Nursing Times
November 2010

View all stories from this issue.

1 in 3 patients face malnutrition risk, say researchers

One in three patients of all ages admitted to hospital and care homes is at risk of malnutrition, according to research by the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN).
1 in 5 in armed forces faces psychological distress

One in five members of the armed forces experience psychological distress while on deployment, according to research by King’s College London.
59-year-old male with crushing chest pain

A BNF case study in which a 59-year-old man is admitted with a 90-minute history of severe crushing chest pain.
Accident and Emergency Nursing Award

WINNER: Caring for patients with drug, homelessness and safeguarding issues, Dave Roberts, Carol Holt, Clare Pritchard and Paul Thompson, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital Trust
Acne drug's 'suicide link' probed

The popular acne drug isotretinoin does not increase the risk of suicide, according to a new report.
Aircraft noise and heart risk studied

“Living under a flight path ‘can increase your risk of heart attack’,” reported the Daily Mail.
Alzheimer's patients at increased risk of hip fractures

Alzheimer’s disease patients are more than three times more likely to fracture their hip than other older people and more likely to die as a result, according to US research.
An emergency nurse: Sierra Leone and London

Nursing Times blogger Katy Morgan on working in Sierra Leone for the Welbodi Partnership, a charity that supports the delivery of vital paediatric care
'An extraordinary few days in Haiti'

Nursing Times’ Haiti-based nurse blogger Fi Stephenson reflects on an extraordinary few days in Haiti
Andrew Lansley silent on maternity U-turn

The health secretary has refused to be drawn on whether the government will U-turn on its plans for maternity.
Anti-cholesterol drugs also kill bacteria

Drugs designed to lower cholesterol have the positive side effect of killing bacteria, scientists have found.
Army reservist nurse receives Queen's commendation

Army reservist nurse Jonathan Paul Nolan has received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the latest operational honours and awards list.
Arthritis drug 'may cut skin cancer risk'

People at risk of developing skin cancer could benefit from a drug normally used to treat arthritis, researchers have suggested.
Arthritis management guide published

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network has published guidance on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults.
'At its best, the NHS is simply without parallel'

My father died three weeks ago.
Australian nurses protest over minimum ratio refusal

Around 4,000 Australian nurses and midwives have been protesting in Sydney Olympic Park over the New South Wales government’s refusal to introduce a minimum ratio of one nurse to every four patients in most hospital wards.
Australian nurses rally for minimum ratio

Australian nurses began a series of rallies calling for the introduction of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios and better pay.
Bank and Agency Award

WINNER: Amelia Hall, 3 Boroughs Homeless Team, Lambeth Community Health. Award sponsored by NHS Professionals
Bedwetting campaign wins gold

The team at ERIC is celebrating the success of the Banish the Wee Horror campaign winning at this years West of England Pride Awards.
Betraying My Body

A poem submitted by VR
Binge drinking doubles risk to heart

The risk of heart attack and death from heart disease is doubled by binge drinking, new research has indicated.
Bisphosphonate treatment benefits outweigh risks, say researchers

Available evidence shows the benefits of bisphosphonate treatment outweigh the risk of atypical fractures, according to a position statement from the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
Blood test predicts long-term heart disease survival

The risk of death from chronic heart failure can be predicted years in advance with a simple assessment of blood plasma, according to Italian scientists.
BMI measures underestimate Asian body fat

Body mass index measurements underestimate the body fat of South Asian children living in the UK, research from St George’s University of London, has shown.
Boost for bowel cancer screening

“PM David Cameron has announced £60m over the next four years to introduce the latest cancer screening technology,” reported BBC News.
Breakthrough in blood clots testing

A British-led research team has revealed a study which will help medical professionals to understand why some people are at an increased risk of coronary heart disease than others.
Breast cancer interventions in A&E recommended

Breast cancer screening should be offered to women waiting in accident and emergency departments, according to US scientists.
Breast cancer nurse wins patient care award

Nurse Denise Carr of Spire Wellesley Hospital, Southend-on-Sea, has won an award for her “devoted” work with breast cancer patients.
Calendar celebrates Florence Nightingale’s contribution to district nursing

Community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has created a new wall calendar for 2011, illustrated with twelve vivid photographs from the QNI archives showing nurses at work, alongside quotes from nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.
Call for views on end of life care education

Health and social care staff are being asked to share their views on education for end of life care in the North West.
Can celery boost the memory?

The Daily Mail reported, “remembering to eat your celery could halt memory loss”.
Can passion beat pain?

