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Why you should read this article: • To understand the benefits of debriefing following challenging clinical situations • To increase your awareness of various approaches to debriefing that can be used in healthcare settings • To consider how you could enhance the implementation of debriefing in your area of practice. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, will be involved in the care and management of patients in cardiac arrest. This highly stressful and demanding situation can lead to breakdowns in communication, difficulty in decision-making and emotional distress for members of the healthcare team. Debriefing is a recommended tool that team members can use to acknowledge what went well, what could be improved and areas for learning or development. However, debriefing is often not prioritised due to pressures in clinical practice. This article discusses the benefits of debriefing and outlines some of the approaches and tools that may be used. The author argues that by recognising the importance of debriefing after cardiac arrests in the hospital setting and committing to best practices, nurses can be better prepared for the challenges of resuscitation and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the potential benefits and risks associated with remote prescribing • To understand the main principles of effective practice in remote consultations and prescribing • To consider how you could enhance the use of remote patient consultations in your area of practice. There has been a rapid increase in remote patient consultations, including remote prescribing – partly in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but also as part of the move towards a ‘digital first’ NHS. There are various benefits associated with remote prescribing, such as convenience for patients and judicious use of healthcare resources. However, it is also associated with several risks, for example the use of inappropriate medicines or doses if the prescriber does not have full access to the patient’s records. This article considers some of the benefits and challenges of remote prescribing, and discusses the main principles of effective practice in relation to patient safety, informed consent and documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the strengths that neurodivergent nursing students can bring to practice • To understand how practice assessors and supervisors can develop neuro-inclusive learning environments • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers). Neurodivergent conditions such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette’s syndrome are common, and it is highly likely that practice assessors and supervisors will be asked to support neurodivergent nursing students in their practice learning environments. This article details the strengths that neurodivergent students can bring to nursing, as well as some of the challenges they may experience in practice settings. It outlines how practice assessors and supervisors can develop neuro-inclusive learning environments where neurodivergent students can thrive, as well as how to support them if they are not meeting their required proficiencies. The authors also discuss how appropriate reasonable adjustments can be implemented by using a collaborative approach with students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To appreciate the value of nurses scoping the literature on a chosen subject • To become familiar with the main steps involved in undertaking a scoping review • To understand what types of evidence can be included in a scoping review. Rationale and key points: Scoping reviews have become a popular approach for exploring what literature has been published on a particular field of interest. They can enable nurses to gain an overview of the contemporary evidence base relating to a practice area, treatment or specific patient demographic, for example. This article provides a concise guide for nurses planning to undertake a scoping review, explaining the various steps involved. • Scoping reviews are classified as ‘big picture’ reviews used for knowledge synthesis, and their primary objective is to identify, review and clarify the breadth and nature of the evidence. • A well-structured scoping review can be useful for determining the emerging evidence on a subject and may act as a useful precursor to a systematic review. • Undertaking a scoping review involves identifying a focus, selecting the pertinent evidence, synthesising that evidence and reporting the findings. Reflective activity: ‘How to’ articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: • How this article might improve your practice when undertaking a scoping review. • How you could use this information to educate nursing students and colleagues on the appropriate techniques and evidence base required for scoping the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the factors that may be affecting communication within your team • To be aware of how interpersonal relationships and organisational culture can affect team communication and performance • To consider strategies that you could use in your practice to enhance communication with your colleagues. Effective communication within nursing and multiprofessional healthcare teams is essential to promote patient safety. However, communication is a complex concept comprising various elements and variables that affect how messages are delivered, received and interpreted. In this article, the author explores communication within healthcare teams and provides some insight into the factors that affect team communication, such as interpersonal relationships. The author also explores organisational culture and cultural sensitivity, and discusses some evidence-based approaches to enhancing communication within healthcare teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the potential benefits of using online spaces in the control of communicable diseases • To consider how to address challenges such as the spread of health misinformation online • To learn about a framework and resources you could use in your practice to navigate online spaces effectively. The digital revolution has significantly altered healthcare, including communicable disease control, with online spaces emerging as vital tools in