How to Thrive as a Newly Qualified Nurse

How to Thrive as a Newly Qualified Nurse provides a structured programme of support for nursing students and newly qualified nurses during their first year qualified. Packed with practical examples, tips and advice, and featuring vignettes from recently qualified nurses, this book will help you to: Choose your first nursing post and secure the job you really want Structure your learning and development in the early stages of your career Work in a team, prioritise your care-giving and delegate to others Understand safe staffing, patient acuity and dependency tools, care planning, and risk assessment tools Learn how to escalate concerns and report incidents. Here’s what some of our student and NQN reviewers said: “The writing style and tone of voice is just right, it reads as though I'm having a conversation with a knowledgeable, trusted friend.” “I noticed that it answered many of the questions I was always embarrassed to ask as I thought I should have already known those things.” “I have wanted a book that covers the information provided in this book and have been unable to find one. I think this book will be an incredibly useful resource.” Drawing on her 30 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse and University Lecturer Practitioner, Carol Forde-Johnston has written an accessible and practical book that aims to respond to the questions and concerns that her students and NQNs frequently raise – and to help you thrive as a newly qualified nurse.

Table of Contents:
About the author; Preface; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations 1. Choosing and securing your first nursing post      1.1 How to choose your first post      1.2 Your application and personal statement      1.3 Preparing for band 5 interviews 2. Structuring your learning during your first three months qualified      2.1 What to expect when you start      2.2 How to structure your learning in your first few months qualified 3. Understanding the key structures in nursing      3.1 Past structures and influences on today's health care      3.2 Key local and national structures      3.3 Key types of nursing delivery systems      3.4 The differences between nursing roles and bands 4. Understanding safe staffing and patient acuity and dependency tools      4.1 Past methods used to determine safe staffing levels for nurses      4.2 Today's NHS      4.3 Important safe staffing guidance for nurses      4.4 Workforce planning and acuity and dependency tools 5. Prioritising care and delegating to others      5.1 Support in practice to develop your management and leadership skills      5.2 How to prioritise your care and manage your time      5.3 How to delegate to others 6. Understanding documentation, care planning and clinical risk assessment tools      6.1 Past nursing documentation and record-keeping today      6.2 The importance of documentation and record-keeping      6.3 The difference between 'good' and 'poor' documentation      6.4 Individualised care planning      6.5 The importance of clinical risk assessment tools 7. Assessing mental capacity and supporting those declining care      7.1 The case that led to changes in the law      7.2 Supporting and informed choice      7.3 The law and key policies      7.4 Assessing mental capacity      7.5 Making a decision on behalf of someone      7.6 The importance of documentation and follow-up 8. Understanding escalation and incident reporting      8.1 Patient deterioration and escalation      8.2 Incident reporting      8.3 De-escalating challenging situations      8.4 How to deal with a patient's death and a deceased body 9. Structuring your future learning and support      9.1 Proactively structure your learning and development      9.2 What you should expect over the next year and onwards 10. Developing our practice and profession through future nursing research      10.1 Evidence-based practice      10.2 Research funding opportunities      10.3 Publishing your work in future Index

About the Author :
Carol Forde-Johnston (RGN, BSc (Hons), PGDip, RNT and MSc) is a Divisional Recruitment and Retention Lead in the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Her role involves leading recruitment and retention initiatives and providing structured career advice to all levels of staff, with a particular focus on supporting newly qualified nurses and international nurses. Carol qualified as a registered nurse in 1989 at Coventry School of Nursing and went on to specialise in neurosciences. She worked for 20 years as a lecturer practitioner, a joint appointment between Oxford Brookes University and the local NHS hospital Trust, integrating research, education and clinical practice, and leading a third year nursing degree module and supporting nursing apprenticeships. Carol has published numerous articles relating to education and practice development in nursing and medical journals. Carol has also been involved in patient improvement initiatives and collaborated with Oxford University on a staff-led quality improvement project to prevent inpatient hospital falls. She passionate about developing and supporting staff and student nurses to improve their confidence and fulfil their future aspirations and is currently studying for a PhD in nursing.

Review :
If you know a final year student nurse or a NQN tell them to have a look at this book. ‘…This book reads like you’ve got the loveliest mentor you’ve ever had holding your hand through the transition from student nurse to qualified nurse. Just reading it made me feel calmer and better prepared about my imminent start. In my opinion Carol Forde-Johnston’s book is the best transition book I’ve read.’ Sharon Sanford, STaR Project This book is an asset for all nurses entering the profession. ‘This book is full of essential tips and advice for nurses of all ages entering the profession. Not only is it a refreshing read, it is also easy to absorb the information due to the ‘anecdotal’ feel and user friendly layout. Thanks must go to the author for taking the time to write such an inspirational book.’ Amazon reviewer Simply the title of the book is inviting – who doesn’t want to thrive in their career? ‘This book discusses the wide scope of learning in your initial time as a newly qualified nurse and how you can develop into a more confident and established professional; from securing your first nursing post to structured planning for your learning and development in the early stages of your career. [It] is a great purchase for those wanting to hone their skills as an NQN, I found it to have answered many of the questions I was unsure of when qualifying. This book overall helps you to align your career aspiration, relevant skills and qualifications you might want to consider planning early on in your career.’ Diary of a Chief Nurse Junior Fellow blog, August 2019 Fantastic book! ‘Really really informative, made me think about things I would have never even thought of! I’m just starting my third year so this really helped me think logically about things and put other factors into perspective!’ Amazon reviewer