Returning to Nursing Practice

Preface ix Acknowledgements xii Chapter 1 Your Time to Return 1 Your Nursing Identity 2 The Starting Point 3 Why Did You Leave? 5 Is It the Right Time to Return? 5 What Have You Been Doing since You Stopped Nursing? 7 The Test of Competence: An Alternative Route to Re-Registration 9 Financial Issues 11 Thinking Ahead 11 References 12 Chapter 2 Preparation 14 Current Roles and Commitments 14 The Return to Practice Course 16 Application 17 Entry Requirements 17 Learning Differences 19 Professionalism 19 Admission Days and Interviews 20 Numeracy 22 NMC Professional Standards 25 Course Content and Structure 29 Planning Your Practice Placement 30 Supervised Practice Hours 31 Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) 32 Midwifery 33 Preparatory Study and Reading 33 Are You Ready? 35 References 35 Useful Website 36 Chapter 3 Bridging the Gap 37 Sharing Hopes and Fears 37 The Gap 39 Self-Efficacy – A Helpful Concept 40 Confidence and Competence 42 Self-Assessment 44 The Language of Nursing 51 What Has Been Happening Whilst You Have Been Away? 53 Professional Values 54 References 57 Chapter 4 Practice Placement 59 First Steps 59 Practice Provider Induction 62 Finding Your Feet 63 Team Working 69 Belbin’s Team Roles 71 Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisors 73 Confidence and Competence 79 Decision Making and Leadership 82 Understanding Scope of Practice and Your Chosen Field 85 How Will I Be Assessed? 88 Your Support Networks 91 References 93 Useful Website 95 Chapter 5 Reflective Practice 96 Stories 96 Self-Awareness 97 Introducing Reflection 99 Dipping into the Theory! 100 Models and Frameworks and the Reflective Process 103 Borton (1970) And Driscoll (1994, 2007) 104 Reflective Thinking and Writing Skills 105 Describing 107 Choosing Your Experience 109 Gibbs Reflective Cycle (1988) 110 Analysing 116 Future Learning and Action 118 Being a Reflective Practitioner 119 References 121 Chapter 6 Caring for Yourself 125 Course Progression Points 126 Self-Care: Managing Your Well-Being 128 Body: Physical Well-Being 129 Mind: Mental Well-Being 130 Spiritual Well-Being 136 Heart: Emotional Well-Being 136 Resilience 139 Compassion 143 Compassion Fatigue 146 Burnout 147 Balance 148 References 151 Chapter 7 Returning to Study 157 Preparation 158 Time 159 Place 163 Personal Learning Styles 164 Understanding Course Requirements 169 Learning Outcomes 170 A Framework for Academic Writing 170 Knowledge for Practice: The Evidence Base 173 Reading 176 Libraries 177 Referencing 179 Assignment Writing Process 183 Planning 184 Writing 185 Editing 187 Personal Tutorials 188 Additional Resources and Support 189 Achievement 190 References 190 Chapter 8 Re-Entering the Workforce 194 Celebrating Success 194 The NMC Re-Registration Process 195 Career 197 Job Applications 198 Interviews 199 Bank Nursing 200 Recruitment Agencies 200 The Independent Sector 201 Indemnity Insurance 201 Preceptorship 201 Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility 202 NMC Personal Re-Validation and Your Continuing Professional Development 206 References 207 What I Have Learnt about Myself 210 Index 212