To ask if any other HCPs get anxious about NMC

[Differentcorner]

I have been qualified for 19 years with no hiccups one minor drug error when I first qualified but I live in fear of being reported to the NMC. I look at the reasons that people are investigated and some seem like personal vendettas... or perhaps it just looks that way as it’s all they actually have evidence for? It’s really eating me up as if you wanted to throw someone under he bus we’ve all probably done something wrong or broken the code unintentionally at some time

If you are practicing within the code then you have nothing to worry about. I work in mental health and was once reported to the NMC spuriouly by someone with a grudge. My Trust were very supportive and the complaint went no further.

The only reports I've heard of have been grudge reports on another nurse I know. I thought this was going to be about the revalidation. I hate that with a passion. not the actual idea of it, just the exicution of it. Mine is now done for a few years, breathe!

Not really no. Living in fear of something happening seems quite extreme.

I'm not a nurse but am a HCP.

Over the past few years, I have become increasingly sure that my middle management wouldn't have the slightest hesitation in throwing any of us under the bus in the event of a problem.

If 'an issue' as so often happens now, gets CC'ed around half the management, they fall over each other in their haste to make sure none of the blame could possibly be laid at their door. Even when it evidently could.

A lot of highly experienced, valuable staff are walking as a result.

No one has your back in the NHS any more.

It's not just HCP. Teachers, lawyers, accountants...This kind of thing can potentially affect loads of people.

I think I may have an anxiety disorder to be honest... i expect perfection of myself and that’s not realistic is it?

No one ever has your back, people are only out for themselves. I’ve known Doctors tell lies in court just to protect themselves. Document everything.

I think it's how the world is now. We seem to have a blame culture and do expect perfection even when it is impossible.
IMO it is not healthy as I do believe that the vast majority of us are trying our best and, with the best will, occasional mistakes will inevitably happen.
Stressful.

This was a consideration for me when I left the profession. I was seeing an increase in disciplinary action being taken against colleagues for things that were beyond their control and with decreasing staffing levels I frequently felt vulnerable at work despite working my are of and being a stickler for professional standards and practice. I have seen managers and doctors throw nurses under the bus to save their own skin.

Just to add I loved my job but I do not miss the stress.

Yes I do OP. All the time.
This is because of the situations that I am forced into on a regular basis by management.
The tools available to highlight the issues are a complete waste of time.
The unions employed to support and protect us are a waste of time.
The ever present threat of being reported is inescapable.
A 10,20,30 year clean record of work means absolutely naff all.

I was complained about a couple of months ago for giving the ward mobile phone to a lady who’s daughter had been frantically phoning every department in the hospital looking for her mum. Her number was given to my ward with a message to ring her asap. I had a conversation with the lady, asked if she wanted contact with her daughter, asked the lady if she wanted to speak directly to her daughter or if she wanted me to speak to her. She chose to speak to her daughter. She was fine, talking to me, not in any way upset. Because she got upset on the phone during the conversation, the daughter made an official complaint about me being cruel and how she was disgusted that her mother was allowed (full capacity) to use the ward phone when so upset.
It was going to be taken further.
There was no confidentiality issue, mother had full capacity, I just dialled the number for her.
I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t stop thinking about what a shit nurse I am, couldn’t stop thinking about how I had upset 2 people with one act so severely that I considered handing in my notice rather than going through the circus that is HR.

It worries me constantly because that is an example of doing nothing, a kind compassionate act and being dragged through the mud because of a complaint.
Something as simple.

I have never made an official complaint when being assaulted or spat at or shouted and sworn at during my shift.
I get what you are saying OP, I get it.

No you can’t be perfect, the system isn’t perfect, there is always human error and everyone makes mistakes. What we need to do away with is the blame culture and look at why things happened and what we can do to improve and learn from. You also can’t know everything and never will.

I worry about them too, I think sometimes the blame culture is alive and kicking in health care. It prevents people owning up when a drug error (for example) has happened. You show me a nurse who's never made a drug error, and I'll show you a liar. If you own up to it you can (a) attempt to put it right, document it etc and LEARN from it but there's too much throwing to the wolves.