“Love can block pain in a similar way to morphine,” the Daily Mirror has reported.
Cancer Nurse Leader Award

WINNER: Sarcoma service development, Helen Stradling, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Trust. Award sponsored by the Royal Marsden Foundation Trust
Care challenges need assertive nurses, says nursing professor

Practice nurses should assert themselves to ensure they play an integral role in future commissioning, a leading academic nurse has said.
Care homes 'failing on diabetes'

Care homes are failing to screen people for diabetes and are not training their staff to manage the condition, which has led to an average of one resident having to be admitted to hospital every 25 minutes, according to a charity’s report.
Carter highest placed nursing representative in HSJ100

Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary Peter Carter was the highest placed nursing representative in the Health Service Journal 100 2010 - a ranked list of the people with the greatest influence on health policy and the NHS.
Cervical cancer jab 'can cut screening'

Girls who get cervical cancer jabs may only need screening twice in their lifetime, medical experts have claimed.
Cervical cancer test accuracy improves

A trial of a new cervical cancer test has demostrated improved detection of pre-cancerous cells in women whose smear tests had come back normal, scientists have indicated.
Chief Nursing Officer's Award

WINNER: Improving care in an acute hospital for people with a learning disability, Pamela McCarthy, Carol Edwards, Stephanie Read and Ben Mills, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust. Award sponsored by NHS Derbyshire County
Child Health Award

WINNER: Children and young people health mentors, Judith Grigg, Hilary Garrett, Anita Farmery and Daryl Weston, Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust
Children's hospital ordered to improve cleanliness

Improvements at a children’s hospital in Scotland have been demanded after inspectors found evidence of stained mattresses and staff not washing their hands properly.
Children's hospital told to improve cleanliness

Health inspectors have called for a number of improvements to a children’s hospital in Scotland following an unannounced visit.
Chronic pain strongest in black female cancer survivors

Chronic pain in cancer survivors is more prevalent in women and more severe in black people, according to a study by the University of Michigan.
Civil war nurse honoured on centenary of her birth

A nurse who volunteered to care for wounded anti-fascist soldiers during the Spanish Civil War has been honoured in the town of Reading to mark the centenary of her birth.
Clue to pregnant blood pressure

Scientists have found the root cause of pre-eclampsia, The Guardian has reported.
CNO to step down in March

Chief nursing officer for England Dame Christine Beasley is to retire in March it has been announced.
Cocaine link to rare blood disorder

Public health experts have issued a warning to drug users and medics after a patient was treated for methaemoglobinaemia - a potentially fatal condition which has been linked to the use of cocaine.
Coil hope for early womb cancer

The “contraceptive coil raises hope of delaying womb cancer”, reports the BBC.
Collaborative working to reduce HCAIs in Romania

Two nurses from the North of England visited Zalau Emergency Hospital in May 2010 to share their knowledge of patient safety and infection prevention and control.
Continence products: a need for larger sizes?

Answer our survey on continence products.
Continence Promotion and Care Award

WINNER: Beyond boundaries to promote quality, innovation and productivity in continence services, Jo Howells, Jo Cooke and Kerry Zgrzywa, Wolverhampton City PCT. Award sponsored by Coloplast
'Continence training is under the microscope as Mid Staffs inquiry starts'

“My father messed himself in his bed; he had to sit in that for a long time before he was cleaned up. That was the last thing that broke his spirit actually.”
Court rules automatic barring of nurses 'unlawful'

The Royal College of Nursing has won its judicial review against the barring scheme run by the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
Cure the NHS campaigner tells of Mid Staffs 'bedlam'

A campaigner whose mother died at Stafford Hospital has said the 86 year old once collapsed on a ward after being left without her oxygen supply.
Curvaceous claims go pear-shaped

“Curvy women will live longer,” the Daily Expresshave reported.
Cuts 'provoke anxiety' among mental health patients

A major shake-up in the welfare system could have a “quite devastating” impact on people with fragile mental health, it has been claimed.
Deaf people 'may see better'

“People deaf from birth may be able to reassign the area of their brain used for hearing to boost their sight” reported BBC News.
Death rate statistics released

Death rates from heart disease, stroke and cancer are significantly higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK, new figures show.
Dementia patients engaged by innovative painting product

Care home provider Barchester Healthcare has introduced a reusable painting product designed to engage people experiencing dementia.
Depression linked to kidney disease mortality

Kidney disease is more likely to be fatal in patients who are depressed and have a negative perception of their condition than those with a positive outlook, according to a recent study.
DH pushes for greater winter flu jab uptake

Health experts have urged people to make sure they avoid taking unnecessary risks and have the seasonal flu jab, after figures show fewer people have been vaccinated this year.
DH reveals latest projects in social enterprise scheme

The Department of Health has announced the 32 projects that will form the third wave of NHS organisations wishing to set up social enterprises, through the NHS “Right to Request” scheme.
Diabetes blood sugar managed with exercise

Combining aerobics and weight training is the best exercise regime for diabetics to help lower their blood sugar, a study has indicated.
Diabetes care 'can be improved by specialist nurses'

Inpatient diabetes care can be improved if the expertise of specialist nursing teams is used, leading experts have said.
Diabetes drug withdrawn

Thousands of diabetes sufferers could face serious upheaval to their treatment after the decision was taken to withdraw a drug, leading academics have warned.
Diabetics' blood sugar reduced with exercise programme

Combining aerobics and weight training is the best exercise regime for diabetics to help lower their blood sugar, a US study has found.
'Distracted' nurses' drug error killed baby

Two nurses involved in a “dreadful mistake” that led to the death of a four-month-old baby have told an inquest they could not explain how the error occurred.
Does tea boost the heart?

