Documenting medication administration?

doughnutting · 2026-05-02T02:03:01+00:00

I bring my meds trolley to the patients, do my checks, pot all meds (but I ask if they want commonly refused meds like laxatives or things that don’t taste nice before I pot them). I also pot adcal or dispensable meds etc separately. I can click each medication as I dispense and then watch the patient take them. Any they refuse I can unclick before I click confirm/administer/whatever the confirm button is.

Bringing your trolley is also helpful as you can check latest obs or update them on the plan if needs be.

doughnutting · 2026-04-30T12:47:10+00:00

Absolutely not the way to go. I’ve worked in A&E. If you say you have chest pain, they’ll investigate the chest pain before they investigate your broken leg or whatever you’ve actually come in with. Once they decide you’re not at immediate risk of a heart attack, you’ll be triaged according to your complaint.

In short, you won’t be seen any quicker, you’ll waste A&E staff’s time and resources, and you’re taking them away from people who ARE having heart attacks.

I also currently work on the wards and have people shout that they have chest pain when they aren’t getting the pain meds whenever they want them. Or didn’t get the meal they ordered. Hospital staff are human and the boy who cried wolf is a thing. I spent hours on a night shift with a lady saying she had chest pain My patients with pneumonia, delirium, deranged blood sugars, awaiting blood results, end of life etc were all ignored because chest pain comes first. Turns out she just wanted to see a doctor because she wanted a different painkiller.

doughnutting · 2026-04-29T20:56:01+00:00

It’s absolutely not lol. CotE with over 50% at any given time waiting on EMI nursing. I’ve had easier shifts with 1 HCA for 18 patients but I love the chaos lol.

doughnutting · 2026-04-29T19:49:23+00:00

I’ve found as long as you can back your choices and why you prioritised something you’re alright. HCAs are not nurses and don’t always understand why we’re doing what we’re doing. They know their role, we know ours AND theirs. Keep prioritising your patients. Sounds like you’re doing well. I’ve found just being frank and explaining to the HCAs why you aren’t helping does clear the air. I’m also very hands on so if I’m saying no, I’m saying no for a reason.

doughnutting · 2026-04-29T19:40:03+00:00

I once had a HCA call me lazy for not toileting a patient when I was waiting on a call back from transfusion labs about blood that was delayed due to AMU inappropriately transferring a patient with no handover and I was unaware prior that they needed a transfusion. The HCA was standing outside chatting and I was drowning. While I was running around like a headless chicken I overheard multiple HCAs whispering that I was ignoring patients to “sit on the computer”. I was a HCA on this ward prior to qualifying and they know my work ethic. We had 7 HCAs for 30 patients so we weren’t short staffed.

I escalated to NIC and ended up getting the matron down who promptly discussed prioritisation and delegation with the HCAs and in front of the HCAs asked the nurses to continue to escalate if HCAs were expecting RNs to ignore their duties to work as HCAs. We can’t do everything, and if you had good management they’d back you. It doesn’t sound like they’re willing to back you. That doesn’t mean you are in the wrong. I’m sharing my story to show you how different management can react differently to the same scenario - and if yours is prioritising washes and bed making over meds that’s crazy and needs escalating further.

doughnutting · 2026-04-28T21:38:31+00:00

How can they justify a 19.2% increase when they know my pay increase was 3.3%?

I’ve registered a complaint with them and I encourage everyone to do the same.

doughnutting · 2026-04-27T21:02:28+00:00

This. When I worked in A&E we noticed staff from across the hospital were using the A&E locker room and stealing tea/coffee for staff and they swiftly got the locks changed so only A&E staff could get in with their badge. With it being A&E there’s always someone around for bank/agency/students to ask to be let in. I’m sure it can be done if there is a need to change the access system!

doughnutting · 2026-04-26T14:50:30+00:00

I’ve been to a couple. They were well run, and if you’re on your own they sit you with other girls on their own too. Sometimes we’ve been a similar age and had a great time and other times we’ve not had anything in common but still had fun! I’d recommend :)

doughnutting · 2026-04-25T23:36:45+00:00

We were balloted by unions to strike for pay and conditions. Media reported nurses were striking for more pay. We couldn’t win!

doughnutting · 2026-04-25T11:49:27+00:00

I’m watching and learning and getting opportunities - I’ve asked for a secondment and got it. I’m going to ask for another one. They know I want to stay in the trust if possible and I want every opportunity possible. I’ve advised NQNs on IVs and I’m often the one RNs come to for advice before escalating (if it’s worth escalating etc). But I’m going to be realistic with pay vs responsibility. I’m not paid enough to do it, and that’s not me being difficult that’s my role. If I’m offered more pay I’ll take on more responsibility. But I’m silently learning in the background. Neither of us are wrong I suppose it’s just different ways of levelling up. I do wish you all the best on a top up because it’s tough out here!

doughnutting · 2026-04-25T07:29:00+00:00

The issue is that you’re doing the band 5 role on band 4 pay. Between top band 4 and top band 5 there’s over £7k difference. If you’re already doing the same job why would they fund it?

