How to write your CV after years of nursing experience

Posted on February 21, 2012 by admin

I just published an article about CV writing when you have several years of experience in nursing, (equally applicable to midwifery!) and you’re trying to compose a CV that doesn’t read like War and Peace. It’s a tricky one because you want to make sure you’ve given enough information that the employer will offer you an interview, but not so much that your CV begins with your first job when you were 16 years old!

There are 7 ‘Golden Rule’ points to follow when writing a nursing or midwifery CV (check out the article link below for full details), and as long as you follow these your CV can be whatever you want it to be. When you’re thinking about the layout, you should always be thinking “How can this work for me?”. If you want to put your current job and responsibilities at the top, underneath your name and contact details, because that’s what you feel would be most relevant, then go for it.

Effective CV writing is all about giving the employer the relevant information about your experience, qualifications, professional development and employment history so they can discover you are the ideal candidate for the job.

Read the article in full here - How to update your nurse CV after several years of nursing experience

Fighting for the rights of patients with learning disabilities

Posted on February 15, 2012 by admin

The Guardian recently published a really excellent article about championing the rights for patients with learning disabilities in main stream healthcare. They featured a nurse consultant called Jim Blair, who works at St George’s Hospital in south London, and who is campaigning for better care for people with learning disabilities in all parts of the healthcare system.

The right that every person has to access healthcare in this country does not diminish because that individual has a learning disability, and Jim Blair is championing a change of attitude and better training for nurses across all healthcare disciplines. In 2007, Mencap published a report called ‘Death by Indifference’, which highlighted the deaths of 6 people with learning disabilities as a result of failings in the NHS. After that report was made public and the health ombudsman concluded that the 6 people in question were failed by the NHS on some level, many more families came forward to report similar experiences. 5 years on from that report and Mencap has published an update called Death by Indifference: 74 and counting, which is looking at 74 deaths that have been reported to mencap over the last 10 years.

Further learning disability training for all nurses is key to making improvements in a system that the ombudsman originally found in some cases
to have “failed to live up to human rights principles, especially those of dignity and equality”. Jim Blair feels that “nursing education has failed nurses, and it has failed the public”, but also that change is coming. He feels that advocates for excellence in learning disabilities nursing are growing and their voice is being heard. He says, “there is a growing impetus for change in the health system and within communities, and that the government should concentrate on recommending pragmatic initiatives such as having a national panel for learning disability that includes people with a disability and their carers.”

Change4Life launches alcohol awareness campaign

Posted on February 13, 2012 by admin

We all remember the plasticine people from the Change4Life campaigns of recent months and years that have highlighted different ways to make small changes for a healthier lifestyle. Well, now they’re back with a new focus and it’s alcohol. The campaign is called “Is drinking sneaking up on you?”, and it highlights the dangers of thinking you only have the occasional drink when actually that occasional drink turns into two or three drinks every night.

In 2010 Professor Tim Key, an epidemiologist at Oxford University, published a study in the British Journal of Cancer that highlighted alcohol and obesity as the the two most significant dietary factors relating to the risk of developing cancer. His study stated that in generally well-nourished people, the effect of eating more fruit and vegetables had yet to show up with any significance against the risk of developing cancer. “Available data suggest that general increases in fruit and vegetable intake would not have much effect on cancer rates, at least in well-nourished populations.”

“Fruit and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet and a good source of nutrients. But so far the data does not prove that eating increased amounts of fruit and vegetables offers much protection against cancer. But there’s strong scientific evidence to show that, after smoking, being overweight and alcohol are two of the biggest cancer risks.”

This is the recent campaign video from Change4Life.

How to be successful in a University interview

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin

It’s that time of year again when Universities are in full interview mode to fill spaces on their nursing and midwifery courses starting in September this year. If you’ve been invited for an interview, we can give you a few quick tips to help you be successful.

