Support for nurses

Pressures nurses and midwives describe

Nursing pressure often comes from the numbers on a shift. One registered nurse covering too many patients, missed breaks and long days followed by nights all add up. Agency and bank staff describe a different strain: new wards, unfamiliar systems and little induction. Midwives describe the same staffing gaps on labour wards and in community teams.

Say a ward is two nurses short for the night. You can record the gap, tell the nurse in charge and complete an incident report, and you keep a copy of what you said and when. Our guide to workload and understaffing shows how to put staffing concerns in writing. For safety concerns which go unanswered, read raising safety concerns.

• Violence and verbal abuse from patients or relatives: read patient aggression.
• Sleep and night shifts: read sleep and night shifts.
• Caring at home on top of caring at work: read caring responsibilities.
• Nurses recruited from overseas: read international professionals and training cost repayment.
• Bullying on the ward: read bullying at work.

Nursing unions and what they cover

The Royal College of Nursing is the trade union and professional body for nursing. Membership is open to nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, assistant practitioners and students. RCN member support covers counselling, a peer support group for health and disability issues, welfare advice on benefits, debt and housing, immigration advice, careers help and legal support, including NMC referrals. The RCN only represents you on problems which first arose during your membership, so join early. See our RCN member support profile.

Midwives can join the Royal College of Midwives. UNISON (opens another website), which calls itself the largest health care union in the UK, represents nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers. Unite the Union (opens another website) represents health visitors, school nurses and other NHS staff. Whichever union you choose, ask your workplace representative for help early in any grievance, disciplinary or contract change. Our guides to contract changes and investigations at work explain each stage.

Charities for nurses, midwives and HCAs

Cavell Nurses' Trust supports registered nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants across the UK, as well as retired and student nurses. The charity offers help and advice to people finding life hard to cope with, and grants to help them get back on their feet. Ask the trust directly about eligibility for a grant.

The Laura Hyde Foundation (opens another website) works on mental health support for medical and emergency services staff, including nurses. The foundation runs the REcharge Hub for healthcare staff with burnout. Doctors in Distress runs group programmes open to some nursing staff, so check the audience of each programme. For debt or benefit questions, read money worries. For unions, campaign groups and charities in one list, see campaign and advocacy groups.

Confidential mental health care

Start with your GP, occupational health or your employer's staff wellbeing service. If you cannot get confidential care locally, NHS Practitioner Health accepts NHS staff in England who cannot get confidential care locally. In Scotland, the Workforce Specialist Service covers regulated health and social care professionals, which includes nurses and midwives. In Wales, Canopi supports NHS and social care staff on 0800 058 2738. New therapy referrals there are paused from 21 September 2026. In Northern Ireland, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 in a crisis.

NMC fitness to practise and the Careline

The NMC regulates nurses and midwives across the UK and nursing associates in England. A referral to the NMC is frightening. The NMC Careline gives free emotional support to anyone involved in the fitness to practise process, by phone on 0800 587 7396, email, live chat or video, 24 hours a day. CiC runs the Careline independently. CiC does not tell the NMC you have used the service, and using the Careline does not affect your case.

For advice on the case itself, contact your union straight away. The RCN's legal teams support members with NMC referrals. Read fear of seeking help if worry about the NMC is stopping you from getting care.

If you are struggling now

Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. In England, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans answer on 116 123, day and night. Our urgent help page lists options for each nation.

Support services listed for nurses

Guides for nurses on Pharma Mate