In this episode, we delve into the world of mental health nursing with Jane Fisher, a lecturer in the field and a service user herself.

Jane shares her experiences and insights on self-disclosure, the complex identities nurses with mental health challenges navigate, and the power of authenticity in nursing practice.

She emphasizes the importance of developing advanced interpersonal skills and fostering a human-to-human connection in mental health nursing.

This episode unravels how Jane's journey as a nurse, lecturer, mental health service user, and psychiatric survivor has shaped her unique perspective on the field.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Jane discusses her role as a mental health nurse lecturer and her commitment to supporting students who have their own mental health challenges.

• The prevalence of students entering mental health nursing programs with pre-existing mental health conditions.
• The challenges of transitioning from being a nurse to becoming a mental health service user and the power imbalances that come with it.
• The impact of stigma on mental health professionals who have their own mental health challenges.

Jane shares her journey of embracing her multiple identities, including being a wounded healer, an empowered professional, a nurse, and a psychiatric survivor.

The importance of authenticity and acceptance in the mental health nursing profession.

How self-disclosure can be a valuable tool when used for the benefit of service users and students.

The need for tailored support and supervision for nurses with their own lived experience of mental illness.

Jane's perspective on the gaps in mental health nurse education and the essential interpersonal skills required for the profession.

Today's Guest:



Jane Fisher, a mental health nurse lecturer and service user, brings her wealth of experience to the field. Her journey through mental health challenges has ignited a passion for authenticity and support within the profession. Jane dedicates her time to guiding pre-registration nursing students, helping them navigate their path as mental health nurses. She emphasizes that personal experiences with mental health issues should not deter individuals from pursuing a career in the field. Her unique perspective on identity, self-disclosure, and the multifaceted roles of mental health professionals enriches the education of her students.

Jane's commitment to mental health nursing extends to advocating for a more authentic and inclusive approach to mental health care, benefiting both patients and colleagues.

Connect with Jane Fisher here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jane_fisher2

Read Jane’s Articles Here:

• Who am I? The identity crisis of mental health professionals living with mental illness
• The Problem with Resilience

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission 

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com 

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission 

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing 

It is such a common strategy or coping approach for many nurses to bottle up their feelings and hold on to things. This strategy makes sense in some circumstances. But in the long-run, it can be harmful.

In this podcast episode, Nathan Illman discusses the common phenomenon of bottling up, or suppressing, emotions. He provides a step-by-step process for individuals to start acknowledging and expressing their emotions. And he shows how you can support those you work with how to process emotions too.

Tune in to this episode as Nathan offers valuable insights and practical advice for nurses and healthcare professionals to improve well-being and foster open conversations about emotions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

Nathan discusses early experiences and cultural influences shaping emotional responses.

• Societal norms influencing the expression of anger, especially among women.
• Cultural variations in expressing emotions based on experiences.

The effects of bottling up emotions.

Self-reflection on the usefulness of bottling emotions.

Nathan emphasizes the importance of cultural competence and understanding diverse emotional responses.

Nathan offers strategies for individuals to explore and overcome emotional suppression.

Describing emotions as an aid in identifying and expressing their feelings.

Nathan gives a guide for professionals who are supporting individuals in the context of supervision or line management.

If you have found this helpful, you can check out Nathan’s self-compassion course for nurses online.

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing

Today's guest is Dr. Emma Wadey, a registered mental health nurse and Deputy Director of Mental Health Nursing for NHS England and Improvement.

Emma's humility shines through in her clinical work and leadership style. We discuss her experiences, including public speaking anxiety, her unexpected path into nursing, the impact of nursing identity, and her love for marathon running.

We also explore the Professional Nurse Advocacy Program, which Emma helped create, in part to prevent nurse suicides.

This episode offers valuable insights and practical takeaways for nurses of all backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of well-being and humility.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Emma talked about the anxiety and challenges of virtual presentations.

Emma shared about the two things that drive her to keep going:

• Role modeling means doing as you say.
• A little bit of anxiety is a good thing.

The balance between advocating for one's profession and self-care.

Emma talks about the transformative power of engaging in physical activity such as running.

