WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIALIST? Daniel Allen offers advice on how to build the skills and the experience needed to secure a specialist role For nurses keen to specialise in a particular area of care, it can be tough convincing employers to consider them if their application is built more on enthusiasm than experience. So, if passion for the post is high but know-how low, what needs to be done to get to the head of the queue of applicants for specialist nursing roles? If the vacancy is advertised, pick up the phone, says Suzanne Cullen, lead for recruitment, retention and career development for cardiothoracic, respiratory and critical care at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH).
Buzz words
NOTICE BOARD
An informal chat with the person named at the bottom of the job advertisement can help applicants to identify what the employer is looking for. ‘Adverts all use the same buzz words, so think about what those words mean in relation to that particular job,’ she says. Better still, try to arrange a visit, says Ms Cullen. ‘You
should not really go for a specialist job until you have spoken to someone working in the role.’ Increasingly, GOSH tries to invite job candidates to come in for taster days, she says. Stuart Keeling, clinical lead at Millbrook mental health unit, part of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, agrees: ‘Visits may include shadowing, and gaining first-hand
Technical skills
Not necessarily, says Ms Cullen. ‘Most ICUs now have wonderful education programmes that will teach you technical skills.’ The expertise gained from working with families and parents, and from caring for six or seven patients at once, is more important. ‘You can bring these
MOST ICUs NOW HAVE WONDERFUL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES THAT TEACH YOU TECHNICAL SKILLS experience, establishing links and undertaking relevant training days,’ he says. ‘This will enable you to build up expertise that will impress an employer. It will also build up the portfolio of evidence you need to meet Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements and to go for an interview.’ Shadowing and relevant training will boost the chances of securing a specialist role. But what about experience? Surely a candidate will be at a
Awards The Foundation of Nursing Studies (FONS) is co-sponsoring the Welch Alleyn Pioneers of Care Awards. The awards recognise clinical nurses who have gone out of their way to work effectively, efficiently and empathetically with patients and introduced new techniques to solve problems and improve lives. The awards are made in three categories – emergency nursing, practice nursing and student nursing – with a £500 bursary given in each category. The closing date for applications is May 1. tinyurl.com/PoCFoNS Health and safety Education and training company PCC is offering training in health and safety primarily for general practice staff. The course examines how to comply with health and safety regulations. It covers individual and
64 april 16 :: vol 28 no 33 :: 2014
disadvantage if his or her career has been spent on a general paediatric ward, for example, when applying to work in children’s intensive care?
skills with you, and we will teach you the rest,’ says Ms Cullen. In fact, she says, interpersonal skills are as important as clinical proficiency: ‘Clinical skills alone will not get you through.’ For the specialist children’s nurses recruited at GOSH, a key required quality is the ability to deal with people at one of the most stressful times in their lives – when their child is seriously ill. Sometimes that stress can manifest in a way that requires exceptionally skilful management by nursing staff.
organisational responsibilities for a safe workplace, how every staff member can be compliant with organisational policies, and how to minimise health risks by understanding regulations, emergency procedures and fire policies. www.pcc-cic.org.uk/health-and-safety Never events A new report from NHS England sets out recommendations on how to eliminate so-called never events from NHS surgery. Measures include the development of national and local standard operating procedures, the establishment of an independent investigation panel to review serious incidents, education to support implementation of the standards, and consistency in reporting, publishing and disseminating the learning from incidents. tinyurl.com/nevevsrecs
NURSING STANDARD
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For candidates who progress as far as the interview or assessment stage of the recruitment process, the panel will want evidence that applicants are self-assured. Specialist nursing posts are rarely the domain of shy, retiring types. ‘You need to be reasonably confident and able to look out for yourself,’ says Ms Cullen. Mr Keeling adds that it was a combination of three things that helped him secure his current specialist post: Previous experience as a senior project manager in a high-profile project. Enthusiasm and desire to succeed. Experience gained by working bank shifts in a similar area. ‘This background, I felt, convinced the appointing officer that I had the all-round skills and experience to work in a specialist role’ NS Daniel Allen is a freelance journalist RESOURCES RCN Children and Young People Specialist Care Forum tinyurl.com/RCNCYPSCF Specialist nursing at GOSH tinyurl.com/GOSH-nurses RCN children’s acute care community tinyurl.com/RCNCACC
TIM GEORGE
CAREERS
I NEEDED A NEW CHALLENGE. THIS IS PERFECT I had been working at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London for 21 years and needed a new challenge. No sooner had I started looking than this post at The Portland Hospital came up. It was a post with more responsibility, greater variety and new challenges, so it was perfect. I have been here six years now. We see around 25 young patients a year, primarily to treat curvature of the spine. The work we do here to straighten children’s spines means that patients grow, both literally and metaphorically, after surgery. It is so good to see. We have carried out a pioneering treatment using a metal rod implanted along the spine that is adjusted gradually using magnets. This is a far less invasive treatment than surgery for some forms of scoliosis. It is great to be involved in this.
