CAROL FORDE-JOHNSTON

I’ve been an Adult Registered Nurse in the UK for over 34 years and a Registered Nurse Tutor for 24 years. I’m passionate about developing and supporting newly registered nurses and student nurses to improve their confidence and fulfil their future career aspirations.

When I look back on my early career, I remember being bullied as a student nurse in the 1980s and I failed my nursing finals, so it wasn’t a great start! The challenges I experienced didn’t stop me though, and I’ve spent most of my nursing career trying to encourage, motivate and inspire others, especially students and staff who are struggling. It was only through supportive role models, educators, and managers that I was able to professionally develop, and my nursing career eventually thrived.

I regularly volunteer as a speaker for schools and colleges and support the brilliant NHS Ambassadors programme. I love talking to young people about the different routes into nursing and the wide range of nursing career opportunities available to them. 

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Now that I’m coming to the latter part of my career, I’ve decided to create a series of free educational videos on ‘Nursing Interviews, Applications and Careers’ to support nurses on their career journey – check out my YouTube channel by clicking on this link

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These simple videos are packed with tips to help you write personal statements, plan for interviews, or support your career. I’ve tried to focus all the tips and advice I’ve offered students and registered nurses over the years into these videos. Whether you’re a school leaver applying to start a nursing degree, a newly registered nurse being interviewed for your first post, or a band 6 applying for a band 7 role or MSc course, there is something for everyone and I hope you find them helpful!

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A bit more about me….

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During my career I’ve worked as a Nursing Sister, Clinical Nurse Educator and Lecturer Practitioner (LP) in Neurosciences, a joint appointment between an acute NHS trust and University. Within my LP role I led 3rd year adult nursing degree modules and a post-graduate neuroscience course. I currently work as a Divisional Recruitment and Retention Lead in a large acute NHS Trust. This role involves leading retention initiatives and providing structured career advice and clinical supervision to all levels of nurses, to help improve their confidence and fulfil their future career aspirations.

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I have never stopped learning and I’m currently studying a part time PhD in Nursing at Oxford Brookes University, wish me luck as I need it! Hopefully you will see a ‘Dr’ Carol Forde-Johnston in years to come! 🤞🤞🤞  For anyone interested my PhD study is entitled: An exploration of nurse-patient interactions in acute hospital settings when Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems are used. Technology is dictating and changing contemporary nursing practice, and I’m really interested to explore how the task-driven, checklist approach underpinning EPR affects person-centred nurse-patient interactions in acute care settings.

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I enjoy writing and have published a broad range of articles for national journals, see the links to my publications on the tab at the top of this page. I have also written two books to support nurses’ career development: ‘How to Thrive as a Newly Qualified Nurse’ and ‘How to Prepare for Interviews and Develop Your Career as a Nurse or Midwife’.