Nursing Times
February 2012

View all stories from this issue.

#NurChat - Dementia touches most areas of healthcare

Did you miss the latest #NurChat twitter debate about dementia? Let us sum it up for you …
#NurChat - Should red trays be a red flag for needing oral care?

Did you miss the latest #NurChat twitter debate about oral hygiene? Let us sum it up for you …
'A "cog" in the massive wheel that is healthcare'

Student nurse Helen Farmer observes that overcoming barriers with calmness and communication is vital.
'A new year brings new challenges and goals'

2011 was challenging for me.
An easy guide to mmols

Every nurse is familiar with seeing mol, mmol and occasionally µmol written on vials and infusion packs.
An obituary: Olive 'Edith' Senior

Olive ‘Edith’ Senior, daughter of Harold and Doris, sister of John, died on the 4 January 2012.
Audit reveals patchy access to heart failure specialist nurses

Less than half of heart failure patients are currently referred to specialist nurse services after discharge, even though it reduces mortality risk, a major national audit has found.
Back in September...

Back in September when I started my nursing degree, going on placement seemed so far away and I could not wait to get stuck in.
'Badges can instil pride and raise care standards'

Why is it that everyone seems to know what nursing needs to get better?
Bedside interaction 'better when clinicians sit'

Patients often perceive that a clinician has spent more time at their bedside when they sit rather than stand, according to nurse researchers from the University of Kansas Hospital.
Birmingham trust takes nurse training online

A Midlands hospital trust has pioneered a new online training system for nurses which it believes could free up thousands of hours of time for patient care as well as saving money on agency staff.
BMA backs opt-out organ donation

The way in which organs are donated and who donates them should be examined in a bid to improve donation rates and ultimately save lives, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).
Breast cancer drug exemestane may increase fracture risk

Women taking the anti-breast cancer drug exemestane (Aromasin) should have regular bone monitoring to assess fracture risk because the treatment speeds up loss of bone density, a study suggests.
Breastfed babies 'less angry as adults'

“Breastfed babies less likely to grow up angry and irritable,” according to the Daily Mail.
Call to 'tax sugar like alcohol'

“Sugar is so harmful that it should be controlled and taxed in the same way as tobacco and alcohol,” according to health experts quoted in the Daily Express.
Can vitamin D help infertile couples conceive?

A “sunny break may be alternative to IVF,” the Daily Mail has reported.
Can water or diet drinks aid weight loss?

“Drinking water can help dieters lose at least five per cent of their bodyweight,” the Metro has reported.
Cancer drug eases Alzheimer's in mice

A skin cancer drug can improve Alzheimer’s-like symptoms in mice engineered to mimic the condition, it has been widely reported.
Cancer drugs delayed 'to cut costs'

The head of Britain’s biggest drugs company has accused the government of systematically delaying the introduction of new cancer drugs in order to save money.
Cereals 'packed with too much sugar'

Children’s breakfast cereals are “so full of sugar they should be in the chocolate biscuit aisle of supermarkets,” the Daily Express has warned.
Challenges in 'the community'...

As a student nurse you become used to moving around different areas of the hospital, from department to department and between specialities.
Chief nurse steps into leadership breach at struggling trust

The chief nurse at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust has taken over the running of the organisation until the end of the last following the resignation of its chief executive.
Chief nurse to hold fort at Yorkshire trust

Helen Thomson, director of nursing and deputy chief executive at Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust, will be interim chief executive of the trust for around a month, it has been announced.
Clear writing: how to get top marks for your essays

Writing clearly and concisely is a real skill.
College warns government over ‘more midwives’ claim

The Royal College of Midwives has said the government is still falling short of its commitment to increase numbers, despite evidence of some growth.
Coloured trays aid nutrition in Norfolk

A simple coloured tray system has been introduced to help ensure patients are able to access appropriate levels of nutrition in Norfolk’s community hospitals.
COPD treatment guidance update released by NHS

NHS Evidence has published an update summarising latest research for clinicians treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
CQC chief Cynthia Bower resigns

The chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, Cynthia Bower, has resigned.
CQC issues trust with urgent warning to increase A&E staffing