Dress smartly – not necessarily in a suit if you don’t have one, but smart trousers, black shoes and shirt or blouse is really the minimum standard of dress. The interviewers want to see you can present yourself in a professional manner, and your appearance is part of that.
Talk slowly – everyone talks fast when they are nervous, if you speed up your sentences too quickly the interviewers won’t be able to take notes at that speed, let alone to listen to you! Breathe slowly and remember to pace yourself.
Think clearly – you won’t be expected to know a great deal of detail about the intricacies of every module you will be studying if you are successful, but the interviewers will expect you to have a basic knowledge of the career you’re embarking on, the practical elements of the course (such as placements, skills assessments etc), and they will test your understanding of exactly what you’re getting yourself into.
Research intently – interviewers will often ask you about a current issue that has been in the spotlight recently and is relevant to your course. In the months, weeks and days leading up to your interview make sure you read the news, read industry websites, follow organisations on social media and get to know the current events you could be quizzed on. You don’t need to be an expert, but an awareness and interest in the issues are key.

Remember that interviewers aren’t there to catch you out, they are there to get to know you as person and to assess whether you are likely to be successful on the course and if you fully understand the effort, commitment and sacrifice you will have to make to be successful. Any student nurse or midwife will tell you the course is a huge undertaking, one that shouldn’t be taken lightly because you have to give up most of your free time, social life, time with your family and almost any other recreational activities you do while you’re studying! But you shouldn’t think of that in a negative light, if your dream is to be a nurse of midwife then it’s just a necessity of achieving that goal.

Check out the types of nursing jobs and midwifery jobs that could be available when you graduate!

Top 5 online learning providers listed for nursing and midwifery CPD

Posted on February 6, 2012 by admin

I published an article in our careers section last week listing the top 5 places online where you can access CPD training at either no cost or a range of different fees depending on the type of studying you want to do. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a peek: Top 5 Online Learning Resources for Nurses and Midwives, Student and Qualified. All the course I’ve talked about are available online to study in your own time and at your own pace.

CPD is such a vital part of your CV, whether you’re an NQ or experienced nurse or midwife – it can mean the difference between being offered a position and not, especially if you’re competing with another excellent candidate for the same role. Some of the courses I’ve listed in the article are available free, others you have to pay for but there are courses available for all budgets. Some individual modules start at under £10.00 while postgraduate level study at a University can run in several thousands.

If you do decide to undertake any of the studying that I’ve described in the article, please do come back and leave a comment to let me know how you go on.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital begins a new era under private management

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

The first ever business partnership in the UK between an NHS hospital and a private sector company has begun. Hinchingbrooke Hospital is now under the management of Circle, a company co-owned by its employees, and they are aiming to turn the hospital around into one of the top ten in the country.

The deal, which was signed in November 2011 and came into force yesterday, ensures that the assets and infrastructure remain the property of the NHS, the staff continue to be employed by the NHS, the patients continue to receive NHS services but the management of the provision of services with be the responsibility of Circle.

Circle have been meeting with staff over a serious of ‘partnerships sessions’ and have decided that the four areas they wish to excel in are: patient safety, patient experience, staff engagement and value for money.

Dr Stephen Dunn, Director of Policy and Strategy at NHS Midlands and East, said: “With the challenges the NHS now faces, new solutions are needed so services can be provided how and where patients want them, but at a cost which taxpayers can afford. Today heralds just that, a new chapter in creativity and partnership working.

Newly qualified nurses and midwives – use your placement experience!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

If you’re a newly qualified nurse or midwife, or you’re in your third year of studying and about to start applying for jobs, this blog post is for you. As you will no doubt have noticed, the public sector is going through a recruitment low point, so the private and not-for-profit sectors are more popular as a jumping off point into your career than they were prior to this current economic trauma.

You need to make the most of your placement experience on your CV and in your personal statement in order to compete for the job vacancies out there. Even if a job vacancy doesn’t specify that they can accept newly qualified staff, it’s still worth applying for and your placement experience is the key to backing up your application.

Your CV should always be adapted for every job application you make – tailor it to work for you, and if that means putting your most recent placement experience at the very top, then do it! There are no rules with the order of your CV (except that your name and contact details needs to be at the very top!) so make it work for you!

