Interview with Charles Bloe, A Nurse Manager and the CEO of Charles Bloe Training Ltd 

You set up CB Nursing, later Charles Bloe Training Limited in 1997 after being a practicing nurse for about 12 years. Can you walk us through the major steps of your career development?

I graduated in 1984 from University of Edinburgh with BSc in Social Sciences and Nursing Studies. Thereafter, I took up post as Staff Nurse in Medical High Dependency before assuming role as Charge Nurse in Coronary Care and Medical HDU in 1986. I have since held a number of Charge Nurse and Nurse Specialist roles in Cardiology.

I developed a keen interest in education and while working as a Charge Nurse established Charles Bloe Training Ltd. 12 years ago. We now have 75 tutors who deliver face-to-face clinical training across the UK, Gibraltar,  Australia and the USA. Further development of the business has seen us establish a portfolio of online training courses to enable staff to access CPD without the constraints of time and place.

I now combine roles as Clinical Ward Manager for Coronary Care with my role as Clinical Lead and CEO for Charles Bloe Training Ltd

Why did I set up training organisation?

It became apparent to me that Nurses viewed training and development as importantly as pay and conditions. However as a Staff Nurse myself I found it difficult to access good quality clinical training that was delivered by experts who were currently practicing.

I established the business with this in mind and from an early stage ensured that all of out tutors would be clinical experts currently working in their specialist field. Most of our courses are onsite courses that are tailored to the clients’ requirements. This has been the key to our success. Rather than sending staff to an ‘off the shelf’ programme they can construct a bespoke course centred around the specific learning needs of their staff.

What courses does Charles Bloe Training Limited offer?

We offer over 100 face-to-face courses. The most popular are the clinical courses such as ECG Interpretation, Medical Emergencies, Minor Injuries, Venepuncture and Cannulation, Clinical Assessment etc. We also have over 100 online seminars and short courses available.

The full list of courses available can be viewed at www.cb-training.com

What are the main requirements for a nurse to wishing to attend one of the courses Charles Bloe Training Limited offers?

Lots of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn! Generally those attending will be working in a clinical area and have identified the course content as suitable to their CPD requirements.

The courses can be delivered from basic to advanced levels and this will be decided through a consultative process with the client. Above all staff should not attend courses for the sake of doing so. Training needs to address CPD requirements. It needs to be appropriate.

Finances are limited and releasing staff for training is problematic, perhaps more so than ever. It is therefore imperative that CPD time is maximised.

You are in the team that publishes the Irish and Scottish Nurse magazines/journals in addition to participating in numerous activities involving nursing career development. Which are the four major ways that a nurse could enhance his/her nursing career? Get experience! Establish which areas of Nursing interest you most and concentrate your energy’s on developing skills and experience relative to that area. 

• Get noticed! There are only a relatively small number of Nurses who are well known in nursing circles. Those who are tend to be leaders in their field. They tend to publish work and are often guest speakers at events. 
• Share your experience! If you are doing a great job locally then tell people. Publishing clinical work is a powerful medium in terms of enhancing personal and departmental credibility. 
• Enjoy Nursing! We often hear that moral is at the lowest point ever. However having been a Nurse for almost 25 years I cannot recall a period when people said that everything in the garden was rosy, Morale is a personal thing. It is a privilege to Nurse and despite the pressures that we face on a daily basis it’s a hugely rewarding career. 

Some nurses and healthcare professionals may be contemplating career move or diversification by publishing articles in journals such as Irish and Scottish or even setting up training programmes. What advice would you offer them – such as - in respect to the challenges you faced and how best to overcome them? As stated, publishing work is a great way of enhancing your own personal credibility and that of your department. It’s also hugely satisfying.   Historically Doctors have published work more often than Nurses.

Publications do not necessarily require you to have undertaken a detailed study or research process. Sometimes small local programmes of care or initiatives can be published.

    Don’t be overawed by the process. Most clinical editors will give you all the help you require. Approach them with your idea for an article and they will guide you through the process. They’ll usually advise on how to structure an article and help with graphics and referencing as well.  Anyone interested in publishing their work in Skills for Nurses should contact me and I’ll help them through the process.