“Two cups of tea a day cuts heart disease,” the Daily Express has reported.
Drug 'does not decrease delirium duration'

The cholinesterase inhibiting drug rivastigmine (Exelon) does not decrease the duration of delirium in critically ill patients and could increase mortality, warn Dutch researchers.
E coli poisoning linked to progressive vascular injury

Contracting gastroenteritis from water contaminated with E coli increases risk of developing other conditions, according to Canadian researchers in the BMJ online.
E coli strain and heart attacks linked

People who catch the most dangerous strain of E coli could be twice as likely to suffer from high blood pressure and heart problems later in life, latest research suggests.
Endocrine nurse wins award

A specialist nurse has been awarded the first Ipsen BSPED Paediatric Endocrine Nurse Award.
Endoscope 'disinfection failure' linked to nine NDM cases in UK

Nine people were infected with bacteria carrying the New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM) enzyme after “disinfection failure” with a single endoscope camera at a UK hospital, a document obtained by Nursing Times reveals.
Enteral tube feeding linked to diarrhoea

Patients who are fed via an enteral tube for extended periods are more likely to have prolonged bouts of diarrhoea than those given nutrition in this way for only a short while, according to an Australian study.
Essex nurse dies in accident abroad

An Essex nurse has been killed in a road accident during a working holiday in New Zealand.
Exercise 'cuts risk of 20 illnesses'

A new review has found that doing exercise on a regular basis can help cut the risk of more than 20 illnesses.
Fat tissue inflammation linked to diabetes, say researchers

Fat tissue cells that cause inflammation may be what links diabetes with obesity, researchers in Australia have said.
Flu vaccination programme for pregnant women underway

Like many other parts of the UK, NHS Bradford and Airedale kicked off its winter flu vaccination programme.
'Focusing on public mental health could save the NHS millions'

Hosting the Nursing Times Awards, getting expert views on public mental health and updating my resuscitation skills have made for an interesting couple of weeks.
Garlic linked to reduced hypertension

Hypertension patients should add garlic to their diets, an Australian study suggests.
Guide to chronic liver condition published

A guide to the needs of patients with the chronic liver condition primary biliary cirrhosis has been published by a charity.
Half of children suffer from back pain

Back pain is a “serious problem” for 58% of schoolchildren, according to a recent study.
Hand hygiene campaign to go nationwide

A local handwashing campaign, Give Soap a Chance, is to be rolled out nationwide one year after Hull and East Yorkshire Trust launched it.
Have skills, will nurse

Nursing Times blogger Verity Worthington looks forward to her first placement as a student nurse.
HCA under fire for 'deathbed note'

A healthcare assistant who left a note on a patient’s bed attacking cost cuts came under the media spotlight.
Health in Pregnancy Grant to end early 2011

The Health in Pregnancy Grant – the one-off payment of £190 for expectant mothers – will come to an end early next year.
Health minister says chief nursing officer role will remain

Health minister Anne Milton has insisted there will be a new chief nursing officer for England when Dame Christine Beasley retires next year, apparently quashing speculation the Department of Health was considering axing the post.
Health visitors offered funded course and bursary to return to practice

NHS London is offering a fully funded course and £1,000 bursary to people who have left health visiting but now wish to return to practice.
Hip fracture management consultation opens

A public consultation on new guidelines on the management of hip fracture in adults has been opened.
Home birth rate in UK falls

Slightly fewer women are opting to give birth at home, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported.
Hospice launches DVD to help dispel care fears

A Birmingham hospice has launched a DVD to help allay the fears of prospective patients about receiving hospice care.
Hospital trust wins award for patient experience programme

Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust has won the acute care category at the London Health and Social Care Awards for its Patient Experience Revolution programme.
Hospitals 'failing elderly patients'

Hospitals are failing elderly patients, with many suffering unnecessary pain, a report has found.
How to get your first nursing job

You’ve put the hours in and it’s time to move from the books to the bedside. Rebecca Coombes is here to help you get your first job
'Huge concerns' remain over Mid Staffs care

A campaigner whose mother died at an NHS hospital criticised over disastrous standards of care today told an inquiry she still has “huge concerns” about the treatment of vulnerable patients.
Hygiene education programme helps pupils fight germs

Pupils are learning how to clean their hands in five easy steps as part of an innovative hand hygiene education programme.
Hypertension therapy breakthrough

Treatment of high blood pressure could be revolutionised by a technique that directs radio waves at the kidneys, it has been claimed.
'I had my first job interview last week'

Nursing Times student nurse blogger Katrina Michelle Rowan gives us a first-hand account of her very first interview for a job as a nurse.
Improving Maternity Services Award

WINNER: Reducing caesarean section rates using organisational change - The Blackpool Way, Pauline Tschobotko, Moira Broadhead, June Davis and Nicola Parry, Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals FT
Increase in assaults on NHS workers

There was an increase in physical assaults on NHS staff last year, with almost 57,000 incidents taking place, latest figures show.
'Increased statin doses cut heart attack rates'

The number of heart attacks and strokes could be reduced if patients took stronger doses of cholesterol-lowering drugs, a new study has shown.
Infection Prevention and Control Award

WINNER: Service user involvement in infection prevention and control in a mental health trust, Steve Hull, Julie Hughes, Eileen McDonnell and Harry Blackman, 5 Boroughs Partnership FT. Award sponsored by Diversey
Innovation in Your Specialty Award

