So many people are good at using a magnifying glass to find fault in others...but they can't face looking in the mirror and seeing their own faults. Wouldn't life be better if we could accept that we all have faults and working together, we can strengthen each other. 🤔

Heard a lady ask a #carer to show her to her room recently - 'I'll be back in a minute', she called. The lady said 'ach well I'll see you in half an hour then!'. In #nursing, we often joke about the #nursesminute but what does it really mean - loss of trust, hopelessness, haste.

Nurses often use humour as a coping mechanism in stressful situations but I see a lot of social media posts now where nurses publicly make light of the experience of patient groups - often the patient group they serve. Does this promote trust in our profession? 🤔

I've arrived in Birmingham for a day Nursing Live UK . Equally excited to be indulging in my passion for #nursing and nervous to be talking about #placements in #carehomes. That #imposter feeling always lurks!

Spoke with a #studentnurse recently who had been allocated a placement which would involve over two hours travelling by multiple transport, back & forth, each shift. Other students, who drive, were allocated placements on her doorstep. How does this attract student nurses?

A heartfelt gift received today from a colleague and friend, following the death of her mother. A badge found in her mother's belongings, speaking of her #nursing legacy & now cherished by this proud nurse. You know who you are and I hope you know how much this means ❤️

This #ToAbsentFriends week, we are committed to achieving the #bereavementcharter mark for Rashielee. Today we witnessed friends returning to the #carehome for a visit following the death of a loved one and spoke with staff who continue on their #bereavement journey. #support

A final chance to nominate your #nurse for #BestofNursing . An opportunity to showcase the incredible work done by nurses and nursing teams across sectors and across the country. It's time to share and celebrate our #care, #innovation, #leadership and #advocacy.

Waste not want not! My daughter got some pumpkins as Halloween decorations when her friends came over ... Now they are boiling in my cauldron for soup! #freeday

Happy Halloween to all those parents that are glad their kids are past the guising and school disco stage. Enjoy the darkness tonight 😉 (curtains closed, lights off, treats to yourself)!

Another great #rbcs learning session today, discussing 'advice monsters', the importance of allowing people to come to their own conclusions. It got me thinking of the times I've been in 'save it' mode, wanting to solve peoples problems for them and the burden that carries.

Thinking today about #passion for your work, how it can bring people along on your current or wash them away like a tsunami. #Disruption too, how it can cause positive ripples that carry people to new ideas or it can muddy the waters. It's a fine balance

Great chat with our #paramedic #student today. Our focus was on #communication in the #carehome, the importance of recognising communication needs, adapting to different styles, communication & assessing people's needs. Great to see her #reflect on interactions with residents.

#Grief affects #carehome staff. The #loss of characters & #relationships through #death. The void of serving residents & their family that have mattered to you for so long. When someone dies, take a moment. #Pause, remember them, thank them, acknowledge your part in their life

Delighted to share my thoughts on good #discharge from #hospital to #carehome today. It's about the #flow of #communication, not just at the point of leaving but throughout a stay in hospital. This flow ensures safety, sharing relevant & critical information that impacts #care.

A great evening read, exploring the #experience of #spouses after a loved one moves to a #carehome. It's so important that we don't forget to #care for those around residents who are also going through significant life changes.

This week‘s blog addresses the role of #socialcare in #stroke management and awareness in the week in which we recognise #WorldStrokeDay. #strokeawareness. #carehome, #homecare. scottishcare.org/world-stroke...

Friday #freeday, called for a wee walk by the bonnie banks #lochlomond.

Listening to #carers discuss a residents needs with the #nurse today in the #carehome. All exchanging ideas - agreeing and disagreeing respectfully until the most appropriate plan was formed. That's #teamwork. That's a #skilled workforce.

What makes a house a home? What or perhaps who is it that makes you feel safe, comfortable, connected, loved? Do we do enough to translate those feelings of #carehome life into quality measures? 😉

In the charity shop, my daughter holds up a 'vintage' top & says it's cute... promptly followed by 'oh...' as she notices the name tag pressed onto the collar. 'I bet Winnie lived in a #carehome' she said. She didn't want something still owned by someone else. Forever labelled 😥

Great discussion with a fellow #nurse today on achieving a good flow of clear, relevant, honest & respectful #communication between #acute staff & #carehomes. How do we bring people together from very different systems to see the commonalities in their work practice & values?

Sadly, I've met many #nurses who believe personal care is beneath them. Personal care lets you notice what others might miss—changes in skin, mood, pain, mobility. It’s a chance to catch early signs of decline & connect with the person behind the condition. A chance to #notice.

