Comments for Nursing Times

Comment on Nurse striving to remove barriers for colour blind patients by John Owen

John Owen — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 12:58:56 +0000

To paraphrase the late Ted Lowe, “For those of you looking for the Audiology Clinic, follow the green line; for those of you with colour blindness, the green line is to the right of the orange line.”

Comment on ‘There are easy ways to let student nurses know they are respected’ by Sarah Evans

Sarah Evans — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:39:25 +0000

Unfortunately, being referred to as ‘the student’ still happens today. Even though I wear a bright yellow name badge, few call me by my name. Being made to feel like you do not belong does happen too; some staff do not interact with students and almost pretend like they are not there.

Comment on Government seeks views on separate pay scale for nurses by lesley Bailey

lesley Bailey — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:29:22 +0000

Please don’t forget Practice Nurses again

Comment on Trust defends sacking nurse over religious behaviour by lesley Bailey

lesley Bailey — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:52:13 +0000

Without further details this s hard to comment upon. However, if the patient self- identified as Christian, I can see no problem with offering to pray for the patient if the practitioner was of the same faith (or Muslim, or Jewish – come to that). I do have problems with “evangelising” in whatever context. That is not the role of the healthcare professional or even the Chaplaincy service – and I speak as someone who is trained in both disciplines. Where I concur with the article, is that the offer of prayer is generally welcomed – whether that is at the time or later in private. I often offer to pray for patients if I am aware of their beliefs or spirituality, but rarely do so in he moment, unless they request it specifically when I am working as a nurse – but I am quite open about the fact that I have another life outside of nursing. I have no problems about working with different faiths or cultures and have some amazing friendships with Imams and Rabbis who I have met during the course of my nursing career in General Practice – while I remain a Christian Minister and theologian outside of work. I thin only once has anyone complained – and that was an off the cuff comment I made about to a group of HCA students about any tube inserted into a body posing a heightened risk of infection – because the “original design/” was far superior! (how petty can you get?) This was after she had overheard me chatting at coffee break to a colleague who volunteered as a Chaplain. She said the found the remark “triggering”! – although why, she did not say. However, factually, it is entirely accurate.

Comment on ‘Is ward work really a necessity for newly qualified nurses?’ by Giorge Carter

Giorge Carter — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 22:33:49 +0000

I was always told the same! I have been qualified for just over a year as an adult nurse and I started in ED which I love! I also had a bad experience on a ward based placement, but I also had a good placement on a ward. It is so difficult to navigate your career as a student nurse but I have hope we will all get there in the end with strength, courage and determination! You are doing amazing and I wish you all the best for your future as a nurse!

Comment on Doctor who sexually harassed nurses avoids suspension by lesley Bailey

lesley Bailey — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 23:08:06 +0000

So the sexual harassment of nurses is apparently acceptable? It doesn’t warrant suspension even for a month? Can you imagine if it were the other way around? The NMC would act entirely differently!

Comment on Dementia, incontinence and the loss of dignity in acute hospitals by Alison Cann

Alison Cann — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:43:08 +0000

Your article on continence in acute hospitals makes me despair. I was taught as a very junior nurse by a fabulous continence nurse that padding patients up simply made people incontinent. Once incontinent it is hard to retrain the bladders of elderly patients even when they don’t have dementia. In addition you have made one more person unsafe to go back to their accommodation, at risk of sores, infection and worst of all you have taken away their dignity. I had countless arguments with staff about it when I managed elderly care 25 years ago. If we are still having to point out such simple nursing facts in an article like this it is sad day for nursing. What next? Why we need to turn people? I honestly thought that nursing was improving when I was in my 20s. Now I am in my 50s I see we have learned very little. More interested in doing extended practice than getting the core elements right.

Comment on Diabetes management 3: the pathogenesis and management of diabetic foot ulcers by Ruble John

Ruble John — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 04:58:25 +0000

really helpfull

Comment on First Filipino executive chief nurse appointed in NHS by Mary Ronson

Mary Ronson — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 19:09:03 +0000

Congratulations to Mr Soriano on his new position. I am both surprised and sad to hear though that race and colour of skin is still seen as a barrier to leadership roles. I for one work in a very diverse environment within the NHS. I would have thought that if someone had the right qualifications, right strengths and a good command of the language of the country they live in, opportunities would be open on an equal footing to anyone who applies. That is my understanding of equality.

Comment on Graduate status of nursing ‘not going away’, says deputy CNO by John Owen

John Owen — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:04:20 +0000

Nursing a graduate profession? You could fool me, looking at my pay slips. A lot of studying, hard work and ongoing training for miniscule pay. WTF.