WINNER: Promoting health and independence in older people, Diane Singleton, Liverpool Community Health. Award sponsored by the Royal College of Nursing
Innovative nursing products win awards

The best nursing products were celebrated at the Nursing Times Product Awards 2010 at London’s Hilton Hotel, Park Lane this week.
Innovative patient experience programme launched

Nurses and midwives selected as ambassadors, and trainers dedicated to improving the patient experience, have begun their roles in the innovative ‘I care’ programme.
Inquiry launched into law on assisted dying

An independent commission has been launched to look into whether the law needs to be changed on assisted dying.
Institutions enter partnership for progressive nursing education

London South Bank University has signed a partnership agreement with Morley College, an adult learning college, to help students progress from college to nursing degree courses.
Interventional radiology checklist produced to improve safety

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has produced a surgical checklist for interventional radiology – minimally invasive procedures performed using image guidance – aimed at improving safety.
'It is an amazing feeling...assisting with something that is changing a patient’s life'

Nursing Times blogger Stuart Young reflects on his final week of clinical placement and what his time in theatres has taught him.
'It's a process - like handing a baton over in a race'

Nursing Times blogger Stuart Young reflects on his efforts and the resultant impact of bettering his own handover practice this week.
Joint pain aggravates osteoarthritis of the knee

Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, who also have pain in other joints, are more likely to experience greater knee pain, according to US researchers.
Lift stroke treatment method age limit, say researchers

Upper age restrictions on the use of emergency thrombolysis to treat stroke should be lifted, Glasgow research in the BMJ online suggests.
Light drinking in pregnancy

“An occasional glass of wine during pregnancy won’t harm a baby’s development,” the Daily Mail has reported.
Lower heart risk for children who shed weight by adolescence

Children with a high body mass index between age nine and 12 are more likely to have high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood insulin levels by the time they reach adolescence, researchers in Bristol have concluded.
Maintenance therapy 'cuts chances of lymphoma relapse'

Treating follicular lymphoma (FL) with “maintenance therapy” can halve the likelihood of a relapse, experts have found.
'Major concern' over mental health hospital

An NHS hospital is to be kept under “close review” after a series of breaches relating to quality and safety standards, the Care Quality Commission has said.
Maternity figures 'not adding up'

Maternity units are facing cuts in their budgets and staff levels, despite having to deal with a higher birthrate and more complex births, a survey has shown.
Memory drug studied in mice

The Daily Express has reported of a “drug to stop memory loss”.
Mental Health Award

WINNER: Young Onset Dementia Service for Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea, Sean Mooney, Caroline Walker and James Warner, Central and North West London FT
Mental health ward closure 'rushed through', say unions

Unions have accused Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership Trust and NHS Cambridgeshire of “rushing through by stealth” the closure of a mental health ward for older patients.
MHRA issues IV set warning

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has issued a warning over certain lots of level one normothermic IV fluid administration sets for use with fast flow fluid warming units, manufactured by Smiths Medical.
MHRA issues wheelchair safety warning

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a warning about a brand of wheelchair that it says could leave patients at greater risk of injury if used as a seat in a vehicle.
MHRA warning over slimming pills

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received warnings from foreign regulators about “herbal slimming pills” containing undeclared sibutramine.
Mid Staffs begins own investigation into twins' deaths

Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust has set up an independent investigation into the deaths of newborn twins, who died 11 days ago after being cared for in Stafford Hospital’s maternity unit.
Mid Staffs inquiry 'will probe every nook and cranny'

The public inquiry into major failings at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust will “explore every relevant nook and cranny” in a bid to find out why appalling standards of care were allowed to continue, the lawyer leading the probe said today.
Mid Staffs nurses 'will not be named'

Doctors and nurses criticised during the public inquiry into disastrous standards of care at Stafford Hospital will not be named, it has been ruled.
Midwife becomes a published author

Adelaide Aduboffour, a midwife at the Queen Mary maternity unit at West Middlesex University Hospital, has become a published author.
Miliband opens cancer centre extension

Labour leader Ed Miliband has formally opened an extension to Montagu Hospital’s Aurora Centre.
'Mindfulness' helps to reduce stress - Mental Health Foundation

The majority of Britons do nothing to combat stress, instead opting to live with it, thereby risking potential mental health problems, according to a study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation.
More over-65s dying of skin cancer

The failure of pensioners to visit their GP with signs of skin cancer is contributing to an increase in the number of fatalities from the disease, new data has suggested.
More research on TV and violence

“Violent films, video games and TV shows DO make boys aggressive,” according to the Daily Mail.
Most common causes of pressure ulcers identified

The five factors that most significantly increase the risk of pressure ulcers in acute care patients have been identified by a US study.
My journey back to nursing practice

Nursing Times blogger Jane Jennion takes us through week one of her return to nursing after 23 years away.
New chief nursing officer for Wales appointed

Jean White has been appointed chief nursing officer for Wales.
New clue to early menopause

“A test could warn women of early menopause,” according to The Guardian.
New drug for irregular heartbeat

