No amount of training is going to help me feed 10 people in 20 minutes while managing critically ill patients"
What's new in nursing
Practice, news, clinical research, community and debate - for all nurses
Breaking news
'Full' hospitals treating patients in non-clinical areas
Patients are routinely being treated in areas of hospitals not designed for care, a Nursing Times survey has revealed.
Herbs do not help women conceive - British Fertility Society
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine do nothing to make pregnancy more likely, the British Fertility Society has said.
Kidney donors face little risk, study shows
A new investigation involving 80,000 participants has revealed that people’s length of life is unlikely to be shortened if they donate a kidney.
Doctor urges total cigarette ban
A respiratory specialist has called for cigarettes to be banned after witnessing increasing numbers of younger people develop lung disease.
NHS IT programme review needed, says BMA
Doctors’ leaders have written to the government calling for parts of the NHS IT programme to be suspended.
PATIENT SAFETY
Deteriorating patients - spot
the warning signs
Reduce in-hospital cardiac arrest and mortality through earlier recognition and treatment of the deteriorating patient.
Login here to access how-to guides, articles in improving patient safety and case studies from NHS trusts.
Nursing blogs
Take it from me - the future of nursing is bright
Ignore the negativity and bad press - the future of nursing is in good hands. Nursing Times resident student nurse Katrina Michelle Rowan has plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
Nursin’ USA - The trouble with early warning signs
Nursing Times’ resident US nurse Sara Morgan is struggling to understand the point of early warning scores. Shouldn’t all good nurses already know their way around vital signs?
Practice questions
I have been asked to help measure the apex and radial pulse. What are they and why is it necessary to measure both?
Nursing practice often involves undertaking procedures about which there is debate or uncertainty. In Practice Question we ask experts to determine how nurses should approach these situations
Case studies
How taking on a mothering role can lead to less effective care and advocacy for patients
The treatment of a patient and attitudes towards him raised questions about the nursing role, and gender and age differences between nurses and patients
Guided learning
How to measure patient experience and outcomes to demonstrate quality in care
Do you assess the care you provide to find out how good it is? A range of methods are available for you to check whether you really do provide high quality care
Depression in adults with long term conditions 2: antidepressant and psychological treatments
Depression ranges from mild to severe, and treatment varies according to level. Recognition and skilled assessment are therefore vital for effective management
Innovations
Training staff to empower people with long term conditions to undertake self care activities
Self care aids independence but people need support to do it. A community matron team piloted a tool to help health workers improve the support they offer
Share nursing ideas
Benefits of developing community leg ulcer services in college
In response to the Darzi Review, High Quality Care for All, ( DoH, 2008 ) Hampshire Community Health Care (HCHC) are currently undergoing exciting new changes in order to Transform Community Services, aiming to improve the quality of care and health choices, offered to service users.
Care of deteriorating patients
Salford Royal Foundation Trust signed up to Patient Safety First in 2008 and is one of the trusts to implement the reducing harm from deterioration intervention.
Behind the headlines
Vitamin D immune system boost?
The Daily Telegraph has reported that “vitamin D ‘triggers and arms’ the immune system”. It said that researchers believe that vitamin D plays a key role in boosting the immune system.
Evidence-based practice
NHS Evidence makes it easier to access the latest evidence based information
NHS Evidence allows staff to keep up to speed on best practice. One nurse describes how this has revolutionised the way he can provide effective care
Nursing practice, clinical research
Are nurses empowered to make decisions about levels of patient observation in mental health?
Mental health nurses are crucial in doing special observations. This study looked at nurses’ views on whether they are involved in and empowered to make decisions
The impact of healthcare on the environment: improving sustainability in the health service
The Climate Change Act has brought the issue of sustainability to the fore. Nurses can dramatically influence the ways in which the NHS cuts its carbon footprint
Are early warning scores the only way to rapidly detect and manage deterioration?
Rapid response systems, including early warning scores, are widely used to detect deterioration but a recent systematic review questions this approach
Competition
Nominate your rep of the year and win a Nursing Times subscription
Do you know a Medical Sales Rep that has really helped you in your role? Nominate them for the Pharma Times Rep of the Year awards, and you could win a year’s subscription to Nursing Times. Nominating will take no more than two minutes.
How should the NHS be managed?
Latest practice
Are nurses empowered to make decisions about levels of patient observation in mental health?
Mental health nurses are crucial in doing special observations. This study looked at nurses’ views on whether they are involved in and empowered to make decisions
Practice comment
Poor numeracy skills must be tackled to cut medication errors
Drug errors related to the wrong dose are a leading cause of serious incidents. Trusts must implement strategies to ensure staff are competent to calculate doses, says Paul Warburton
CNO's Bulletin
Voicepiece - supporting leadership
This month, CNO Christine Beasley highlights two publications that focus on the quality agenda, and contain important messages for those in leadership roles.
Beyond the Bedpan
Are you a saint, or a sinner?
As the dust settles over Mid Staffs and the PM’s commission, the battle for the public perception of nursing rages on. Are you a Nurse Jackie? Or more of a Carry On? Beyond the Bedpan tries to make sense of it all, and fails miserably.
Resources
DH launch new smoking Quit Kit
A NHS Stop Smoking Quit Kit, designed by experts and smokers, has been launched to help people stop smoking in the New Year.
Events and conferences
Nursing Times Conferences tackle the critical issues in nursing today. They deliver insight, practical guidance and an independent voice. Our events are essential learning and skills development opportunities for all nurses. Click here to go to events and conferences.
Join the debate
Free stuff for nurses
Win a set of student nurse survival guides
Pearson Education are giving away 5 sets of their new student nurse survival guides to registered users of Nursingtimes.net
Win a copy of 'CPD for Non-medical Prescribers – A Practical Guide'
Registered users can win one of five copies of a new practical guide on continuing professional development (CPD) for non-medical prescribers.
Poll
Do private care home residents need more protection?
