Alison Gallagher

‘Just in case’ medicines at end of life: a nurse’s guide A study highlights the complexities of making available anticipatory medications for people nearing the end of life at home. Click here to find out more > rcni.com/nursing-standa…

This week I have returned to work after a long period of prioritising my health. It's been a journey of self-discovery and healing, now I feel ready to bring my best self back to the profession and embrace new challenges with renewed energy and resilience. #MentalHealthMatters

Really enjoyed being back in uniform today just being Sarah, physiotherapist @NCICNHS. No doubt in my mind we need seven day cover for therapies to improve patient care and pathways.

Have you ever thought about becoming an ambulance nurse? Find out what the role involves, how it differs from that of paramedic, and if you have the right skills for it. rcni.com/nursing-standa…

A yoga teacher who walked out of hospital just a few hours after a total knee replacement believes her fitness and preparation were key to her swift discharge. Liz Richardson was our first TKR patient to be able to go home the same day. Read more: ekhuft.nhs.uk/news/i-was-doi…

I have been invited to talk at my son’s primary school on my career as a nurse, the role of the nurse, and how to become a nurse. So many things I can say, but would should I say to 100 children aged 8-11? Can we still get hold of NHSE children’s CNO nursing tops?

Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate 🐉✨ Some of our students celebrated the Year of the Dragon during a special event in Augustine House last Thursday by making Chinese couplets.

Overthinking is a big problem in organisations. When individuals & teams overthink, it creates a bottleneck. Decision making slows & a culture of risk-aversion can stifle opportunities. Recognise that there are 3 kinds of overthinking with different tactics to address them: 1) Rumination: dwelling on past events. Give it a scheduled slot 2) Future tripping: fear of what lies ahead & the uncertainty of what might happen. Look ahead beyond the point of worry ("temporal distancing") 3) Overanalysing: diving very deep into a topic. Aim for "good enough" rather than "perfection" hbr.org/2024/02/3-type… By @MelodyWilding. Graphic: @grantdraws

"Managerial ventriloquism" is a common practice in the health & case sector. It's where leaders mention others (often those in higher authority) when they ask people to do things. Eg, "the Regional Office needs this by the close of play" or "the Director says we have to do this". Over time, a culture builds where: A) managers speak for others too frequently, undermining their own credibility & B) responsibility keeps being passed to someone else, with no one willing to take ownership of decisions. This article sets out research-based tactics for leaders to own their own words & build their own agency & that of their teams: sloanreview.mit.edu/article/own-yo… By David Hollis & Alex Wright @mitsmr

For the love of Kent, for the Love of Garden of England. I have enjoyed every single part of this journey, thank you @CCCUNursing @FNightingaleF ....to all who contributed to my Journey placements and work many thanks to @EKHUFT @EKHUFT_WDET 🫶🏿.. A new journey begins💞

signs of a culture problem: - hierarchy is paramount - image trumps substance - listening is limited & tokenistic - staff have no voice; scared of repercussions - those who speak honestly are ostracised & demonised - bonding comes via othering - leaders can’t see the problem

What is the difference between systems thinking & design thinking? Systems thinking zooms out: it's about understanding the interconnection of parts (relationships, structures, thinking, culture) within a larger whole. Design thinking zooms in: it's about appreciating people's individual needs & combining them with what is technically feasible & economically viable to create new & better solutions. We often create the best insights for change when we zoom in AND out, combining analytical, big-picture systems thinking with creative people-centered design thinking. A great resource from @ideo that explains this: ideou.com/blogs/inspirat…

This is dismal. Having worked with and received care from Advanced Nurse Practitioners I cannot praise them highly enough. For success they must; be properly prepared at masters level, be part of a multi professional team approach to care and have effective governance around them

What are the "rules" (official or unofficial) of your department or organisation? Sister Corita Kent (1918-1986) was a nun, activist & pop artist. The rules she created when she was Head of the Immaculate Heart Art Department are some of the best ever. She was so ahead of her time. My favourites are: Rule 4) Consider everything an experiment Rule 8) Don't try to create & analyze at the same time. They're different processes. @l.nelson.hamilton/new-rules-next-week-213a19e9518b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@l.nelson.hami… Thank you to Laura Nelson Hamilton, Wild thinking Studio on @Medium.

Join our free live event for internationally educated nursing staff, this Tuesday, 6-7pm. You’ll be introduced to RCN Learn, the RCNi Revalidation Portfolio, plus the RCN’s professional framework, nursing workforce standards, forums, networks and more: bit.ly/3pSnKMA

Many of our improvement efforts in health & care address ‘systemic’ issues: deeply embedded challenges that are complex & difficult to resolve. We can increase the possibility of better outcomes by involving multiple people, using a process framework for systemic change, such as the "Systemic Design Framework" from the @designcouncil. Some resources that explain the framework: designcouncil.org.uk/our-resources/…. A case study of its application in a community initiative in health & care: @DesignCouncil/unboxing-a-system-changing-the-nhs-through-community-9be3c2608ae7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@DesignCouncil…

Are you a nursing student struggling with your clinical skills? Find out how an outreach skills clinic for assessment gives students the chance to practise and be assessed on the skills required for NMC registration. rcni.com/nursing-standa…