the end of the third wave of COVID-19. This was the start of a critical point of recovery: for patients, for services and the workforce. PNA training provides those on the programme with skills to facilitate restorative supervision to their colleagues and teams, in nursing and beyond. A version of this programme existed already for maternity colleagues, where outcomes pointed to improved staff wellbeing and retention, alongside improved patient outcomes. The training equips them to listen and to understand the challenges and demands of fellow colleagues and to lead support and deliver quality improvement initiatives in response. The PNA programme is the first of its kind for nursing not just in England, but across the world.

After a short hiatus, Clare and Craig are back with the rest of season three. This fortnight they are discussing the very topical, "Clinical Supervision". What is it? Why, as nurses, should we have it? And why does it matter more than ever?

They are delighted to have two fantastic guests join them who are part of the UK's Clinical Supervision Subject Expert Group hosted by the Florence Nightingale Foundation. First, they speak with Professor Emeritus Tony Butterworth CBE, a dual registered mental health and adult nurse, who was a driving force in bringing Clinical Supervision to the fore in the 1990s and continues to be a passionate advocate. Then, they speak to the incredible Joanne Bosanquet MBE,  CEO of the Foundation of Nursing Studies, which provides resilience-based clinical supervision.

It is enlightening to hear both Tony and Joanne speak with such passion and share their different views and commonalities regarding clinical supervision. And we hope that this episode helps to keep the conversation going.

Clare and Craig are thrilled to be joined by some extra special guests, our "Retaining the Passion" family, our amazing listeners!!

Join them all to hear them discussing their highlights from our three series, their dream guests, their highlights from 2021, what they are most looking forward to in 2022, and sharing their all-important "top tips".

We hope you enjoy the episode and have a lovely festive season.

Clare and Craig discuss why exactly it's "Everybody's Business" to know more about perinatal and parent and infant mental health. Also, Clare shares her very personal story of her lived experiences of birth trauma and how they shaped her mental health and parenting experience. 

They are so grateful to have three fantastic guests join them. First, they speak to Abbey Kennedy, a registered mental health nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner in a Specialist Perinatal Community Team in Greater Manchester. Then, Helen Stevens, a Clinical Psychologist who works in Parent and Infant Mental Health in Bury, Greater Manchester, for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. Lastly, they speak to the inspirational Lindsay Robinson, who shares the lived experience of her perinatal mental health issues and how she has used these to successfully campaign for specialist perinatal mental health services for women and families in Northern Ireland.

Thank you so much to all three for sharing their experiences and journeys. We hope it truly highlights the importance of perinatal and parent and infant mental health being everybody's business.

Clare and Craig catch up and discuss their very personal reasons for choosing "Mental Health Matters". And why they felt it was important to address nurses' and healthcare practitioners' lived experiences of mental health issues and challenging professional and societal stigma.

They are humbled and privileged to have three fantastic guests join them to discuss their experiences. First, they speak to Abby Martin, a registered early-career mental health nurse who works in schools with young people. Then, Sally-Anne Wherry, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Gloucestershire and Parkinson's nurse specialist. Lastly, but by no means least, Nichole McIntosh, London Regional Head of Nursing and Midwifery for Health Education England.

Thank you so much to all three for feeling safe enough to be candid, open and honest with us. We hope you can learn from and resonate with their lived experiences and advice as much as Clare and Craig.

On the 31st of October 2021, the opening day of COP26, Clare and Craig catch up and discuss their reasons for choosing this fortnight's episode, "COP26, sustainability and climate action in healthcare".

They are then delighted to be joined by Alexis Percival, Environmental and sustainability manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and Clare Nash RN, Head of Clinical Products Management. Both discuss their vital work to reduce the NHS's carbon footprint and net-zero aims.

Some of the statistics are stark and frightening. However, we don't want people to be scared into inaction. We hope listening to Alexis and Clare inspires you to improve your sustainable practices in your personal and professional lives.

Hear them discuss the need to include sustainability in healthcare preregistration education, how sustainable practices are often more patient-centred while saving the planet, and much more.

We cannot believe it is our Season Two finale! Both Clare and Craig are incredibly passionate about how politics and policy influence nursing and society more broadly. So, we are delighted, and it feels natural to end the season discussing "Nursing and Politics".