A hospital trust in the north west has been issued with an urgent warning to improve “crisis” staffing levels in accident and emergency by the Care Quality Commission.
Deputy CNO admits district nursing 'weakness'

The government’s failure to promote district nursing alongside its national focus on boosting health visitor numbers has proved to be an area of “weakness”, a senior nurse at the Department of Health has admitted.
DH launches alcohol cancer campaign

Regularly drinking two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day triples the risk of developing mouth cancer, a new government campaign from the Department of Health will say.
Diabetes 'raises birth defect risk'

A new study has shown that the risk of having a baby with a birth defect is four times higher for women with diabetes than for those without the condition.
Diabetes variations 'outrageous', minister admits

Health minister Paul Burstow has said variations in quality of care for diabetes are “outrageous” and that there was a “compelling” case for hiring more specialist nurses.
Difficult to see how C. diff spreads in hospital

“We don’t know what causes deadly hospital superbug to spread, admit scientists,” the Daily Mail has reported.
'Dignity gown' introduced in Nottingham

A hospital trust in the Midlands has begun introducing a pioneering new reversible “dignity gown”.
'Do not turn into the "Pain Police"'

Student Nurse Helen Farmer uses her recent knowledge and evidence to support advocating a patient’s concern over pain.
Doctors fearful over future of their hospitals

More than a quarter of consultants think the continuity of care offered by their hospital is poor or very poor, according to a poll.
Does moving house damage child health?

“Parents who frequently move house put children’s health at risk,” according to the Daily Mail.
'Don’t allow flippant politics to reduce the NHS to a flea market'

I don’t like arguing.
'Don’t be afraid to challenge if you feel something isn’t right'

We talk to Gwen Moulster, consultant nurse at Haringey Learning Disabilities Partnership, who has been a nurse for 35 years.
East Kent Hospitals to introduce patient monitoring system

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has become the latest to invest in a new deteriorating patient monitoring system.
'Economy class' DVT syndrome myth busted

“Sitting in a window seat during a long flight can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis,” according to The Daily Telegraph.
Encourage staff to live by your values

Tell people they are making a difference, and they will instigate change themselves.
Ex NMC chief acted 'unfairly' in disagreement over case referral

The former head of the Nursing and Midwifery Council acted “unfairly” when he replaced two legal advisors who disagreed with him over a fitness to practise referral, a judge has ruled.
Exploring the 'real' face of American healthcare

Want the lowdown on the latest in nursing politics? Our student nurse Lorna McLean talks the talk.
Family carers missing out on support

‘More than a million cancer carers may be missing out on vital support,’ the Daily Mirror and other newspapers have reported.
Fears of faulty 'toxic' hip replacement implant

Many newspapers and TV stations have reported that medical regulators have launched an investigation into a type of hip replacement called a metal-on-metal (MoM) device (DePuy ASR hip replacement implant).
First infection control guidance for surgery in primary care

Practice nurses assisting in minor surgical procedures in primary care settings must be able to prove they are competent in aseptic technique, according to the first ever guidance on the area.
'Fluid biopsy' technique could transform cancer treatment

The treatment of cancer could be revolutionised by a new technique developed in the US that helps identify tumour cells, it has been claimed.
Gene testing for TN breast cancer sufferers

Women diagnosed with triple-negative (TN) breast cancer should also be offered testing for gene faults which increase their risk of ovarian cancer.
Genetic variant of Y chromosome 'may explain increased heart disease among males'

An increased risk of heart disease can be passed on to boys by their fathers who have a common genetic variant, researchers have found.
Government suffers NHS bill defeat

The government suffered its first defeat on highly contentious plans to reform the health service just hours after the Prime Minister mounted a passionate defence of the shake-up.
GPs failing on new standard for practice nurse training

A significant number of GP practices are struggling to hit new Care Quality Commission standards incorporating nurse access to training, Nursing Times has learnt.
Hip fractures 'to cost £6bn by 2036'

Hospital admissions for hip fracture could almost double and the cost of treating such patients spiral to £6 billion, according to a government-commissioned report.
Hospital nurses begin using 'dignity pegs'

Nurses at north Cumbria’s two hospitals have introduced a new scheme on their wards to try and protect the privacy and dignity of all patients.
Hospital trust acted unlawfully in attempt to block pay increments

A hospital trust acted unlawfully in attempting to stop pay progressions for staff claiming sickness leave, an employment tribunal has found.
Hospitals 'should display food hygiene ratings'

Food hygiene ratings should be prominently displayed in all hospitals, a report by Welsh assembly members claims.
How to ensure feedback results in improvements

Strictly Come Dancing may be over but what the judges have taught us about giving feedback can last all year.
How to write an award-winning entry

As the deadline for the Student Nursing Times Awards draws closer (2 March), Jenni Middleton offers up some tips on how to ensure your entry stands out from the crowd.
'I experienced a situation that made me embrace the EU directives'

Student nurse Helen Farmer encounters an emergency situation, reinforcing her need for insight into other fields of practice.
'I see how we can really make a difference to patient safety and productivity'

Debbie Guy influences change on a large scale by solving problems through software.
Invite patients to ward meetings to improve care

Sisters and charge nurses should be responsible for making sure their staff have time to “reflect” on the care they are providing, a major new report on caring for older people has recommended.
'Landmark ruling' on AfC should be warning to other trusts

A landmark ruling that a trust acted unlawfully in attempting to break away from national terms and conditions should act as a deterrent to further attacks on Agenda for Change, according to nursing unions.
'Like donkey jackets, listening to dissenters has gone out of fashion'

In the 1980s we tended to go on a lot of marches – CND, anti-Apartheid, Support the Miners, anti-racism.
Living with Alzheimer's: deserving of care

My father loves listening to music and when I arrived to see him last weekend he was listening to Rod Stewart.
'Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHS'

Our joint editorial with HSJ and the BMJ in last week’s issue had a fantastic response in the national media – with the BBC, Sky and several national newspapers all giving the story a top billing.
Malaria deaths 'higher than expected'

“Malaria deaths twice as high as was thought,” The Independent has reported.
Malnourishment and food etiquette in hospitals

On Tuesday 7 February, nurses from around the country came together to talk about a vastly poignant subject that is prevalent in many hospitals - malnourishment and food etiquette via #nurseshift
Mandatory flu jabs for nurses among RCN congress resolutions

Mandatory flu vaccination for nursing staff and an “honest debate” about the future of general hospital services will be among the issues debated at this year’s Royal College of Nursing congress.
Manuka honey 'has wound-healing qualities'

Scientists have suggested that manuka honey could have a benefit in the treatment of stubborn wounds.
Meeting patient expectations is 'biggest problem' facing nursing

More than half of nurses say patient and carers’ expectation of services that cannot be met with existing resources is the “biggest problem” currently facing nursing.
Mid Staffs findings will 'blow the lid' on older patient care, says tsar

The government’s advisor on elderly care has warned the public inquiry into events at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust will “blow the lid” on the need to improve care in hospitals.
Ministers announce further amendments to health bill

The government has tabled further amendments to its controversial plans for NHS reform as it pushes for Parliament to pass the health and social care bill.
More men have oral cancer virus

Men are far more likely to have the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) in their mouths than women, the Daily Mail has reported.
More midwives needed to tackle smoking during pregnancy

More midwives are needed to address wide regional variation in percentage of women who continue to smoke during pregnancy, according to unions.
Mothers and babies still at 'significant' risk at Morecambe Bay

The safety of mothers and babies at the foundation’s Furness General Hospital remains at “significant risk”, according to a new independent review commissioned by foundation trust regulator Monitor.
Mountain rescue helps nurses reach snowbound patients

A mountain rescue team came to the aid of district nurses in Cumbria hit by bad weather earlier this month, helping them battle through snow and ice to deliver vital care.
Mutation linked to 42% rise in stroke risk

A “single genetic mutation can double your risk of stroke”, the Daily Mail has reported.
New end of life care post for Lincolnshire

A nurse has been appointed to a new end of life care co-ordinator post at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
NHS manager sets up care home rating website

An NHS manager hopes to improve national care standards by launching what she says is the first live, independent ratings website for care homes.
NICE deem prostate cancer drug too expensive

A prostate cancer drug is too expensive for use on the NHS, a watchdog has ruled.
NICE issues guidance on patient experience

Nurses should “avoid making assumptions” about patients based on appearance or other personal characteristics, according to latest guidance.
NMC merger with other regulator unlikely

Merging the Nursing and Midwifery Council with another regulatory body is not an option being considered, the man leading the latest strategic review of the troubled organisation has said.
No evidence milk boosts brain power

“Drinking just one glass of milk a day could boost your brain power,” the Daily Mail has reported.
Nurse CPD should be EU requirement

European Union rules should be tightened to ensure nurses and midwives from member states that want to work in the UK are up to date with continuing professional development, according to peers.
Nurse denies lying 'out of spite'

A nurse today denied she was lying “out of spite” when she claimed a doctor “freaked out” and assaulted her in a staff tea room because he did not want to watch Emmerdale.
Nurse stroke expert gains European recognition

The UK’s only nursing professor of stroke care has been made a fellow of the European Stroke Association.
Nurses 'anxious' after legal challenge halts social enterprise transfer

More than 1,000 nurses due to be transferred to a social enterprise face a further year of uncertainty after the process was halted following a high court challenge.
Nurses back collection of extra admission data

Senior nurses are calling for hospitals to record additional care quality information when patients are admitted in order to flag potential problems in other parts of the care system.
Nurses warn of dangerous dips in safe staffing levels

Most nurses believe that staffing levels have regularly dipped below safe levels over the last year and want mandatory ratios for the number of staff per patient introduced, according to a Nursing Times survey.
Nursing academic speaks out against district nurse cuts

Cutting back on district and community nurse numbers to try and save money is a “false economy”, a nursing academic has warned.
Nursing director: put toilet lid down when flushing

People in the UK are renowned for their toilet humour but a Surrey nursing director’s loo seat campaign is no joke.
'Nursing is entitled to an effective regulator'

We’ve probably all got a few wardrobes that are a little bit cluttered and we wouldn’t want people to peer into for too long.
Only half of patients with chronic wounds up-to-date with tetanus

Almost half of primary care patients with chronic wounds may not be up-to-date with tetanus vaccination, according to Cardiff University researchers.
Our tweetly round-up...

We scour the twittersphere in order to bring you our top tweets from this week. Did you make it in?
Our tweetly round-up...

We scour the twittersphere in order to bring you our top tweets from this week. Did you make it in?
Overeating linked to memory loss in older people

Researchers have linked overeating to having memory problems in old age.
Patients 'good judge of hospital standards'

“Patients are accurately predicting which hospitals have high death rates and super-bug infections when they rate their treatment on a TripAdvisor-style website,” The Daily Telegraph has reported.
Peter Carter: Coalition MPs could turn against health bill

The Royal College of Nursing’s chief executive has said the government’s health bill can still be defeated, even though the prime minister has reiterated his support for the reforms.
'Preparation, preparation, preparation is the key to a successful operating list'

Norma Davies swapped retirement for the chance to oversee a fleet of mobile surgical units.
Quiz yourself ... What’s your time management style?

1. You’ve just been given another essay to write on top of the three you already have to do. What’s your approach?A. Go out with friends for a drink, you’ll start thinking about it tomorrow when you’ve de-stressed with a night out.B. Start hyperventilating - you’ve got so much to do you’ll never get it done but you decide to pull an all-nighter, that will help.C. Work out which one needs to be do
RCM: closure of Yorkshire midwife-led centre 'disappointing'

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has announced it will permanently close its Jubilee Birth Centre at Castle Hill Hospital, centralising all maternity services at its Hull Royal Infirmary site.
RCN and CQC back call to improve patient admission data

The Royal College of Nursing is among the organisations backing a campaign for hospitals to routinely record simple care information when a patient is admitted, such as the presence of a pressure ulcer.
RCN stalls on pensions deal decision after poor ballot turnout

The Royal College of Nursing’s council has held back from rejecting the government’s latest pensions offer after a poor ballot turnout among members.
RCN talks up public health potential of nursing

The full potential of the nursing workforce must be harnessed if gaps in health inequalities are to be closed, according to the Royal College of Nursing.
RCN: CCGs should not appoint inexperienced nurses to board roles

Nurses selected to sit on the boards of clinical commissioning groups must have “significant experience” of the whole healthcare system and “proven managerial capability”, according to guidance due to be published by the Royal College of Nursing.
Report backs breast cancer treatment while women are pregnant

Treatment for breast cancer does not need to be restricted when cases involve pregnant women, a new report claims.
School nursing badly hit by lack of investment, job cuts and 'poaching', warns RCN

School nurses deserve greater recognition for the vital work they do, which must be backed up with sustained government investment in their role, according to the Royal College of Nursing.
Shropshire hospital trust appoints director of nursing

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Jayne Downey as its director of nursing and governance.
Sight problems predicted to rise in UK

It is feared that the UK could face a “Blindness epidemic”, the Daily Express has claimed.
'So who was invited to the PM’s summit? The pop group Steps?'

My daughter, who is 11, has a thing for animals.
South East’s first stand-alone children’s A&E opens

The first stand-alone children’s emergency department in the South East has opened at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and Hove.
Stem cells used to repair heart attack damage

Scientists are a step closer to harnessing a technique that “literally mends broken hearts”, according to the Daily Express.
Strong leaders get results

Good leaders make brave decisions about their staff and aren’t afraid to say “no”, says Caroline Shaw.
Study probes protein that may block HIV

“Scientists have shown how some cells in the body can repel attacks from HIV by starving the virus of the building blocks of life,” BBC News has reported.
Survey: NMC must have nurse in top leadership role

Nearly three quarters of nurses believe it is vital that someone with a nursing background holds one of the top two positions at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, according to a poll by Nursing Times.
Teenagers should get meningitis C booster

A significant change is likely in the routine schedule for meningitis C vaccination, following new recommendations from government advisors.
Tees chief nurse gains academic role

A senior nurse from the north east has been made a visiting professor at the University of Teesside.
Terms set for strategic review of nursing regulator

Initial recommendations from the strategic review into the Nursing and Midwifery Council are expected in April.
The closure of a therapeutic community in a forensic unit

The rationale for writing on the closure of a Therapeutic Community (TC) within a women’s forensic service unit in the southeast/coast is due to the fact that I work on this unit.
The first time: meeting a deadline

If you’re not used to writing essays, your first deadline can seem incredibly daunting.
'The move to a graduate-level workforce will raise practice standards'

We talk to Ursula Gallagher, borough director and Professional Executive Committee chair at NHS Ealing, now seconded as assistant director of nursing at the Department of Health, who has been a nurse for 25 years.
'The role of the practice nurse has changed a lot'

GP practices are getting their own version of Productive Ward, thanks to Liz Wilson’s team Practice perfect.
Virtual world and hypnotherapy win midwives' praise

Innovations such as the use of hypnotherapy and online virtual worlds during pregnancy and birth have won midwives national recognition.
We need to talk about the 'D' word...

Yup. The ‘D’ word. The one word that as a nation we are not good at discussing.
What you can expect from winning an award

What is it that makes all the blood, sweat and tears that goes into writing an awards entry worthwhile? Jenni Middleton reveals why it’s so great to vie for a place on the rostrum.
Woman gets artificial jawbone transplant

An 83-year-old woman has been implanted with the world’s first “3D printer-created jaw”.
Working long hours 'linked to depression'

“Working eleven hours a day can lead to severe depression,” Metro has reported.
'Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could take some politics out and concentrate on improving healthcare for all?'

We talk to Bob Gates, professor of learning disabilities at the University of Hertfordshire and visiting professor of learning disabilities at the University of West London, who has been a nurse for just over 40 years.
Zinc supplements 'can reduce child pneumonia death rate'

Young children with pneumonia should be prescribed zinc supplements to substantially reduce their risk of dying, a study suggests.

Nursing TimesFebruary 2012

Job of the week

Jobs

Advertise with us

Subscribe to Nursing Times

About Nursing Times

Visit other EMAP sites

Nursing Times
February 2012