preventing, identifying and controlling the spread of diseases. However, healthcare professionals, including nurses, need to find a balance between harnessing the benefits of mass communication and mitigating the potentially harmful effects of online misinformation. This article explores the benefits and challenges of using online spaces such as social media platforms in the control of communicable diseases and discusses the potential use of telehealth in reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance. The author also describes a framework that nurses can use to explore potential roles and practice in the context of communicable disease control in online spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To understand the causes of peripheral neuropathic pain and its effects on patients’ quality of life • To be aware of the non-pharmacological interventions that may be used to manage peripheral neuropathic pain • To consider how you could support patients to self-manage their peripheral neuropathic pain. Peripheral neuropathic pain is a complex condition that can adversely affect people’s quality of life. Alongside pharmacological interventions, nurses can support patients to self-manage their pain using non-pharmacological interventions such as lifestyle changes and exercise. To do this effectively, nurses should be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathic pain and be able to educate patients on appropriate self-management approaches. It is important that nurses provide education, advice and information in a way that patients can understand and check this understanding. This article provides an overview of how nurses can support patients to self-manage peripheral neuropathic pain by using various non-pharmacological interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of international students arriving in the UK to study nursing is on the rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple generations come together in the healthcare workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strict rules on what patients can eat and drink before surgery, which have been followed routinely for decades, could be unnecessary and could cause undue distress, experts argue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To gain insight into the challenges, for nurses, of preventing and addressing adult abuse • To understand where you can access further support, advice and training on adult safeguarding • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers). Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse presents complex ethical challenges. By knowing what counts as adult abuse, recognising the signs of adult abuse and appropriately addressing suspected adult abuse, nurses contribute to protecting patients’ safety, well-being, autonomy and dignity. This article discusses categories and indicators of adult abuse, relevant legislation and standards, the principles of adult safeguarding and the key elements of a nursing assessment of suspected adult abuse. The author highlights that nurses need to approach safeguarding concerns sensitively and strike a balance between acting to safeguard the person and preserving their right to autonomy. There is a need for ongoing education and training to enhance nurses’ understanding of safeguarding practices, legislation, policies and standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The death of a loved one can trigger a range of feelings and emotions, among them anger, denial, guilt, sadness and shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To refresh your knowledge of various elements of communication • To recognise the skills required to communicate effectively and provide person-centred care • To learn about different communication models to support effective non-verbal and verbal communication. Communication is a process of sharing information and developing relationships through interaction. It is essential for nursing care, providing a basis for nurses to establish therapeutic relationships and trust with patients and their families. It is often assumed that nurses can intuitively communicate well; as a result, traditionally there has been a lack of formal training in this area. However, communication is a skill that can be developed and enhanced. This article explains the elements of communication and discusses the skills required by nurses to communicate effectively and provide compassionate, person-centred care. The author outlines two communication models to demonstrate how nurses can use these skills to deliver bad news and support people in distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To increase your knowledge of the physical and psychological effects of anorexia nervosa • To recognise the challenges of providing care to patients with anorexia nervosa in acute hospital settings • To enhance your ability to deliver psychologically informed care to patients with anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa is a challenging and highly distressing illness associated with significant and often debilitating symptoms that affect the person's physical and mental well-being, as well as their wider social networks. Although some patients can make important steps in their recovery in the community, many will become significantly unwell and require medical stabilisation and refeeding in an acute medical ward as a result of significant weight loss. This article describes some of the challenges experienced by adult nurses when caring for patients with anorexia nervosa on acute medical wards and explores how the patient's distress may manifest and complicate the recovery process. The article also discusses the principles of psychologically informed care and therapeutic interactions that nurses can use to promote recovery and ensure optimal practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teamwork is one of the most fundamental elements of providing safe healthcare. Effective team working has been found to reduce errors, increase patient safety and improve patient mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On her first nursing placement two decades ago, Caroline Whitton met a patient on a surgical ward who had cystic fibrosis. She cared for him again on her emergency department placement, and then on the respiratory ward. She later cared for the man as an outpatient in her capacity as cystic fibrosis nurse at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust until he died. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a well-known saying that nurses ‘eat their young’ – which suggests there can be times when support and communication between nurses from different generations might be lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your knowledge of the roles of nursing associate and assistant practitioner • To reflect on the leadership skills needed by various members of the multi-tiered nursing team • To improve your understanding of relational leadership styles, in particular compassionate leadership In a challenging global healthcare climate, new workforce models are required to address the ongoing shortfall in the number of nurses. One way of addressing the workforce crisis in the NHS has been to introduce the roles of nursing associate and assistant practitioner, which are designed to support registered healthcare professionals in their work and 'bridge the gap' between registered professionals and support workers. This article examines the leadership skills required of nurses when seeking to embed these roles in practice, and the leadership skills assistant practitioners and nursing associates themselves need to take their place in the team. The author also discusses the need for nurses to adopt a relational leadership style, hone their delegation skills and foster a climate of psychological safety for their assistant practitioner and nursing associate colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To familiarise yourself with the basic principles of person-centred care • To enhance your knowledge of the benefits and barriers to providing person-centred care at the end of life • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) Providing person-centred care that takes into account each patient's individual needs and priorities is crucial at the end of life. Nurses need to be aware of the main aspects of person-centred care, such as supporting shared decision-making, developing therapeutic nurse-patient relationships, and considering the patient's physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. This article discusses the concept of person-centred care in the context of providing end of life care to patients and their families. It explains the benefits and barriers to providing person-centred end of life care, and outlines some of the areas that nurses and other healthcare professionals need to consider to promote effective care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the role of nurses in the prevention of non-communicable diseases • To enhance your ability to initiate and engage in effective healthy conversations with service users • To be aware that training can provide nurses with the knowledge, skills and confidence to discuss health with service users, and that it is available to all NHS staff Nurses in all settings have an important role in preventing non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes mellitus. They have multiple daily opportunities in their practice to discuss health with people, with the aim of supporting behaviour changes that reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and the associated health-related and economic challenges. Incorporating the principles of healthy conversations into all daily interactions provides opportunities for nurses collectively to promote health on an individual basis to millions of people. However, many nurses have not received training in such behaviour change interventions. This article explains the principles and potential benefits of healthy conversations, and emphasises the importance of training to promote nurses' knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to engage in such conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphones play a huge part in our lives, with the average person spending more than four hours a day using them. However, the time you spend on your phone does not have to be wasted time consumed by aimless scrolling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Custody healthcare practitioners are specialist nurses and paramedics who provide expert clinical and forensic care to people detained in police stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many internationally educated nurses work at senior levels in their home countries, their experience and expertise is unlikely to be recognised when they first arrive in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare often involves strong emotions and difficult situations, making staying calm when things are starting to escalate a vital skill for nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your understanding of how to identify and assess pain in people with dementia • To consider approaches that could be used to manage pain in people with dementia • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) There is little evidence to suggest that people with dementia experience less pain than those without dementia, however they are less likely to report their pain due to the cognitive impairments they experience as their dementia progresses. A comprehensive pain assessment that involves family members, carers and/or friends in the process is crucial to gain an understanding of a person's medical and pain history, and to ensure effective pain management in people with dementia. This article describes the identification, assessment and management of pain in older people with dementia. The author includes a fictional case study with the aim of supporting nurses to reflect on possible indicators of pain in a person with dementia and to consider the tools they may use when identifying and assessing this pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication is key to building a therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiprofessional team is a diverse range of colleagues from different disciplines collaborating to achieve a common outcome. Multiprofessional, also known as multidisciplinary, team working is fundamental to providing high quality, personcentred care, with positive collaboration between experts enabling a deeper understanding of different disciplines, specialist knowledge and skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New standards on