Nursing Standard

20/10/2026

A budgeted 2.4% pay rise for NHS staff in England next year has been labelled a ‘betrayal’ of nursing staff.

Health unions have once again called for an end to the NHS Pay Review Body process, and for ministers to negotiate pay directly.

Unions call for direct negotiations with ministers after suggested below-inflation pay rise

19/10/2026

Are traditional, so-called ‘nil by mouth’ practices damaging to patients?

Our podcast guests discuss the need for a person-centred approach to preoperative fasting – and why some nurses may be following outdated guidelines

Our podcast guests discuss why some nurses may be following outdated guidelines

19/10/2026

BREAKING:

NHS nursing pay 2027-28: Ministers plan award of no more than 2.4%

19/10/2026

State pension payments could change in the next four years, after the government announced its plan to end the triple lock to help fund a national care service.

Here's what the change could mean for nursing and other healthcare staff.

How it could affect your retirement income – an NHS pensions expert offers advice

19/10/2026

Why do nurses still have no update on the pay talks that started back in April?

Promises to nurses to reform the antiquated Agenda for Change pay system are starting to seem meaningless without any word on progress from the government.

Click here to read more and subscribe to our free newsletter where we cover all the issues that affect nurses > https://nursingstandard.substack.com/p/nhs-pay-reform-where-are-the-talks

18/10/2026

Rest breaks in nursing: are staff being exploited?

Nursing staff are legally entitled to rest breaks, but how often do they actually take them?

Find out how to ensure you get the time out you need to protect your own health and practise safely.

Nursing staff too often fail to take the breaks they are entitled to on shift. Find out how to protect yourself from a culture of skipping breaks, to ensure you get the time out you need to practise safely and protect your own health.

17/10/2026

How to protect yourself when raising concerns on placement: a guide for nursing students

A nursing graduate reflects on how she got through the experience and how it affected her placement, and offers her advice for other nursing students who need to raise concerns.

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/students/how-to-protect-yourself-when-raising-concerns-on-placement-224181

16/10/2026

End of life conversations I will never forget – and how they transformed my practice

Some nurses reflect on what they have learned from often deeply moving discussions with patients about quality of life as death approaches.

Nurses reflect on what caring for patients nearing the end of life has taught them about advance care planning, communication and person-centred care. They share tips on broaching difficult conversations about death and dying with patients and their loved ones.

15/10/2026

Do you know the ‘rights’ of medication administration?

This article for students explains how to use the ‘rights’ to develop your understanding of pharmacology.

https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/students/rights-of-drug-administration-test-your-pharmacology-knowledge-221871

15/10/2026

Nurses and other hospital workers at an NHS trust claim they are being threatened with being 'fired and rehired' in a dispute on paid breaks.

Nurses and front-line hospital staff ready to take action over proposed contract changes