Navigating Nursing

In this episode Laura meets with Emma Firth who is a Regional Primary Care Lead in the North of England. Emma speaks about how she decided to do nursing and how she originally worked on a female surgery and gynaecology ward before working at HMP Wakefield prison as a primary care nurse. Emma discusses how studying her non- medical prescribing has been a pivotal learning moment in her career. Laura and Emma talk about the role of the Professional Nurse Advocate and the impact it can have on the workforce. Emma and Laura debate about the idea of ‘deskilling’ and how all nurse’s competence develops and involves over time depending on their current role and experience. Emma gives advice for newly qualified nurses and students and also outlines her career plans for the future.

In this episode Laura talks with Kat Cheng who is a Teaching Associate, Fellow of the high education academy, Adult nurse and Health Visitor. Kat discusses the impact working on a Mercy ship had on her desire to study nursing. Kat talks about how a placement during her Adult Nursing degree led to her wanting to pursue a career as a Health Visitor. Kat has gone on to work in academia and is currently a Teaching Associate at the University of Nottingham. Kat is also completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher education and has also completed a MSc in Public Health. Kat discusses the reason for studying a MSc in Public health. Kat gives advice for anyone wishing to complete a MSc or who wishes to train to become a Health Visitor. Kat is a Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the School of Health Sciences at the university and she discusses how she has developed her knowledge and skills in managing safeguarding situations. Kat is passionate in Public Health and health promotion and this is evident through the advice she gives to students and qualified staff within this episode.

Laura is joined today by Dr Joan Myers, an independent consultant. Dr Joan Myers OBE is a multi- award winning nurse and received an OBE for her services to children and nursing in 2013. She is a Queen's Nurse and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Middlesex University. Dr Joan discusses her passion for helping people at a young age and her journey into nursing. Dr Joan speaks about her training and development throughout her career and gives advice for anyone facing challenges with their managers. She gives leadership advice for all nurses and students, and discussed the importance of role models and mentors. Dr Joan Myers' passion for career development and supportive learning environments shines through in the advice she gives. Trigger warning: discrimination, racism and ageism are discussed within this episode. This webpage gives support and advice: Support if you have experienced racism or discrimination | The King's Fund (kingsfund.org.uk)

In this episode Laura meets with Sarah Evans, a Preceptorship Matron who is responsible for newly qualified nurses and ODPs, midwives and newly registered nursing associates. Sarah has a clinical background in intensive care and was an ECMO nurse specialist for many years. She discusses her career journey and how she has been a "constant student" throughout her career. Sarah gives advice to students who are unsure of their career aims and reminds us that we are always learning regardless of our experience level or how long we have been qualified. She talks about her secondment to the Chief Nurse Office and how she has found the transition to an education role from a full time clinical post. Sarah also shares her career aims for the future.

Laura is joined by Professor Nancy Fontaine who is a Chief Nurse and Director for Infection Prevention and Control and Executive lead for Quality, Safety, Patient Experience and Engagement, at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Professor Nancy talks through her decision to study nursing, and her varied career. She discusses her time working as a nurse abroad and how she has managed to maintain her love of travel throughout her career. Professor Nancy discusses how we all have life long careers and how we can evolve and change throughout them. She talks about her time as one of the country’s first Nurse Consultants and her enjoyment in Emergency Department and Critical care nursing. She gives advice for anyone wishing to study and discusses her own journey through academic study which has included a PhD which focuses on using humour as a coping mechanism. Professor Nancy is a Qualified coach and the need she thinks there is in the NHS for supportive career progression. This episode contains advise for student nurses, nurses and academics.

In this podcast Laura interviews Heather Wilson. Heather discusses the work experience which led to her studying nursing at Edinburgh. She speaks about her interest in public heath, preventative health and policy started at university when she felt acutely aware of the downstream nature of healthcare in the UK. Heather completed a Graduate scheme at Cancer research and how she managed her clinical development as a newly qualified nurse at the same time. During the pandemic Heather discusses her work in the Emergency Department and Intensive care and how she started working in the Vaccination Centre. Heather is studying for a MSc in Public Health in London Centre for Tropical Disease Medicine and she talks about the working/ studying balance. Heather gives advice to all nurses in regards to self-care and self-preservation. Heather currently works at the at the Health Foundation as a Policy and Programme Officer alongside working on the bank as a nurse in the A&E Department of a central London hospital. Laura and Heather also talk about how they stay hopeful whilst working in challenging environments. They discuss how their identities as a nurse has changed over the course of the careers and how there is still a perception that as a nurse is that you must work clinically. Heather finally shares her goals and aspirations for the future.

In this episode Laura speak with Sian Chinwuba, a Paediatric Staff Nurse and winner of Student Nursing Time Awards for the Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year 2021. Sian discusses her first year as a newly qualified on a rotation programme. She outlines the positives and negatives of a rotation programme. She gives advice for students and newly qualified nurses in how to manage stress and how to deal with difficult situations at work. Sian speaks about the MSc in Women’s Health at UCLH she recently started (at the time of recording) and her career aims and goals for the future.

In this episode Laura speak with Sian Chinwuba, a Paediatric Staff Nurse and winner of Student Nursing Time Awards for the Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year 2021. Sian discusses her first year as a newly qualified on a rotation programme. She outlines the positives and negatives of a rotation programme. She gives advice for students and newly qualified nurses in how to manage stress and how to deal with difficult situations at work. Sian speaks about the MSc in Women’s Health at UCLH she recently started (at the time of recording) and her career aims and goals for the future.

Dr Anna Maria Valdez Ph.D., RN, FAEN, FAADN joins Laura Whitehead on the podcast this week. She is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Nursing at Sonoma State University. She discusses her career to date and what led her to apply to a nursing programme. Dr Anna discusses how she managed working full time and studying. Dr Anna had worked in the Emergency Department and Intensive care throughout her career and she discusses her move into education and academia. She discusses her PhD and what led to her focus on Nursing Education. We talk about the role of nurses, how nursing has developed and the importance of nurses being involved in policy development.

Dr Anna shares her view on Florence Nightingale and we must be aware of the place of privilege she came from and how others who have contribution to the profession have been forgotten over time. Laura and Dr Anna discuss hierarchy in healthcare and how as a profession nurses can be guilty of repressing others in their career development. Dr Anna discusses the he Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity and the importance of a focus in health equity and nurse wellness in the report. She shares her advice for newly qualified nurses and importance of boundaries. Dr Anna outlines her plans for the future as her excitement at starting as the Editor of the Emergency Nursing journal and her career goals.

Dr Anna Maria Valdez Ph.D., RN, FAEN, FAADN joins Laura Whitehead on the podcast this week. She is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Nursing at Sonoma State University. She discusses her career to date and what led her to apply to a nursing programme. Dr Anna discusses how she managed working full time and studying. Dr Anna had worked in the Emergency Department and Intensive care throughout her career and she discusses her move into education and academia. She discusses her PhD and what led to her focus on Nursing Education. We talk about the role of nurses, how nursing has developed and the importance of nurses being involved in policy development.

Dr Anna shares her view on Florence Nightingale and we must be aware of the place of privilege she came from and how others who have contribution to the profession have been forgotten over time. Laura and Dr Anna discuss hierarchy in healthcare and how as a profession nurses can be guilty of repressing others in their career development. Dr Anna discusses the he Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity and the importance of a focus in health equity and nurse wellness in the report. She shares her advice for newly qualified nurses and importance of boundaries. Dr Anna outlines her plans for the future as her excitement at starting as the Editor of the Emergency Nursing journal and her career goals.