The value of self-awareness and self-care in maintaining a balanced life for Emma, especially with children.

Emma shares about the unexpected career shifts in her life and the lessons she learned from having a flexible career path.

Emma gives an overview of the PNA program.

The link between PNA and suicide prevention.

Emma encourages PNAs, emphasizing their value in promoting self-care and reaching for support.

Today's Guest:

Dr. Emma Wadey is a mental health nurse with over 20 years of experience and maintains clinical practice in a local psychiatric liaison service. She specializes in treating complex trauma, self-harm, and suicidality, drawing from her experience with suicide's impact. Emma co-produced teaching materials on supporting those with suicidal tendencies. She contributed to the creation of the StayAlive suicide prevention app. She's involved in developing the competency framework for self-harm and suicide. She serves as a national clinical adviser for the Mental Health Service Improvement Programme and clinical lead for the National Nurse Retention Programme.

In addition to her professional achievements, Emma embarked on marathon running as a mid-life endeavor, completing four of the Abbots World Major Marathons with plans to conquer the remaining two.

Connect with Dr. Emma Wadey here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmawadey/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NursingEmma 

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission 

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com 

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission 

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing 

District Nursing is a tough business. Long hours, solo working in complex and challenging environments. Not to mention the distressing and sometimes dangerous situations nurses are placed in.

This can all take its toll on nurses' mental health. Which is why it is CRUCIAL to have a compassionate team leader who knows how to support their staff.

Enter Helen Kelly. In today's super insightful and practical episode, Helen shares how she transformed a downbeat team of District Nurses into a cohesive, loving, trusting, and effective unit with super patient outcomes.

Today, we embark on a journey to explore the essence of team effectiveness and the art of cultivating a supportive environment.

Join us as we delve into the experiences and insights of this remarkable nursing team leader, Helen, who has not only weathered the storm but has also sown the seeds of compassion, resilience, and well-being within her team.

Key Takeaways from this episode

Helen highlights the importance of staff well-being and prioritizing mental health.

She also discusses the importance of local-level support for team members and the need for a safe and open environment to discuss emotions and stress.

Changes Helen made to creative a thriving team:

Having an open door policy, and being present and empathic with her staff at all times.

Introduction of calming plants in each office to improve air quality and create a positive atmosphere.

The "Guardian Angel" program, where team members anonymously support each other with gestures of kindness and appreciation.

A reflective corner with coloring materials and affirmations to provide a space for relaxation and emotional support.

A well-being box stocked with essential items

Helen discusses the importance of focusing on the well-being of nursing staff to ensure they can provide the best care to patients.

Today's Guest:

Helen Kelly is an operational team lead for a district nursing service in Sussex, England. Helen's service had introduced several changes to how they ran things within the group, many different initiatives which had led to a massive improvement in well being within the team and people feeling supported.

Helen's approach has been genuinely preventative. She created a culture where people feel supported, and their distress is minimized.

Connect with Helen on Twitter here: @HeleMorrison

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing

In this engaging and insightful podcast episode we talk to Deepa Korea, the Director of the RCN Foundation, a leading UK charity for nurses and midwives. She discusses the organization's mission to support nursing and midwifery staff through grants, research, and advocacy. 

She candidly addresses imposter syndrome and the evolution of her mindset, highlighting the significance of self-care and believing in one's value. 

This episode showcases Deepa's passion, leadership, and commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and impact of nursing and midwifery professionals.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Deepa discusses the RCN Foundation as an independent charity supporting nursing and midwifery staff.

Deepa's background in the charity sector and diverse career experiences led her journey with the RCN Foundation.

Deepa discusses the power of nursing staff's care, compassion, and expertise as she shares her child's experience with a nurse.

It is essential to address burnout and mental health challenges in ensuring the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.

Practicing self-care and valuing one's expertise in creating a culture that values staff wellbeing is essential.

Deepa shares her experience with imposter syndrome and the importance of acknowledging and overcoming it.

She talks about her vision for the RCN Foundation's future and role in supporting nursing and midwifery research for practice improvement.