Revalidation The Nursing and Midwifery Council is holding a series of consultation events to help shape a revised Code of Conduct and guidance for revalidation. The NMC is particularly keen to hear from nurses, midwives, employers, professional organisations, students and educators. Events will be held in Belfast on May 24, in Cardiff on June 26 and in Glasgow on July 11. To receive information about these and other events, join the NMC mailing list at [email protected]. Speaking out In association with NHSManagers.net, a Speaking Out Summit (SOS) will be held on May 8 at the Royal Society of Medicine in London to promote best practice for anyone involved in whistleblowing and speaking out in any capacity within the
NURSING STANDARD
We run a weekly operating list and weekly clinics. Patients attend for preoperative tests and to prepare for surgery. Seeing them before surgery and then seeing the difference it has made to their lives afterwards is what I enjoy most. This improvement is an important part of the process and recovery may be quicker for it. We are a multidisciplinary team, all working together for the patients. We put the patient at the heart of everything we do here, and I hope that shows. At The Portland, I have been on many courses to increase my learning and professional development. I have asked to take a course that will allow me to order X-rays because this will save time and streamline the service for patients. Ruth Hall is clinical nurse specialist at The Portland Hospital in London
NHS. Speakers include Sir Robert Naylor from University College Hospitals NHS Trust, GP and comedian Phil Hammond and head of NHS Employers Dean Royles. The day will include workshop sessions by experts in whistleblowing law, conflict resolution, enquiry management, and organisational and leadership dynamics. tinyurl.com/SOSbooking Time management A one-day masterclass for all healthcare professionals who want to become more productive and effective in their use of time in and outside work is offered by Healthcare Events on June 11. Delegates will receive a time-management toolkit to help bring more clarity to planning working lives and personal commitments. Nursing Standard readers are eligible for a 20 per cent discount on conference fees by quoting HCUK20RCN www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/event/826 april 16 :: vol 28 no 33 :: 2014 65
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Buzz words
NOTICE BOARD
An informal chat with the person named at the bottom of the job advertisement can help applicants to identify what the employer is looking for. ‘Adverts all use the same buzz words, so think about what those words mean in relation to that particular job,’ she says. Better still, try to arrange a visit, says Ms Cullen. ‘You
should not really go for a specialist job until you have spoken to someone working in the role.’ Increasingly, GOSH tries to invite job candidates to come in for taster days, she says. Stuart Keeling, clinical lead at Millbrook mental health unit, part of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, agrees: ‘Visits may include shadowing, and gaining first-hand
Technical skills
Not necessarily, says Ms Cullen. ‘Most ICUs now have wonderful education programmes that will teach you technical skills.’ The expertise gained from working with families and parents, and from caring for six or seven patients at once, is more important. ‘You can bring these
MOST ICUs NOW HAVE WONDERFUL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES THAT TEACH YOU TECHNICAL SKILLS experience, establishing links and undertaking relevant training days,’ he says. ‘This will enable you to build up expertise that will impress an employer. It will also build up the portfolio of evidence you need to meet Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements and to go for an interview.’ Shadowing and relevant training will boost the chances of securing a specialist role. But what about experience? Surely a candidate will be at a
Awards The Foundation of Nursing Studies (FONS) is co-sponsoring the Welch Alleyn Pioneers of Care Awards. The awards recognise clinical nurses who have gone out of their way to work effectively, efficiently and empathetically with patients and introduced new techniques to solve problems and improve lives. The awards are made in three categories – emergency nursing, practice nursing and student nursing – with a £500 bursary given in each category. The closing date for applications is May 1. tinyurl.com/PoCFoNS Health and safety Education and training company PCC is offering training in health and safety primarily for general practice staff. The course examines how to comply with health and safety regulations. It covers individual and
64 april 16 :: vol 28 no 33 :: 2014
disadvantage if his or her career has been spent on a general paediatric ward, for example, when applying to work in children’s intensive care?
