Tips for your first shift

Before your shift, make sure you have gathered all the important information you need to know such as uniform and special access requirements, contact numbers in case of an emergency and have your ID badge. We always advise you to arrive 10-15 minutes early so you have enough time to find somewhere to park, navigate yourself to the unit and ask any questions you have before the start of the shift. If you are running late, always make sure that you inform Pulse Nursing and the department as soon as you are aware and able to. 

Arriving earlier to your shift will allow time to request or attend an induction and the opportunity to ask questions such as the layout of the unit, policies and procedures you need to know and if there are or codes to access storage and electronic systems. Staff on the unit might not always be aware that you are new to the environment or may not have an induction plan in place. For this reason, you should ask for an induction. Please ensure that you have all the information required and receive a handover before starting your shift so you can provide safe and appropriate care. 

Knowing your professional code of conduct is imperative. The NMC code of conduct states “Recognise and work within the limits of your competence”; this includes making sure that you have the appropriate training before completing the tasks. The HCPC Standards of Proficiency state that a Registrant ODP must “be able to practice safely and effectively within their scope of practice” which includes knowing the limits of their practice and when to seek advice. The Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England states that they must “be honest with yourself and others about what you can do, recognise your abilities and the limitations of your competence and only carry out or delegate those tasks agreed in your job description and for which you are competent.”

As an example, you may have training and be competent to administer intravenous medication, but this does not mean that your competency is recognised in other organisations. For this reason, it’s important to ask the nurse in charge or manager if the organisation recognises and allows agency nurses to administer intravenous drugs and check the requirements for you to be allowed to do so (such as supervision, in house study days, drug calculation tests, etc). This may change from organisation to organisation. 

In every aspect of your role, always use the 6C’s as your values and template in the delivery of care, this is what our patients and their loved ones appreciate the most.

Care – this is our core business and defines us as healthcare professionals and our work.

Consistency – in getting it right every time is expected by everyone and results in high quality care.

Compassion – this is how care is provided, based on empathy, respect, and dignity. It is often expressed as how people perceive their care.

Competence – this is the capability to recognise health and social needs and having the knowledge and skills to give effective care and treatment which is evidence based.

Communication – this is essential for both caring relationships as well as teamwork, with listening being of equal importance.

Courage – this is to do the right thing for those we care for and speak up if we have concerns.

Commitment – this is our pledge to improve the care and experience of our patients.

Following the 6 Cs will make a big difference to the experience of all patients and their loved ones.

As healthcare professionals we continually monitor and re-assess those in our care and their needs using: clinical judgement, observational skills, knowledge, and experience. Remember to always ask and seek advice from others when appropriate and never be afraid to do this, especially in a unfamiliar area. 

You may be working in different areas and with staff you have not worked with before. Communication skills are essential to allow others to feel comfortable with you and for you to feel comfortable with them. Remember to ask questions about anything you are not sure about and to document everything that you do, as well as anything that you are asked to do. If you experience issues that you feel that need addressing immediately, you can escalate this to the appropriate senior member of staff.

Remember to remain professional and give factual information in order to resolve the issue appropriately. If you wish to discuss this or any other issues with somebody, you can always speak with your dedicated consultant, or request a call back from a member of our clinical team. Details can be found in point 9. 

Shifts don’t always go as planned. There may be times where you are on shift and you become unwell, you injure yourself (e.g. needlestick injury) or you may be unfortunate enough to be assaulted. If any of these occur, you must talk to the nurse in charge about local policies. This should give you advice on any care you may require, escalation, incident reporting and documentation.

There may also be occasions on shift where you are involved in an incident or complaint. This may not be specifically about you; you may be a witness to a situation. If either of the above circumstances occur, you must inform Pulse Nursing at the earliest opportunity and cooperate with any requirements. 

Sometimes you can be expected to turn up on shift and know everything, as if you were a substantive member of staff. Permanent members of staff may appear to not have much patience for agency staff, but you must always remain professional. Remember the pressures that permanent staff may be under and that you are there to help relieve some of this pressure. It is important that you don’t take things personally, and to promote a relationship of mutual respect and speak to others how you would like to be spoken to.

However, if you have concerns in the way you are being treated by others, you may want to discuss this with the nurse in charge, if you are comfortable. We would, however, always encourage you to escalate this to Pulse Nursing so we can attempt to support you as best as we can. Remember that if you do not wish to return to a certain client/department/trust, you do not have to. Your consultant will try their best to find you shifts elsewhere to ensure that you are happy and comfortable with where you are working.  

Remember that support from a clinical member of the team at Pulse Nursing is always available.

If you wish to speak to a member of the clinical team about anything at all please email:
Clinicalsupport@pulsejobs.com to request a call back. This inbox is monitored Monday – Friday.

As an agency healthcare professional, you are expected to be adaptable in the areas that you work. If you are asked to move wards, or departments, it is an expectation that you oblige this request. Remember, you are not to work outside of your scope of practice. If there is something that you are not comfortable or competent in doing, you must raise your concerns professionally and negotiate with the person making the request about what you can and can’t do. If then, you are requested to move, we recommend that you document this, and detail any conversations that were held.

Please update Pulse Nursing when you have been requested to move as you may need to get another timesheet completed for the different area to avoid any discrepancies. Remember to ensure that you are punctual to all shifts. Being on time is essential so you can ensure you receive a full handover. Arriving late for shift, doesn’t give a good impression of yourself or Pulse Nursing, and in worst case scenarios, it may cause the client to request that you are not booked to work there in the future.