As well as sharing their thoughts and reflections on the topic, Clare and Craig are honoured to be joined by Jeane Freeman OBE, a former nurse, member of the Scottish Parliament and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport. In an open and honest interview, Jeane shares her thoughts on how nurses can influence politics and policy.

Well, that is it, we will see you in the autumn! Thank you so much for following us, and have a lovely summer.

First, Clare and Craig catch up and discuss their reasons for choosing this fortnight's episode "Leaders and Followers". Next, they are joined by two fantastic nurse leaders at different stages in their leadership journeys: Paul Jebb and Charlotte Jakab-Hall. 

Paul is an Associate Chief Nurse for Patient Experience and Engagement at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. He has extensive formal management and leadership experience and sits on the Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN) Nurses in Management and Leadership Forum’s Steering Committee and RCNi’s Editorial Board. Additionally, Paul sits on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s professional strategic advisory group. He also has an honorary senior lecturer’s contract at his local university and is Chair of Blackpool Carer’s Centre charity. Additionally, alongside Jeni Watts, Paul is one of the co-coordinators of the “We Are Global Nurses” movement.

Charlotte is a Safe Care Specialist Nurse at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a Chief Nurse Fellow Alumni. With her colleague, she is also the co-founder of GloSTaRs, Gloucestershire Hospitals Staff Transition & Retention Support Network. Charlotte is also the creator of @BloggersNurse, a global networking platform for nurses and all allied healthcare professionals to share their blog posts, set up to support the Nursing Now Challenge.

Following these interviews, Clare and Craig reflect on their discussions with Paul and Charlotte, their take-home messages, and how they will use these discussions to influence their leader and followership journeys.

First, Clare and Craig discuss their reasons for choosing this fortnight's episode "Asylum Seeker Health". Craig begins by explaining the current context regarding the United Kingdom (UK) Government Home Office's post-Brexit proposed new Immigration and Asylum Bill 2021. He also offers, in his opinion, examples of where he believes the current Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 do not appear to work effectively to benefit the UK's asylum-seeking and refugee populations. Clare also shares her very personal reasons for wishing to choose this topic, as though Craig works in an Asylum Health Bridging Team; this episode topic was Clare's suggestion. 

Two fantastic guests then join them. Firstly, by a self-professed, proud asylum seeker, female genital mutilation (FGM) survivor, human rights activist, and author of the best selling book, "Cut: One Woman's Fight Against FGM in Britain Today", Hibo Wardere. While some may find Hibo's story a difficult listen, she is a positive beacon of light who bravely speaks out against FGM, advocating for the rights of women and girls.

Next, Clare and Craig interview Jean Saunders MBE, a registered adult nurse and health visitor. Jean is the Asylum Seeker Lead Nurse for Swansea Bay University Health Board and the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) Nurse of the Year 2019/2020. Jean discusses how she and her team have established their service for asylum-seekers in Wales, and their unique health visitor led model. She also discusses her aspirations for the future and how she hopes asylum-seeker services can improve across the UK.

Following these interviews, Clare and Craig reflect on the discussions with Hibo and Jean and why they believe it is so important all nurses and healthcare workers are aware of the particular needs of asylum-seekers and refugees in the UK, not solely those working in the specific field. 

First, Clare and Craig discuss three significant nursing events from this week: #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, #InternationalNursesWeek and the Royal College of Nursing, voting to rejoin the International College of Nurses at their Annual General Meeting. Next, they discuss their decision for choosing the topic "Dying Matters" and why they believe we need to be having open and frank discussions about death, palliative and end of life care. 

Their first interviewee is Dr Billy Rosa, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Nurse Practitioner. Billy works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and is particularly passionate about LGBTQ+ rights in palliative care and valuing "chosen families" and has done much work in this field. 

Next, Clare interviews Dr Kathryn Mannix, a Palliative Care Physician who is passionate about getting us all better acquainted with the idea of dying well. Kathryn is also a published Sunday Times bestselling author of "With the End in Mind". 

Clare and Craig then reflect on the two very emotive, emotional, but inspiring interviews. And though they understand death and dying are complex topics for many to discuss, particularly this year with what we've experienced through the Covid-19 pandemic, it will inspire people to begin these conversations. 

Clare and Craig share what is quite possibly their most frank, honest and open episode ever. No guests, just them turning the mic on each other. As they reflect on their first year of registration, they discuss their major milestones this year and their best and most challenging days as newly registered nurses. Also, what they've done to help them get through this first year, and their plans for the coming year. Lastly, they impart their advice to newly registered nurses taking up their first post.