Patients with an irregular heartbeat have been given new hope after the trial of a new drug showed it can significantly reduce the chance of blood clots and stroke.
New guidance for emergency blood provision

The National Patient Safety Agency has issued new guidance aimed at reducing delays in providing blood for patients in emergency situations.
New MA in nursing course open to all graduates

The University of Salford has launched a new MA in nursing that is open to all graduates – making it the first of its kind in the country.
New RCN associate director named

The Royal College of Nursing has appointed Peter Meredith-Smith as its new associate director (employment relations) for RCN Wales and deputy board secretary of its Welsh board.
New set of principles for nursing care launched

Patients will be able to judge the nursing care they receive against a set of eight principles published today.
NHS Choices site 'saves millions'

Encouraging people to self-diagnose via the NHS Choices website saves the health service millions of pounds every year, according to a newly published study.
NHS cuts: 'there are difficult decisions ahead'

Nursing Times blogger Martin Jones ponders the position and attitudes of politicians as cuts are enforced and decisions need to be made as to where.
NICE consults on diabetes and glaucoma

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has launched a consultation on national quality standards for the care of adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes, and also for people with glaucoma.
NICE loses drug rationing role

The government has confirmed that NICE will lose its power to decide which drugs the NHS can and cannot use under its white paper reforms.
NICE rejects Avastin for treating advanced bowel cancer

The cancer dug Avastin will not be made available to people with advanced bowel cancer in the UK, NICE has announced.
NICE rejects kidney cancer drug

NICE has rejected a drug for patients with advanced kidney cancer.
NICE updates Alzheimer's drugs guidance

“Hundreds of thousands more patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease could get drug treatments following a U-turn by the health watchdog,” BBC News has reported.
NMC names new assistant director

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has appointed Cathy Cairns as its new assistant director for Scotland and Northern Ireland affairs.
Nobel prize for British IVF pioneer

Professor Robert Edwards, the British pioneer of reproductive medicine, has been awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his groundbreaking work into treating infertility.
Northern women 'lack vitamin D'

Women in the north of the UK are four times more likely to be deprived of vitamin D than their southern counterparts, a study has suggested.
Nurse director's son inspires Nursing Times award win

An innovative programme inspired by personal experience saw deputy director of nursing Carol Edwards and her team at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals win the top award at last night’s Nursing Times Awards.
Nurse treatment cuts waiting times for patients with back pain

Treatment times for patients with back problems are drastically reduced by using the skills of specially trained nurses rather than waiting for a surgeon, a study in Canada has shown.
Nurses divided over patient record system

Just 49% of nurses believe that electronic patient records are safer than paper-based systems, a survey has revealed.
Nurses improve same-day patient discharge rates

Delays in patients leaving hospital following laparoscopic surgery can be reduced with no detrimental effect on patient care by allowing nurse specialists to authorise their discharge, according to a study.
Nurses 'jump the queue' to get new uniform

BBC Scotland has reported of nurses going to extraordinary lengths to get hold of the new tunic-style uniform being introduced across the country.
Nurses 'reduce inappropriate medication of older people'

The number of older people inappropriately prescribed medication while in nursing homes could be significantly reduced by nurses, according to a new study.
Nurses seek out of hours awareness

Nursing leaders in Scotland have called for patients to be made more aware of where to turn to for out of hours medical care.
Nurses take a lesson in communication from US Navy

A communication tool first developed by the US Navy is being introduced by nursing staff at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust as a way of improving patient safety.
Nurses training planned as abuse victim services expand

Health minister Anne Milton has launched an action plan to improve services for women and child victims of violence, backed by £3.2m to improve and expand sexual assault referral centres.
Nursing academic receives CBE

Nursing academic Professor David Sines has received a CBE from the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Nursing and Technology Award

WINNER: RAPA - Recurring Admission Patient Alert, Sheran Oke, Megan Stowe and Sinead Kenny, Imperial College Healthcare Trust
Nursing diagnosis: a valuable approach?

Nursing Times blogger Tony Barlow considers nursing diagnosis, drawing from his own medical experiences to consider his feelings toward the approach.
Nursing research unit appoints director

Professor Brian Williams has been appointed director of the Scottish government’s Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit.
Nursing social enterprise wins Big Society award

A community nursing social enterprise for the NHS in Surrey has become the first winner of the Big Society Awards.
Nursing team wins award for access to healthcare

NHS Solent Healthcare has won acclaim from leading medical research charity the Bupa Foundation for improving access to healthcare for people living in supported housing.
Nursing Times Awards 2010 - Best Practice Report

Welcome to the Best Practice Report, recognising the achievements of those who have implemented outstanding projects to revolutionise the way their trusts treat patients.
Nursing Times Awards 2010 - tough times haven’t quelled outstanding achievements

Huge congratulations to all of this year’s Nursing Times Awards winners.
Nursing Times Awards 2010 in pictures

The awards evening in pictures
Nursing Times Awards to honour top nurses

Excellence in nursing is to be recognised at tonight’s Nursing Times Awards.
Nursing Times Product Awards winners

Nursing Times Product Awards 2010
Nursing: a wonderfully social profession

Nursing Times blogger Martin Jones takes us through his thoughts as an old nursing injury gives him time alone to reflect on the sociality of his profession.
Nutritional care toolkit launched