We judge players from the outside like we’d have done better, but we’re not in their head, feeling the pace, pressure, & noise. Perspective is easy from the stands/sofa, harder on the pitch. It can be the same when we judge a colleague's decision making...

The hedgehog cam was rather full today as whilst I hadn't neglected feeding the hedgehog, I had forgotten to check the cams - hundreds of photos awaited me on both cams. Amazing things happen every night (& day) even if we don't see it. #naturetherapy 🦔

The long shadow of loss: Reflections for #BabyLossAwarenessWeek #grief #olderage #loss #bereavement #remembrance scottishcare.org/the-long-sha...

Weekend read 📚

A thought today about #space in #carehomes. Where do residents spend their day? Do they really have a #choice? You can go in the garden...if the weather is nice. You can go to the lounge...but it's too noisy. You can go to your bedroom...who hosts guests in their bedroom?

The weight of #caring - professionally/ personally/ globally - is significant. Lately I've been 'feeling' too much, my compassion for others has exhausted me. Today though, a #SpacesForListening session reminded me that I'm not alone & that boundaries come in all shapes & sizes.

In the #carehome early & met a nightshift carer who told me that a gentleman had been tearful, happy tears, tapping his feet, when listening to a song being played as he was assisted with care. It warms my heart knowing the power of #music but also that people #notice people

A colleague heard a lady laughing today and commented 'I just love hearing her laugh'. That lady doesn't live in the #carehome, but her loved one does - and that doesn't matter, the fact that she is now able to laugh freely again matters. All people matter in #carehomelife.

Just spoke with a colleague who felt unworthy around people of “higher status.” He feared speaking up or disagreeing. I reminded them — we’re all human. Their care and passion for those they serve outshines any title. #humility #confidence #leadership

We must all be storytellers, listening and recounting the lives of others. It's in these stories that we discover what matters to someone, that we find understanding, that we learn how to live & love alongside someone. As we share their words, we affirm their place, their worth.

Snuggly #caturday 😻

I heard an academic speak of #history. He said that we must study history because history doesn’t stay behind us. It got me thinking of the importance of embedding the history of health & social care in nursing curriculum but also the valuable oral history we must hear & share.

Lovely full rainbow 🌈 brightening up my day. Rainbows always make me smile, a symbol of hope.

Reliving my youth and supporting my daughter's at Uni of Strathclyde open day. #livelovelearn

#Socialcare carries people: it is high time it was supported. #reform #leadership #humanrights #Governmentapathy #dignity scottishcare.org/social-care-...

Pulled a throw off my chair and nearly had a heart attack finding a spider had found it very cosy too! Then found out Cookie is the worst spider catcher ever!

An impromptu visit by a dear friend with a bouquet of flowers. Thank you @alymckechnie-vale.bsky.social , on the back of our unpaid carer support meeting, you timed this perfectly ❤️

This morning was our 3rd #unpaidcarer support group for staff @rashielee navigating the complexity of working in #care & providing it at home. Another welcome & appreciated chance to share experiences and we welcomed a new carer too.

Well best laid plans eh? After a morning of will the care package be picked up or not, it thankfully was by afternoon so mum is home 🎉. But, then the headache of adapting two stubborn parents to change, coupled with a care package not being what was agreed 😵‍💫. #unpaidcarer

I light tonight’s #candleforcare the evening before #WorldOlderPersonsDay in recognition of how important it is that we make people feel that they #belong.

Standing outside, watching and listening to the geese flying overhead. Not just once, but skein after skein. So peaceful, a chance to be still amidst the chaos. #selfcare

Another delay to mum getting home as care package not in place yet, she was so upset as had packed & was good to go. First barrier was nobody could cope with meds so we scrapped meds prompt, now it's nobody able to start. Hoping for tomorrow now 🤞.

Sunday morning reset...a lovely #autumnal walk with lots of #fungi about 🤎💛🧡

Another day of moving & sorting to enable single storey living for mum being discharged from hospital. It's been a long few weeks & there's so much more #change ahead, adapting to more #support & hoping that support is compatible with advanced #parkinsons

A place to belong: a reflection for World Older People’s Day. #belonging #ageing #place #community #WorldOlderPersonsDay scottishcare.org/a-place-to-b...

Today I drove the Queensferry Crossing. It always makes me smile, a stunning, light filtering structure. Looking at all 3 bridges got me thinking about how we get from A to B. We all travel in different ways, what matters is that we have structured support to keep travelling.