Sam Foster

Job titles need to reflect modern times and go gender neutral

The chance to update nursing and midwifery titles can not only help streamline the confusing array of roles, but ensure that trusts employ bona fide registrants, suggests Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals.

Being nice really is not enough

‘One traditional figure should be restored to her former position—the ward sister. I strongly believe that immediate steps must be taken to strengthen this role and enhance its clinical leadership and visible authority, as the guardian of patient safety and the role model for the next generation of nursing students.’ Prime Minister’s Commission, 2010). A powerful statement, but 4 years on we do need to ask ourselves if the currency of care quality is strong enough to at least be equal to the competing priorities in the NHS today? Why are not all ward and team leaders supervisory to practice? Additionally, what is the role of the nurse leader in contributing to this? In the somewhat familiar cyclical nature of criticisms of the NHS, and after highly publicised care failures, strongly attributed to failures in nursing care, many professional and political drivers have been clearly focused on re-establishing a clear nursing leadership framework. In 2009, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) undertook the largest review of ward leaders, looking at how the ward sister and charge nurse roles were working across different types of hospital trust in the UK. The report findings highlighted that work was needed to strengthen and support the role for the delivery of highquality nursing. Entitled Breaking down Barriers, Driving up Standards: The Role of the Ward Sister and Charge Nurse, the report recognised that the importance of the ward sister and charge nurse role applies universally, and that the role should be supervisory in nature (RCN, 2009). The RCN review took place over July–December 2008. It was based on a literature review of the research and history of the ward sister role, a re-analysis of RCN annual employment surveys from 2002 and 2007, and focus groups of ward sisters (approximately 90). Writing in the publication’s foreword, RCN Chief Executive and General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said:

Updates offer robust and fair approach to resolving patient safety incidents

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, welcomes the recommendations emerging from the latest reviews and highlights the importance of investigating systemic, as well as human factors.

Fitness to Practise proposals place the focus on patient safety and openness

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, welcomes the recommendations emerging from the latest review and highlights the importance of investigating systemic, as well as human, factors.

Surviving the challenges: the NHS at 70

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, reflects on the reasons for the NHSs continued role in British life after 70 years, despite the many difficulties it has faced.

Flexible working in the NHS

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, questions whether NHS policies around flexible working are fit for purpose.

Exploring the impact of Brexit

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, presents a risk assessment of the potential effects of leaving the European Union on nursing and the NHS more widely.

The need for clinical academic roles

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, looks at the importance of nurses undertaking academic roles to build on the evidence base for the profession to improve patient care.

Safeguarding vulnerable adults

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, focuses on the use of deprivation of liberty safeguards and the Mental Capacity Act and the importance of providing clarity for staff.

Assessing the impact of change

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, explains the importance of quality impact assessments when introducing change in a trust to prevent changes causing poor patient care.