The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) have launched a nutritional care commissioning toolkit based around four “essential requirements”.
Obese teens 'risk heart disease'

Overweight children show heart disease risk factors from as early as the age of 15 or 16, a new study has suggested.
Off-duty nurse saves choking child

An off duty nurse saved the life of a two year old after he choked on a grape during a football match, the Coventry Telegraph has reported.
Omega-3 ineffective in slowing Alzheimer's, study says

The mental and physical decline associated with Alzheimer’s is not slowed by supposed memory boosting pills, a study claims.
One quarter of HIV infections go undiagnosed

More than a quarter of people who have HIV are unaware they have it, figures have revealed.
Painkillers linked to fertility problems

Women who use painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol during pregnancy run the risk of giving birth to baby boys with reproductive disorders, a study has suggested.
Palliative care nurse wins innovation award

A senior nurse has won an award from charity SeeAbility.
Parents of murdered nurse call for investigation into judge's decision

The parents of a nurse who died after being stabbed by her ex-boyfriend outside Blackpool Victoria Hospital, while he was on bail for her alleged rape, have called for an investigation into the judge who allowed him to remain free.
Passive smoking linked to 1% of deaths

Passive smoking claims more than 600,000 lives each year around the world - an estimated 1% of all deaths, a major study has found.
Patient Dignity Award

WINNER: Dignity in care homes, Rita Jones, Janet Robson, Nikki Leach and Jill Pinington, NHS Tameside and Glossop
Patient Pathway Award

WINNER: Improving care in an acute hospital for people with learning disabilities, Pamela McCarthy, Carol Edwards, Stephanie Read and Ben Mills, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Patient Safety Improvement Award

WINNER: Implementation of a multi-factorial falls prevention programme, Bhoomeela Ramnauth, Cathy Gibson and Georgina Clark, Stockport FT. Award sponsored by Safer Care
Patient's view: Living with bowel incontinence

A patient’s experience of living with bowel incontinence and the benefits of having a dedicated continence nurse specialist.
Pay increment freezes challenged

NHS chief executives must not freeze Agenda for Change increments while awarding themselves “indefensible” pay rises, Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary Peter Carter has argued.
Pelvic floor exercises 'best treatment' for female continence problems

Supervised pelvic floor exercises are the most beneficial treatment for women with stress-related urinary continence problems, according to a review of literature on the subject.
Personalisation for older people: living at home

This film from Social Care TV looks at the vital issue of innovation in social care.
Personalised care briefing for nurses published

The NHS Confederation and Social Care Institute for Excellence have published a briefing for nurses on personalised care.
Pharmacies to prescribe the Pill

Pharmacies on the Isle of Wight are trialling a controversial scheme allowing them to supply the contraceptive pill to girls aged 13 and over.
PM denies breaking midwifery pledge

David Cameron denied claims by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) that the coalition had reneged on a pre-election pledge and insisted he wanted to “see an increase in midwives”.
Prevalent C difficile types identified

Researchers have established the most common types of C difficile in hospitals across Europe.
Probiotics reduce diarrhoea time, say researchers

Taking probiotic bacteria reduces the length of time diarrhoea sufferers are affected, according to Cochrane researchers from Swansea University.
Protein grants long life (to mice)

A protein powder used by bodybuilders“ could increase life expectancy by 10 years”, according to the Daily Mail.
Protest delays Stafford Hospital public inquiry

The start of a public inquiry into major failings at a trust was delayed when an angry relative staged a protest.
Psychiatric nurse struck off for 'inappropriate' relationships

A psychiatric nurse, Jayne Reed, 47, who dubbed herself “mummy bear” during a three-in-a-bed incident with patients, has been struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Quarter of cancers found during emergency care

Nearly a quarter of cancer diagnoses in England are made when patients arrive at hospital in an emergency, a study has found.
Radiotherapy-linked continence problems 'temporary'

Continence problems that develop in men who are undergoing conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer are unlikely to remain with them for more than two years, according to German scientists.
RCM condemns imprisonment of midwife

The Royal College of Midwives has “strongly condemned” the imprisonment of Hungarian midwife Agnes Gereb for promoting home births.
RCM highlights maternity care variations

Women should receive good maternity care wherever they live and should not have to rely on “chance and plain old good luck,” the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has said.
RCN chief receives honorary degree

Dr Peter Carter, general secretary and chief executive and of the Royal College of Nursing, has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Hertfordshire for his “outstanding contribution” to national healthcare.
RCN elects new committee chair

The Royal College of Nursing has elected Andrew McGovern as chair of its nursing practice and policy committee.
RCN pays tribute to wartime nurses

The Royal College of Nursing has paid tribute to the sacrifice of nurses during wartime by receiving two rolls of honour, listing more than 2,000 nurses who died in the two world wars.
Recovery from surgery takes longer than previously thought

Pain and wound problems continue to affect patients’ daily lives up to three months after receiving day surgery, according to Swedish researchers.
Report points to prison care lapses

Lapses in clinical care may have led to at least four prisoners’ deaths from heart disease in the last four years, a watchdog has said.
Respiratory nurse wins award