If you have recently completed a placement in a similar environment to the job you’re applying for, that’s perfect! Make sure on your CV and in your personal statement you go into detail about the learning outcomes you achieved, how well you adapted to the working environment and the interpersonal skills you developed, such as communication and team working. Experience as a student is highly valuable, and can boost the quality of your application from simply being an NQ with no specific departmental experience to being an NQ with transferable skills from that very department into your new role.

Give yourself credit for all the work you’ve done and the skills you’ve achieved on your course. Even if it might seem obvious to you that this particular skill was included in your course material, if you learned it and then put it into practice on a placement – draw attention to it on your CV.

Don’t forget, you can check for new midwife jobs here, and new nursing jobs here, or search for your ideal job here.

NMC reviewed ordered by Parliament

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

It was announced yesterday that Parliament has ordered a strategic review of the NMC, and the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) will be leading the review.

The review is about “further strengthening the NMC’s leadership and governance”, and has been recommended as a result of the NMCs failure to sufficiently address the backlog of fitness to practice hearings. The debate in March 2008 originally raised concerns about the performance of the NMC, and the subsequent reports found that while the NMC was performing its statutory duties, it was not performing to the standard that the public should expect. Read the ministerial statement in full here.

The CHRE will announce the terms of the review in due course, and will be feeding back its findings in the summer. The RCN has welcomed the review with Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, commenting: “An effective, fit-for-purpose nursing regulator which can uphold professional standards, is vital for the public, patients and the nursing profession. The NMC must be able to deliver its core functions of safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public, and promoting high standards of professional conduct across the UK. It is crucial that the NMC has a strong professional voice in its leadership.”

Middle East nursing jobs as plentiful as ever

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

If you’re struggling to find your next career move in nursing, why not consider moving to the Middle East? Nursing jobs in the public sector here in the UK are not as plentiful as they once were, but there are still plenty of vacancies in a whole range of specialisms in the Middle East.

Along with finding the ideal job in the specialism you want, you could also be offered a package that includes:

Generous tax free salary
Free or highly subsidised accommodation
Free annual return ticket home
Re-location bonus in first month’s salary
Minimum of 6 weeks leave per year
Free healthcare cover

If you’re willing to consider making the move, there are generous benefits to be had. The working week is slightly different from the UK, usually Friday / Saturday are the weekend days, but your working routine will still be allocated on a shift rota just as you would be here. If you’re worried about the possible language barrier between the people you are treating and yourself, there are usually translators on hand for patients that only speak arabic, and it’s common for employers to offer basic arabic language classes for new nurses. The universal language of all medical personnel is English, so you will be able to communicate easily with colleagues.

Your concerns, questions and all the details of your application will be managed by the agency you apply through. They will handle your enquiry from start to finish, as well as supporting you as the make the move. Follow this link to find out more about Middle East Nursing Jobs, or read more about the lifestyle and what you can expect if you decide to move to the Middle East for a Job.

How to get more information about a job posted here

Posted on January 20, 2012 by admin

We’re really happy that you’re thinking about applying for a job through Nurses.co.uk, but what should you do if you want to find out more information about a particular vacancy? Without a doubt, the best thing to do is go ahead and apply for the job by clicking the ‘Apply Now’ button underneath the job advert.

When you do this you will be offered the opportunity to write a covering letter before your CV is sent to the employer, and you should use that space to ask the employer to contact you with more information about the job.

Unfortunately we’re not able to help directly with any more info about the job, and if you call us you will be phoning the company that manages this website! Not that we don’t love to talk to you, because we’re happy to help, but we don’t have the information you’re after – only the employer can provide that (and that’s not us).

So, if you’re ever unsure about the details given in a job vacancy, apply through the site to register your interest, and this will send the employer a copy of your CV. They will get in touch with you, if you match their requirements, to tell you all the information you will need to decide if you want to proceed with the application.

Good luck with your applications! Remember, you can always leave a comment on this blog if you want to ask a question and we will aim to get back to you within 1 working day.