Today's Guest:

Deepa Korea is the director of the RCN Foundation. The RCN Foundation is a leading UK charity that supports the wellbeing and further education of nurses and midwives. She shares her journey into the charity sector and her deep respect for nursing.

Deepa envisions a future where the RCN Foundation continues to provide essential support for nurses, tackles mental health issues, and fosters a culture of nursing-led research.

Connect with Deepa Korea here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepa-korea-146b97a/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deepa_korea 

Want to know more about RCN Foundation? Go to:

https://rcnfoundation.rcn.org.uk/ 

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission 

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com 

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission 

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing 

All nurses and midwives experience stress in the course of their work.

Having ways to quickly manage stress is crucial for one’s wellbeing and performance at work.

In this solo episode, Nathan shares a powerful tool that helps to relieve stress, understand one’s emotions better, and develop self-compassion.

It is a useful exercise that any nurse or midwife can practice. It could also easily be incorporated into restorative supervision sessions or any wellbeing activity with your colleagues.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system leads to physiological responses to stress.

Stress is often experienced as an amorphous "blob" of emotions. This is not very helpful for us.

Nathan discussed the importance of identifying and naming specific emotions.

When we have a more significant emotional vocabulary, that helps us to process emotions better.

When we practice pausing and naming our emotions in the moment, it helps us understand how we're truly feeling about something.

Nathan shared the P.N.A. Process for Self-Compassion

P: Pause - Taking a moment to recognize stress and emotions

N: Naming the emotions underlying stress

A: Allowing the emotions to be present without judgment

Self-compassion can have a substantial cumulative impact on our mental and physical health.

To download the companion workbook and guide that goes with this episode, head over to this link: https://nurse-wellbeing-mission.mylearnworlds.com/relievestressebook

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission 

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com 

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission 

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing 

Today’s episode is all about the story of how nurses are supporting other nurses in the UK. 

We dive deep into the Professional Nurse Advocacy (PNA) program in the UK and how it is helping with nurse wellbeing and staff retention.  

I chat to Martin Hogan, Lead Professional Nurse Advocate for a large healthcare organisation in the UK. He shares his story of how he got into supporting other nurses, and how his leadership is making an impact on staff wellbeing.

Thinking about becoming a PNA? Want to know more about the program?

Listen to this conversation as Martin shares how being a PNA has changed his life and that of others. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

PNAs are trained to provide Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS). This is a psychologically safe, confidential space where you can talk about how you are and offload.

Martin sees himself as an emotional detective that explores things about other people, their coping strategies, and what he can do to help.

Informal corridor conversation is where Martin had typically received his own supervision, before more formalised systems like the PNA program. This is likely true of many nurses.

Martin shared that he gained much from the PNA course and changed his practice as a result.

Being a PNA enables you to be really in touch with your own human experience. It permits you to acknowledge your feelings. 

Through compassionate communication, Martin knew that he could support people through anything. 

Empathic listening is all someone needs to begin with to feel heard, understood, and safe.

Martin talks about the structure of sessions when running a PNA session.

Feedback from others about the PNA program has been overwhelmingly positive for Martin. It has helped improve wellbeing in staff and has led to increased retention of staff where he works. 

Martin shares information about the roll-out of the PNA program and how people can access it.

We discussed barriers to the program being adopted within nursing. We discuss how some older colleagues may be resistant to change. However, many younger nurses “get” the idea of clinical supervision and have a desire to discuss emotions. 

Today's Guest:

Martin Hogan is a lead professional nurse advocate at Central London Community Healthcare. After the first wave of the Covid pandemic, he was redeployed from his Macmillan specialist nurse role in acute oncology to intensive care. However, being redeployed to intensive care, he found people did sit him down and openly talk about their feelings, which he found crucial as a form of preventative mental health first aid.

After the second wave of the pandemic, Martin decided to continue to champion the voice of his nursing profession and join the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) as the Senior Officer for Surrey. 

In 2021, his career took on to work within mental health and education. At that point, he took the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) course at Kingston University.

Connect with Martin Hogan here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-hogan-b0a167138/ 

https://twitter.com/advocacy_forum 

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission 

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com 

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission 

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing