What are the career opportunities in general practice and is it a good place for newly registered nurses to start out?

In this episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board lead primary care nurse Frances Baverstock challenges some common misconceptions about working in general practice, and outlines the opportunities and challenges for nurses in this sector at all stages of their careers.

Ms Baverstock is joined by nursing student Ben Jones, who describes how his placement in primary care sparked a passion for general practice nursing.

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How do you decide when the time is right to step up from band 5 to band 6?

For many nurses, the move to a band 6 role is seen as a natural step within a few years of registering, but it is not for everyone. Moving from band 5 to 6 may mean more money, but it could also mean less flexibility.

The latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast looks at the differences between a band 5 and a band 6 role, the skills and experience required at band 6, and what to do if you are thinking about making the step up.

Our podcast guest Charlotte Collings, lead nurse for staffing and workforce at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in Harlow, Essex, offers advice on what to consider, including the difference in pay, the impact on your work-life balance and flexible working opportunities, and whether taking a band 6 role will mean less patient contact.

In the episode, Ms Collings explains how to develop your leadership skills in preparation for a band 6 role, why it is so important to have a mentor, and how using your nursing networks can help advance your career.

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For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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Who is your unsung nursing hero of 2025, that person you work with who has your back and deserves recognition?

In the final Nursing Standard podcast episode of 2025, previous guests including Queen’s Nurse Caron Sanders-Crook and RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Kirsty Cartin tell us who they think should be applauded for the work they have done over the past 12 months.

From the nursing lecturer who is ‘a prime example of what a mental health nurse should be’, to the social care nursing leader who has made ‘a profound difference to the profession’, their nominees have all made the working lives of nurses a little easier.

Follow the Nursing Standard podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast

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