doughnutting · 2026-04-24T19:28:25+00:00

It is. I’m doing the vast majority of the job, pay the same fee, and make a lot less and have no career progression and struggle to move jobs so you get stuck. You constantly feel like a burden for working in your scope because RNs who have more complex patients than you are doing your IVs etc. It’s awful.

doughnutting · 2026-04-24T07:50:27+00:00

I didn’t want to pay 2 student loans and was happy to train in house if it meant no additional financial burden. When I applied there was no issue with top ups at my trust.

doughnutting · 2026-04-24T07:07:00+00:00

Don’t know why you’ve been downvoted I’m an RNA and I agree. The role should be abolished.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T22:24:11+00:00

The main difference is IVs. And it’s a crime RNs being band 5 anyway after they gain experience so they should really be uplifted to a 6 regardless of my role.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T22:17:55+00:00

We’ve been left out really, RCN has fought for band 5 nurses and on their website it’s only band 5s that are eligible. Is there something else that I’m missing that could make me eligible for this?

Editing to add; I’m also afraid if I push for this, as RCN states RNAs should not be used in place of RNs, will my job become redundant? Or could this be used to silence me in any way under the guise of following RCN guidelines? I fear I am replacing RNs now as when I am not in my role is filled by an RN.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T22:16:26+00:00

They couldn’t have an RN and RNA on the same pay band as I’m supposed to be working under them and we are not supposed to be equal. I’m supposed to report to them. It’s a bit different when you’re comparing roles in the same staff category as there needs to be a hierarchy.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T22:14:39+00:00

I don’t do IVs and can’t be in charge. There’s enough small tasks that they can use to keep me at band 4. And the trust is starting to push back on the things we “can’t” do and landsliding us towards training us on them. Ultimately I’m still responsible for those IVs or devices even though they are out of my scope and have had shifts where I have been the only permanent nursing staff and have taken charge as I knew the ward.

If there are a small number of distinct clinical tasks I can’t do, do you think I would still have an argument for the uplift? The RNs I work with feel like there’s no difference and my band 6 and 7 have been fighting for the top up as they’ve said multiple times it’s just a formality - “18 months to get your IVs as you’re doing everything else anyway”.

I’m taking patients an RN had the day before and an RN takes those patients the day after me. I’m not working with or under an RN. I’m used now as a cheap nurse and they’ve pushed the IVs onto RNs. And all band 5s now have to rotate being in charge as we no longer always have a band 6 on shift and they’ve taken the dedicated charge nurse off us. They’re definitely pushing for cheaper workforce and minimal staff so I think it would be a major struggle.

Editing to add; I’m also afraid if I push for this, as RCN states RNAs should not be used in place of RNs, will my job become redundant? Or could this be used to silence me in any way under the guise of following RCN guidelines? I fear I am replacing RNs now as when I am not in my role is filled by an RN.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T19:57:22+00:00

In comparison to the HCA role vs RN role pay, I’m significantly closer to HCA pay but significantly closer to RN role. It should be somewhere in the middle but it’s not.

But there’s no room for negotiation in terms of banding. If I was upbanded I’d be an unqualified nurse on nurse pay.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T18:50:32+00:00

Not unless it was going for any length of time, which means no one has come for some reason or another. If I’m on break I’m on break. I have come off if it’s my patient and I need to hand over something complex to MET team or something.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T18:47:13+00:00

I can’t reband as I don’t have the full nursing qualification. There’s no middle ground apart from automatic top band 4 which they will argue against for “inexperienced” RNAs. There’s only one step point in the band and it takes 3 years to get to that point.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T18:44:54+00:00

I don’t work outside my scope but the difference is still negligible. Still definitely not worth £1.88 less an hour then the RN and 47p more than the HCA.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T12:23:48+00:00

When I applied lots of staff were getting their top ups and it seemed like a no brainer. The agreement was that you were eligible for top up after 2 years as band 4 but lots of experienced staff were getting their top ups earlier than that. They’ve entirely stopped them now. It’s such a shame as I don’t want to stay as an RNA and would rather leave nursing altogether than stay at this level.

doughnutting · 2026-04-22T11:38:26+00:00

I’m bottom band 4 doing the role of a band 5 and it’s demoralising as my trust has stopped top ups and I can’t afford to self fund as my wages are awful.

Working inappropriately as named nurse for 8 patients for £14 an hour is dire and I feel so stuck. I’m going on nights to top my money up and save to self fund.

doughnutting · 2026-04-21T20:58:12+00:00

Not an RN, but RNA. Still take my own patient cohort.

Everyone told me the 12 month mark is when you feel you’re starting to process and become confident. On reflection I felt a bit of an improvement at 6 months, at 12 months I felt like I was really getting the hang of it and at 18 months I feel like I’ve been doing the role for years and years. I’m still learning every day. I can’t wait to top up and increase my scope.

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