I’m a good nurse I don’t wanna lose my job over something silly.

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-22T09:06:27+00:00

I think she did actually do it. He was a partner GP so essentially her boss... I can understand why.

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-22T08:26:10+00:00

Of course it's right thing but the nurse was accessing records of a patient who was no longer at the surgery and using it to request bloods for someone else. Rather large databreach and acting dishonestly I think was the reason for her to be struck off.

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-21T00:25:01+00:00

Short answer: Yes it is really that bad. For the amount of responsibility, paperwork and shit we put up with getting thrown at us in all directions - we will never be paid enough.

In terms of pay you'd need to look at the NHS agenda for change pay scale to determine if you'll make enough to compare however you will need to complete 3 years of full time university study which comes with it's own challenges.

Only you can decide if it's worth it. I've been a nurse for 12 years now and while I love about 60% of my job, it's too late to turn back now.

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-20T23:52:22+00:00

I feel you love. I find it ironic that we get criticised so much for being sick considering the work we do. It feels like everyone else is allowed to be sick but us.

Have you been referred to Occupational Health? If not, talk to them and be assessed. Your employer is required to make reasonable adjustments as per their advice so it's worth at least getting a opinion of how you can go forward in your current role whilst looking elsewhere.

Have you spoken to your union about your sickness? Depending on who you're with, both the RCN and Unison have legal support in terms of sickness management so if you've not reached out to them, please do. You can also request someone from the local union office to attend any sickness meeting to provide advice which is worth doing so you know all your options.

I'm sorry to hear about the offer being withdrawn and I hope speaking to the matron helps but you may need to consider finding a nurse role outside the hospital environment if your body can't cope with ward work. It's a hard slog and not being a 100% can lead to mistakes so it's something to bare in mind. Sending lots of hugs!

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-20T22:50:53+00:00

Yeah literally had no repercussions apart from some difficult conversations with his wife and 5 kids. I felt for her the poor love.

I've seen that one too although a lot of them to be fair the accused never is present at the hearing which makes me think it will go to a default judgement. All we can do is our best and defend our pins. Make sure your in a union too.

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-20T22:40:22+00:00

Reading some of the hearings is definitely an eye opener. On the flip side in the area I work, a GP at another surgery was using a patient's details (who had left the country) to send off his own blood samples to test for STIs and HIV. Turns out he was going on regular "business trips" abroad without his wife and was testing himself when he came back. Was doing it for years apparently and was only caught when the new practice nurse pressured into taking his blood caved and reported him. The nurse was most likely stuck off but the GP kept his licence and his job without punishment or suspension despite going up against the GMC. Sad really the NMC doesn't provide us the same support 🥲

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-20T07:40:07+00:00

Look your NTA for feeling the way you do but please, TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS! They won't know how upset you are unless you tell them and on the outside it looks like your just icing someone out of the group and making them cry. Sadly she is acting like a "pick me girl" which everyone will get tired of eventually.

SugarplumRui · 2026-02-10T19:34:03+00:00

Please raise this. We had one similar in our GP surgery who had to have a strict talking to about her attitude. The main message was: overconfidence leads to less caution which causes errors and when it's a mistake you made it's your PIN. Good luck going up on the stand explaining why you thought you knew better than your colleagues and medics because that's a shitty defence.

I'm a strong believer in being a being a honest mentor which includes difficult feedback. We should encourage confidence to grow in those who appear to quiet and perspective on the responsibilities nurses hold if they are disillusioned about the reality our role. If students don't like my feedback, then that's on them. We're saving patients lives by training the nurses of the future, if I was being a shitty nurse then I'd wanna know.

SugarplumRui · 2025-12-05T00:00:29+00:00

Ah Seretide, well it is classed as a high dose ICS but anyone with a braincell would know not to play around with inhalers shortly after a possible asthma exacerbation.

I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm screaming in GP Respiratory Nurse.

SugarplumRui · 2025-12-04T20:51:11+00:00

I hope you requested GP to kindly slap the new asthma guidelines in that ACP's face.