After seeing some of the NMC hearings then yes it is scary

Any investigation/supervision is daunting - especially when you get told 'you didn't do anything wrong, but we have to be seen to be doing something' - so blame got laid at me (newly qualified) for not making a jump call when my gut was right, but the sister said I was wrong, and both doctors on call (registrars) also said I was wrong - apparently the issue was that I was right, they were wrong, yet the only one who got any rap on the knuckles was me

Yeah, still resentful 10 years on - however I don't alter my practice etc on the basis of it - but occasionally when things happen I do start mentally preparing my statement

I am a HCP and used to fear being reported. I'm at the point where if anyone did it would give me and excuse to leave!!

The standards and culture of the NHS have changed so much in the time that I have qualified. Patients have more complex histories, people expect more, staffing and resources gave been cut. We are all getting by by the skin of our teeth and sadly nothing changes until a significant issue comes up and then it's a witchunt.

I don't think it's unique to healthcare. Make a comment on social media and you get hounded these days...

Actually I was thinking about you Crosser62 last night and I wanted to come back.
I am not a HCP but am in an area where the same sort of thing applies- the threat of being reported etc. so I get it too.
I just wanted to say that you sound like exactly the sort of nurse I would want looking after me or my family, and I think it was absolutely dreadful that you ended up being complained about.

I think Dr Hadiza Bawa Gaba's experience and sight of how the situation was handled initially by other HCPs and then by her employer and the wider system crystallised a lot of HCP's thinking about the personal accountabilities and consequences of working in a system with structural problems.

I think we live in times where everyone abides by pules/policies/guidance/protocols instead of a good dollop of common sense and empathy . Everyone runs scared.

I've just been told I have to write a 'reflective statement' about a situation which I was not in any way, shape or form involved in! (It was pretty trivial, too).

But I was Not There.

However, this is not seen as a barrier to me reflecting on what I might have done differently should the situation arise again.....

Management by policy. By Band 8s who have no concept of how much closer to resignation this takes me, and others like me. Even though they're now trawling Africa to try to staff our area.,

ishould thank you very much for your kind comments.
It means a lot.
My colleagues were equally as supportive as they have been in similar positions. It’s the norm now sadly.

Yes it does cause me some anxiety. There was a case in court where someone fell over and died and a nurse was prosecuted I believe as the falls paperwork wasn’t completed properly. I can imagine that happening on a very busy shift I just think well at the end of the day nursing isn’t the best job in the world if I am struck off like that then there is always a job in Tesco.

Sadly, The Public have brought this upon themselves- by voting in - or not bothering to vote out- austerity governments; by nodding vigorously at red top newspapers 'reports' complete with DM sad face, berating the nasty NHS when I can personally vouch that had the NHS been able to give their side of events- which we're not- the story would read somewhat differently; the public has been actively encouraged to look for and find fault in HCPs.

In some areas, minimum staffing has been brought in, but it's being fudged by counting HCAs, and, in my area, management are actively fighting 'minimum numbers' because they know they'll have to spend budget which won't look good on their CV.

Me too Turbo. It wasn't the main reason I left the profession but it was a consideration. I've seen too many good Nurses blamed for incidents that were very clearly the result of bad management or inadequate staffing levels.

Yes. I didn’t used to but have seen enough with colleagues over the years who have been maliciously reported for things that could have been dealt with in better ways that I now practice defensively and I hate it. Always covering yourself for every little thing. I know people that have got really ill with anxiety, even one colleague ended up having a heart attack they survived due to the stress over small human errors where nobody was harmed or put at risk but were reported. The investigations seem to be strung out and horrific, enough to tip any honest hardworking nurse over the edge.
In my job there are so many instances where in the patients best interest we have to sometimes make the decision to not stick to the policy, and I do believe that not doing so would not be giving the best care. However “best interests” is open to interpretation so it’s a risk. Horrible working in this blame culture. It’s the one thing about my job I absolutely hate and really hope it changes before many more staff are lost.

And just to add and agree with the poster above, all these policies are put in place but short staffing and bad management often puts you at massive risk of errors. I worked somewhere so unsafe that it was impossible to do my job properly. I lasted a week before I left because I knew I would lose my pin if I stayed due to the culture and unbelievable staffing levels. It’s scary.