A specialist respiratory nurse from West Cumbria has been presented with a regional award for her work helping patients with lung conditions.
Retinal implant surgery hope for UK patients

Three patients with retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited disease that causes blindness, can now see shapes and objects after undergoing groundbreaking retinal implant surgery.
Rickets warning as new cases rise

More than 20% of Southampton children tested for bone problems showed signs of rickets, a hospital has revealed.
Schizophrenia map highlights treatment differences

An interactive online map highlighting differences in how schizophrenia is managed across England has been launched.
Schizophrenia patients could benefit from treatment for relatives

Treatment focused on changing the behaviour of relatives of schizophrenia patients may help those with the condition, according to a Cochrane review.
Scottish hospitals 'improving infection control'

Scotland’s acute hospitals are “generally clean and improving”, the first annual report of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate has stated.
Scottish nurse wins service to community award

Professor June Andrews, director of the University of Stirling’s dementia services development centre, has received an award from the British-American Project – of which she is a member – for her service to the community.
Search NHS Evidence from nursingtimes.net

Nursingtimes.net users can now search the healthcare information website NHS Evidence via a new search bar.
Self harm admissions up 10 per cent

Hospital admissions for intentional self harm have increased by nearly 10,000 – just over 10 per cent – in three years, according to a report by the NHS Information Centre.
'Self -harm training and education should be for all'

Jo McHale explores attitudes and perceptions to self-harm.
Self-management exercises improve continence in men

Self-management training significantly improves lower urinary tract symptoms in men who have continence problems due to prostate cancer radiotherapy, according to a recent study.
Sexual healthcare not meeting patient expectations

GP practices need to improve the way they deal with patients seeking sexual health treatment, according to research by University College London.
Shock therapy reduces angina symptoms

A preliminary assessment of cardiac shockwave therapy has found it to be a “non-invasive, effective and safe” intervention for patients with refractory coronary heart disease, according to Chinese scientists.
Skin damage linked with laptops

“Balancing your laptop on your knees could cause permanent discolouration of the skin and, in rare cases, cancer,” the Daily Mail have warned.
Sleep hours 'linked to death'

“Women who get between five and six-and-a-half hours sleep a night could live longer,” the Daily Express have reported.
Smoking cessation rates 'follow economy downwards'

The rate at which people are quitting smoking has slowed down at the same time as economic worries have increased, data suggests.
Smoking while pregnant linked to criminality

Women who smoke heavily while pregnant are more likely to have children that become criminals, a study has suggested.
Soft flooring in hospitals could cut injuries from falls

The number of serious injuries sustained by older people who fall over in hospitals could be cut by introducing shock-absorbent flooring, university researchers have said.
Specialised cancer drugs could treat other tumours

Drugs already available on the NHS could be used to treat a wider range of cancers, research has revealed.
Specialist nurses speed up diagnosis

A specially trained nurse practitioner can speed up the diagnosis and management of patients with certain spinal conditions, according to Canadian researchers.
Speed of treatment critical to facial wound healing

Patients with face and neck wounds heal faster and with better results if patients receive initial treatment quickly, according to a US study.
Stafford Hospital public inquiry to begin

A public inquiry will begin today into failings at an NHS hospital criticised for routinely neglecting patients and providing appalling standards of care.
Starving

A poem submitted by VR
Statins 'improve liver function'

Liver disease could soon be treated with statins after new research showed they improve liver function.
'Students must speak with one voice on cuts'

Stuart Young on cuts in education and his first-hand experience of this week’s protest march in London.
Study calls for legal limit on salt

Legal limits on salt levels in food are 20 times more effective at reducing heart disease than voluntary measures, it has been claimed.
Survey reveals US sex habits

“America reveals its sexual secrets,” said The Guardian, reporting on the publication of the most comprehensive survey of American sex lives in 20 years.
'Suspect abuse' where children have history of falls

Nurses who encounter seriously injured children younger than two who have a history of short falls should suspect they are being abused, according to a US study.
TB cases in UK 'reach 30-year high'

The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Britain has reached a 30-year high, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
Team of the Year Award

WINNER: Nurse led outpatient antibiotic therapy, Elizabeth Swanson and colleagues, South Tees Foundation Trust. Award sponsored by Unison
Temperature affects hospital admission figures, says research

A 5°C rise in temperature leads to a 10 per cent increase in children admitted to hospital with serious injuries, a study has found.
Temperature linked to sharp rises in admissions

Plummeting temperatures increase the number of adults admitted to hospital suffering serious injury, according to the largest study of its kind.
Terminal cancer guide published

Terminally ill cancer patients will be given a better idea of how long they have left to live through the use of a newly published guide which has been funded by Cancer Research UK.
Test boosts ovarian cancer treatment hopes

Ovarian cancer patients will be able to take a test to determine whether they will benefit from a new type of drug.
Test to predict heart failure risk

A blood test has been developed that could make it easier to predict which older people are at greater risk of heart failure, even before symptoms start appearing.
The Children's Trust to hold open days

The Children’s Trust, Tadworth, is offering a chance for health professionals to find out more about the specialist services they provide for children and young people with acquired brain injuries and complex health needs.
The ignorance of 'certainty'

Communications and engagement manager Martin Machray considers potential barriers to quality care provision and how these concerns perhaps begin with our own attitudes.
The image of nursing: No holier than thou

In the seventh of our series of blogs on the image of nursing, Sandy and Harry Summers ask whether being seen as an angel is more of a curse than a compliment
The image of nursing: Not good enough for a feminist?

