NT Clinical All the clinical content from this week's issue of Nursing Times.
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Neurological assessment Part 2 – Pupillary assessment
This article, the second in our series on neurological assessment, looks at pupillary assessmentHospital discharge after colorectal cancer surgery 1: An overview
Abstract
Taylor, C. (2008) Discharge after colorectal cancer surgery 1: an overview. Nursing Times; 104: 28, 28–29.
This two-part unit focuses on preparing patients for hospital discharge following surgery for colorectal cancer. This first part explores the rationale for different surgical procedures. It also discusses common side-effects and the impact treatment has on patients.
Setting up a learning disability acute liaison team
AbstractGarvey, F. (2008) Setting up a learning disability acute liaison team. This is an extended version of the article published in Nursing Times; 104: 28, 30-31.
This article describes the setting up and implementation of a learning disability acute liaison team set up to improve the care provided for people with learning disabilities across general hospitals in Hertfordshire. The article outlines the issues surrounding care for adults with learning disabilities and describes how the new role of health facilitation nurse was implemented.
Exploring relationships between older people and nurses at home
Abstract
McGarry, J. (2008) Exploring relationships between older people and nurses at home. This is an extended version of the article published in Nursing Times; 104: 28, 32-33.
BACKGROUND: The location of nursing care continues to move to the community and closer to patients' homes. Policy reforms and changing demography suggest that older people will increasingly become the main recipients of care in the home.
AIM: To explore the nature of the care experience between nurses and older people.
METHOD: The study used an ethnographic approach, which incorporated participant observation and semi-structured interviews with nurses and older patients (aged 70-94 years).
RESULTS: Sixteen nurses and 13 older patients took part. Three themes emerged: the location of care; the nature of nurse-patient relationships; and the meaning of health and illness.
DISCUSSION: These themes offer an account of the ways in which roles and relationships are constructed and care is delivered and experienced by nurses and older people in the home. Relationships between nurses and older people in this environment are multifaceted.
CONCLUSION: The qualities valued in the nurse-patient relationship in this care setting should be recognised and made more explicit at organisational and policy level.
