In your workplace

I have heard that nurses are to receive '360 degree appraisal' in future. What is this and why is it a useful tool?

It is helpful to know how well you are doing in your job but sometimes it would be insightful to gain a view from people other than your manager.

If your appraisal is left in the hands of only one person (your boss), it may be overly influenced by your different personalities. Use of 360 degree appraisal goes a long way to fixing this problem.

It began more than 60 years ago when the military realised it could gain a more accurate picture of young officers by seeking feedback from a variety of sources.