skills with you, and we will teach you the rest,’ says Ms Cullen. In fact, she says, interpersonal skills are as important as clinical proficiency: ‘Clinical skills alone will not get you through.’ For the specialist children’s nurses recruited at GOSH, a key required quality is the ability to deal with people at one of the most stressful times in their lives – when their child is seriously ill. Sometimes that stress can manifest in a way that requires exceptionally skilful management by nursing staff.
organisational responsibilities for a safe workplace, how every staff member can be compliant with organisational policies, and how to minimise health risks by understanding regulations, emergency procedures and fire policies. www.pcc-cic.org.uk/health-and-safety Never events A new report from NHS England sets out recommendations on how to eliminate so-called never events from NHS surgery. Measures include the development of national and local standard operating procedures, the establishment of an independent investigation panel to review serious incidents, education to support implementation of the standards, and consistency in reporting, publishing and disseminating the learning from incidents. tinyurl.com/nevevsrecs
NURSING STANDARD
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For candidates who progress as far as the interview or assessment stage of the recruitment process, the panel will want evidence that applicants are self-assured. Specialist nursing posts are rarely the domain of shy, retiring types. ‘You need to be reasonably confident and able to look out for yourself,’ says Ms Cullen. Mr Keeling adds that it was a combination of three things that helped him secure his current specialist post: Previous experience as a senior project manager in a high-profile project. Enthusiasm and desire to succeed. Experience gained by working bank shifts in a similar area. ‘This background, I felt, convinced the appointing officer that I had the all-round skills and experience to work in a specialist role’ NS Daniel Allen is a freelance journalist RESOURCES RCN Children and Young People Specialist Care Forum tinyurl.com/RCNCYPSCF Specialist nursing at GOSH tinyurl.com/GOSH-nurses RCN children’s acute care community tinyurl.com/RCNCACC
TIM GEORGE
CAREERS
I NEEDED A NEW CHALLENGE. THIS IS PERFECT I had been working at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London for 21 years and needed a new challenge. No sooner had I started looking than this post at The Portland Hospital came up. It was a post with more responsibility, greater variety and new challenges, so it was perfect. I have been here six years now. We see around 25 young patients a year, primarily to treat curvature of the spine. The work we do here to straighten children’s spines means that patients grow, both literally and metaphorically, after surgery. It is so good to see. We have carried out a pioneering treatment using a metal rod implanted along the spine that is adjusted gradually using magnets. This is a far less invasive treatment than surgery for some forms of scoliosis. It is great to be involved in this.
Revalidation The Nursing and Midwifery Council is holding a series of consultation events to help shape a revised Code of Conduct and guidance for revalidation. The NMC is particularly keen to hear from nurses, midwives, employers, professional organisations, students and educators. Events will be held in Belfast on May 24, in Cardiff on June 26 and in Glasgow on July 11. To receive information about these and other events, join the NMC mailing list at [email protected]. Speaking out In association with NHSManagers.net, a Speaking Out Summit (SOS) will be held on May 8 at the Royal Society of Medicine in London to promote best practice for anyone involved in whistleblowing and speaking out in any capacity within the
NURSING STANDARD
We run a weekly operating list and weekly clinics. Patients attend for preoperative tests and to prepare for surgery. Seeing them before surgery and then seeing the difference it has made to their lives afterwards is what I enjoy most. This improvement is an important part of the process and recovery may be quicker for it. We are a multidisciplinary team, all working together for the patients. We put the patient at the heart of everything we do here, and I hope that shows. At The Portland, I have been on many courses to increase my learning and professional development. I have asked to take a course that will allow me to order X-rays because this will save time and streamline the service for patients. Ruth Hall is clinical nurse specialist at The Portland Hospital in London
NHS. Speakers include Sir Robert Naylor from University College Hospitals NHS Trust, GP and comedian Phil Hammond and head of NHS Employers Dean Royles. The day will include workshop sessions by experts in whistleblowing law, conflict resolution, enquiry management, and organisational and leadership dynamics. tinyurl.com/SOSbooking Time management A one-day masterclass for all healthcare professionals who want to become more productive and effective in their use of time in and outside work is offered by Healthcare Events on June 11. Delegates will receive a time-management toolkit to help bring more clarity to planning working lives and personal commitments. Nursing Standard readers are eligible for a 20 per cent discount on conference fees by quoting HCUK20RCN www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/event/826 april 16 :: vol 28 no 33 :: 2014 65
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