In the sixth of our series of blogs on the image of nursing, Sandy and Harry Summers wonder if nursing is a job for modern men and women? Or is it just a sad throwback, suitable only for females with few options?
Therapy 'cuts prostate cancer deaths'

Advanced prostate cancer deaths can be reduced if radiation treatment is combined with hormonal therapy, new research shows.
'This initial success might kick-start further cross-infection training for staff'

Nursing Times blogger Becky Cridford on her experiences of leading teaching on global hand-washing day in Sierra Leone.
Three nurses release single for charity

With a little help from Nursing Times, three nurses are to get their shot at fame.
Thrombosis management website launched

A thrombosis best practice website has been launched to help clinicians improve the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism.
Too posh to push mums 'a myth'

“High caesarean rates are not down to women being ‘too posh to push’”, says The Daily Telegraph.
Top NHS staff to move into community services

NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson has called for the “best” staff to be transferred into community services in order to “revolutionise” patient care.
Trachea suction tops airway management poll

Most UK critical care nurses suction the trachea during cuff deflation and extubation of patients or ask the person to cough, research into airway management techniques has indicated.
UK teens 'ignorant' about sexually transmitted infections

Britain’s young people remain confused by sexual health issues, according to fresh research.
Ultrasound bladder scans 'cut catheterisation need'

Using the ultrasound bladder scanner reduces unnecessary catheterisation of patients with urinary tract infections, a new analysis of studies has shown.
Ultrasound 'boosts fracture healing'

An ultrasound device “helps bones heal faster and stronger,” The Daily Telegraph have reported.
Untreated ulcers at risk of venous reflux

Venous leg ulcers that go unhealed for a long time are at risk of provoking venous reflux, particularly in the popliteal vein, according to research.
Urinary sling 'helps continence problems'

A synthetic sling to prevent stress urinary continence problems may improve patient success rates, according to a European study presented at the International Continence Society-International Urogynecological Association.
Urinary stigma 'hinges on other's perception'

The severity of the stigma associated with urinary symptoms is characterised by whether the problem is noticed by other people, according to the results of a study.
Urine test could predict pre-eclampsia

Testing the urine of pregnant women before their 20th week of pregnancy to analyse levels of protein could predict pre-eclampsia risk, UK research has found.
Urodynamics training standards established

Minimum standards for training and certification in urodynamics have been established nationally by a multidisciplinary working party in the UK.
Vaccinate toddlers against flu, say researchers

Many countries, including the UK, should reassess their seasonal flu immunisation programmes to include toddlers under the age of two years, according to Finnish researchers.
'Vague' health insurance policies condemned

Former NHS chief executive Lord Nigel Crisp has attacked a lack of transparency in private health insurance policies, which he claims has created a “private healthcare lottery”.
'Virtual clinic' for cancer patients wins award

Gill Donovan has won the Excellence in Cancer Nursing category at the 2010 Excellence in Oncology Awards, funded by Pfizer and the British Oncological Association.
Vitamin E 'increases stroke risk'

The risk of haemorrhagic stroke may be increased by taking vitamin E, scientists have said.
Wait to clamp babies' umbilical cords, says researcher

Midwives and obstetricians should wait a few minutes before clamping the umbilical cords of newborns, a researcher has claimed.
Waiting for Hurricane Tomas to hit Haiti...

Nursing Times’ resident Haiti-based nurse Fi Stephenson takes us through her thought-process as she and Haitian residents wait for a potential hurricane to hit.
Warning over faulty vital signs monitors

Accident and emergency and operating theatre staff have been warned that loud speakers can fail on two types of vital signs monitor, potentially leading to a delay in recognising patient deterioration.
Weight loss surgery improves continence in women, but not men

Gastric banding surgery has been found to improve some continence problems in obese women, but has no effect on the condition in men and damages their ability to achieve an erection.
Win a copy of Introducing Psychology for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals

Registered users of nursingtimes.net can win a copy of Introducing Psychology for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals
Win two tickets to see Clothes Show Live

Registered users can enter to win two tickets to Clothes Show Live on Friday 3 December.
Woman dies after being 'fobbed off' by nurse

A woman has died from deep vein thrombosis only two days after an NHS walk-in-centre nurse failed to spot her symptoms, a coroner has ruled.
Women 'expect to retire later'

Women are twice as likely as men to believe they will stay in employment once they reach the state pension age, a report has claimed.
Workplace asthma costs UK £135m

Asthma caused by workplace conditions could be costing the UK up to £135m a year, researchers have said.
Young people 'ignorant' of sexual health

A survey of young people has revealed they have significant misconceptions and lack knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health.
Young people with asthma suffer from anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety are a problem for up to 40% of adolescents with asthma, according to US research.

Nursing TimesNovember 2010

Nursing Times
November 2010