Clare and Craig, both who became newly registered nurses as the Covid-19 pandemic broke, and we entered lockdown in the United Kingdom, catch up and discuss their reasoning for choosing this episode "Covid-19 - the Effect on Nursing. They want to know what the short and long-term effects of Covid-19 will be on individual nurses and the nursing profession, both nationally and globally.

First, they talk with Catherine Gamble, a dually registered adult and mental health nurse and Head of Nursing Education and Research at London Trust. Catherine was also the former Professional lead for Mental Health at the Royal College of Nursing.

Next, they interview registered mental health nurse Vicky Farnsworth and Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Clare Jones, who are seconded to the Greater Manchester Resilience Hub. They explain the inception of the hub following the Manchester Arena bombing and how this has been adapted to help healthcare workers and their families throughout the pandemic.

Lastly, Clare and Craig reflect on both interviews and what this all means for the future.

Clare and Craig catch up and discuss their reasoning for choosing the episode title, "When Mistakes Happen". They discuss whether universities prepare new registrants for WHEN they make a mistake rather than IF, how the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) can be used as a punitive tool, and how new registrants can become so paralysed by the fear of making mistakes that they can result in making mistakes.

Together, Clare and Craig interview two incredibly insightful guests. Firstly, Liz Jeremiah, a registered senior staff nurse in ITU and RCN Steward. Next, the Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the NMC, Andrea Sutcliffe. Clare and Craig talk to both about what to do when we make mistakes and how we can all move forward in our nursing journeys. They then reflect on these discussions and how the nursing profession can address mistakes moving forward.

Clare and Craig cannot quite believe they have reached the end of season one, where has the time gone? We truly hope you have enjoyed following our journey as much as we have. And have been inspired by and learnt so much from our many amazing guests. 

We will miss you all so much, and owe so much to you our listeners and followers. But we will be back in eight weeks time on February 14th 2021. During our downtime, we will be re-releasing our previous episodes, so you can catch up if you missed them the first time. 

In this, our season finale, we are joined by two terrific guests. First, Carol Forde-Johnstone, a divisional recruitment and consultant lead and a superbly successful published author, who has been such an incredible supporter of both the podcast and Clare and Craig individually, as well as all newly registered nurses. 

Next, we are joined by a very close personal friend, a fellow Student Nurse Project alumni and Royal College of Nursing Twitter curator, Beth Phillips. Beth is a newly registered children’s nurse who works has worked both in an acute setting and most recently in the community. She candidly shares the experience of her first year with real honesty. 

Both our guests share some great advice for us to take forward into 2021. We know 2020 has been a difficult year, and we hope we have been able to bring some joy and help you develop, grow and retain your passion for nursing, which is exactly what we set out to do.

Happy holidays and have a very safe and special New Year.

Craig and Clare catch up and discuss their first times: Clare winning the prestigious Student Nursing Times Student Nurse of the Year (Mental Health) Award 2020 and gaining a promotion at work. And Craig, shadowing Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnerships' Homeless and Asylum services, gaining insight into the incredible and innovative work they are doing. 

Together, they chat to newly registered general practice nurse Claire Carmichael, who is also a General Practice Student and Nurse Network ambassador and Student Nurse Project curator. Following that, they interview Ellen Nicholson, registered adult and Queen's Nurse, and Chair of the Royal College of Nursing's General Practice Nursing Forum. Through both interviews, they hope to bust some myths surrounding general practice nursing. At the same time, highlighting that it is definitely a career option for newly registered nurses. 

As you know, our podcast is unaffiliated. However, this episode focuses specifically on what the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) as the professional body of nursing is doing for its newly registered nurses. 

Clare and Craig reveal some huge news. "Retaining the Passion" has been selected to present at the Healthcare Leadership Academy Conference 2020 alongside other global healthcare leaders after having their abstract for a poster presentation accepted. This honour is down to you our listeners and followers. We wouldn't be here without you, so thank you.

Together, Clare and Craig interview Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCN. Next, they chat with Clare's RCN Newly Qualified Nurses Network co-lead, and student representative on the RCN Professional Nursing Committee, Kendal Moran. Then they finish up by talking to Dave Dawes, the newly elected Chair of RCN Council. In turn, Clare and Craig ask all three what more the College could be doing to support newly registered nurses.