Nursing needs its leaders to respond to FrancisBehind the Rituals
All posts from: July 2012
Should all children be vaccinated against flu?
Should all children be vaccinated against flu?
Last week the government announced that the national flu vaccination programme will be extended to all children in the UK.
Once the programme is up and running the vaccine will be offered to all children aged from two to around 17 years on the NHS.
The move follows recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the Department of Health.
They recently concluded that while there were significant challenges involved in extending the programme, evidence suggested these were outweighed by the benefits that a comprehensive immunisation programme could bring.
Do we need a national screening programme for diabetes?
Do we need a national screening programme for diabetes?
Diabetes currently affects almost three million people in the UK, of whom about 90% have type 2 diabetes.
This month NICE recommended that all adults aged 40 and above should have a risk assessment for type 2 diabetes but has not suggested a national screening programme.
When should you use the Liverpool care pathway in practice?
When should you use the Liverpool care pathway in practice?
A group of doctors have suggested the LCP is being used to ease the pressure on resources.
The Department of Health said the decision to use the pathway should involve patients and family members, and a patient’s condition should be closely monitored.
Sometimes patients improve and they are taken off the LCP and given whatever treatments best suit their new needs.
Should oral fluids be prescribed to at risk patients in hospital?
Should oral fluids be prescribed to at risk patients in hospital?
Recent news stories have highlighted problems with dehydration in hospitals. NHS Kidney Care recently launched the Hydration Matters campaign to encourage staff to better monitor and manage inpatients’ fluid status. It aims to remind all healthcare staff that monitoring fluid status and ensuring correct hydration should be an essential core component of care for all patient.
Should oral fluids be considered a “treatment” and prescribed for patients are risk of hydration? Who should be responsible for prescribing and monitoring intake?
Is the title Ward sister outdated?
Is the title Ward sister outdated?
An article on our website about ward sisters controlling budgets resulted in an interesting debate about whether the title ward sister is old fashioned and offensive to men who are nurses. Do you agree? What is an acceptable alternative?