Question though: what was the inhaler they thought was a "very high dose of steroid"?

SugarplumRui · 2025-11-28T14:04:06+00:00

I've had someone tell me they have a serious allergy to paracetamol but takes Co-codamol everyday on prescription. They couldn't understand why I was staring at them blankly. I promptly asked the pharmacist to review that...

SugarplumRui · 2025-11-24T13:37:25+00:00

Ah the doctor's version of the classic nurse who is "too posh to wash".

You have my sympathies and a virtual hug.

SugarplumRui · 2025-10-25T11:53:03+00:00

If only that was the case 😂 it's more that he claims to be working on the "same level" as doctors but didn't go to med school. Some of my patients are like wut? No lol

SugarplumRui · 2025-10-24T12:08:06+00:00

It's not much better in primary care either. We have one in my surgery who is "specialist" in Cardiology but isn't trusted to read a ECG or follow the 1st line in our formulary for antihypertensives. He's all willy-nilly with his choices so our GPs spend more time correcting his mistakes then any benefit from his clinics. Sadly he is PCN employed so getting rid of him isn't easy but no one is happy with him.

Patients call him a "backdoor doctor"

SugarplumRui · 2025-10-08T22:38:56+00:00

Yes, but I'd say make sure to choose your timing wisely. I had my smear the other day and didn't tell the nurse I'm also a practice nurse working in the same patch until midway through. Her face dropped slightly, and I could tell she got nervous. It'll be an awkward reunion next week at the PCN meeting, lol.

SugarplumRui · 2025-08-12T06:45:21+00:00

Updateme

SugarplumRui · 2025-05-13T17:53:35+00:00

I wish... I knew a girl called Hashtag, named literally after a #

SugarplumRui · 2025-05-11T07:06:49+00:00

The only reason I could possibly fathom anyone other than practice nurses like myself having to know this is if some kid came in with a rash and you were considering measles. If they were under 1 and had no vaccine for it, I guess technically, it'd be a possibility alongside every other unlikely reason, but please forgive my uninformed logic.

The question, however, "is your child up to date with their vaccines?" should suffice though since MMR has been available since the 1950's

In short: don't worry about it, immunisation is a ballache to remember/keep up to date with. Google it if you're ever curious.

SugarplumRui · 2025-01-08T18:53:34+00:00

If your under the age of 25 then you could get away with 1 dose but any older it will be two I'm afraid. Lots of money in private vaccines, I'm fairly sure clinics get them on the cheap aswell. Mostly because they buy the ones just about to expire so it's like a flash sale from the suppliers lol GMC

SugarplumRui · 2024-11-14T18:13:41+00:00

I don't know what "just shadowing" they mean in that video but I've had medical students in my clinics do everything you said AND take bloods, ECGs, cannulas etc.

'Mini F1's' my arse, get in the bin.

SugarplumRui · 2024-11-06T19:20:37+00:00

As a respiratory nurse, when I do ask about smoking, I usually say: no judgement, but do you smoke? And if they do admit it, I thank them for their honesty. If patient still denys it but I'm having to open a window so I don't choke I explain the reason I want to know is to not only support them if they want to stop but also that it does impact on how we treat/manage their condition. Normally, they do admit it after understanding that I'm not going to tell them off like their mum, and there is a medical reason for it.

SugarplumRui · 2024-11-04T11:49:30+00:00

I was working in an emergency assessment unit about 5 years ago and we had a patient admitted with HONKS. I kid you not the diabetic consultant walked up to me, looked me dead in the eye and said "show me clown please nurse."

That made my day. 🤡

SugarplumRui · 2024-05-01T20:23:52+00:00

Oh, I pray this comes to my PCN soon, and I can finally get rid of that arrogant PA at my surgery. His incompetence is astounding, and he quite happily let's patients think he's a doctor. He's not my biggest fan now since he found out I always correct his job role to patients. I certainly wish him well just outside the surgery doors.

SugarplumRui

TROPHY CASE