record-keeping and documentation in wound care should be available for use by nurses shortly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the importance of embedding cultural competence in healthcare • To understand how cultural competence may apply to people with a diagnosis of a mental health condition • To identify strategies for providing effective and inclusive care to patients with mental health conditions As cultural competence becomes embedded in healthcare, it is important to consider this concept in the context of caring for patients with mental health conditions in general hospital settings. Adult nurses are likely to encounter patients with such conditions who are experiencing a mental health crisis in their practice. However, a lack of opportunity to develop the skills required to engage with patients whose behaviours may be unfamiliar or perceived as challenging can result in suboptimal experiences of care. Developing cultural competence can enhance adult nurses' ability to deliver effective and inclusive care to patients with mental health conditions. This article discusses various aspects of cultural competence in relation to mental health and provides examples of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques that can support adult nurses to engage effectively with patients experiencing a mental health crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delirium is a common condition experienced by people in hospitals and long-term care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To understand the importance of effective communication in end of life care • To appreciate the challenges for healthcare professionals in engaging in end of life discussions with patients and families • To recognise ways in which end of life communication skills can be enhanced among healthcare professionals Skilled and compassionate communication with patients and their families is a priority in all areas of clinical practice. This is particularly important in palliative and end of life care, where people may feel frightened and vulnerable and require clear, honest and compassionate communication from healthcare professionals. However, many patients and families have reported dissatisfaction with their interactions with healthcare professionals in end of life care, including a lack of compassion and understanding of their emotional well-being. This article explores the literature on end of life communication with patients and families and discusses how improvements can be made in this area of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To learn about the principles and types of brief behaviour change interventions • To recognise the importance of motivational interviewing in supporting behaviour change • To identify various tools and techniques that you could use in your practice to deliver brief interventions Nurses are well placed to deliver brief opportunistic health promotion interventions during routine encounters with patients. Brief interventions have been shown to be effective in prompting behaviour change among people who engage in harmful drinking or substance misuse. Nurses can use their communication, relationship-building and partnership-working skills to support people to consider behaviour change. This article explains the concepts that underlie brief behaviour change interventions, which include motivational interviewing and the transtheoretical model of behaviour change. The article also describes practical tools and techniques that nurses can use to deliver such interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To understand the importance of effective communication when escalating care of the deteriorating patient • To increase your knowledge of how to conduct a systematic assessment of the deteriorating patient • To enhance your ability to effectively convey your concerns about a deteriorating patient using a structured communication tool Evidence suggests that improvements in clinical practice are required to ensure that deteriorating patients are rapidly identified and assessed in a systematic manner. The important step of escalating care involves a detailed handover to the most appropriate colleague so that interventions can be put in place to reverse or optimise the patient's condition. However, multiple issues can hinder this handover process, including a lack of confidence among nurses and suboptimal team dynamics or cultures. Using structured communication tools such as situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) can assist nurses in delivering a handover that results in the desired outcome. This article explains the steps involved in identifying, assessing and escalating the care of deteriorating patients, and describes the components of an effective handover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your understanding of the court system in the UK • To learn how to write a professional witness statement • To learn how to give oral evidence in court as a professional witness Nurses working in any setting may be required to assist the courts or coroners by preparing statements or giving evidence in court. Nurses can act as 'professional witnesses' who provide evidence of something they have seen, heard or been involved with as part of their professional duties. This article outlines how nurses should respond to requests for written statements and suggests a format for providing such statements. It also explains the typical approach to providing oral evidence in court and how nurses should prepare and present themselves in the witness box. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that most patients have withheld medically relevant information from healthcare professionals, including nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To increase your understanding of how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and social media may affect young people's mental health • To enhance your ability to talk with young people about mental health issues • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) There are growing concerns about the mental health and well-being of young people, including how these have been negatively affected by factors such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and social media. Community nurses are in an ideal position to promote positive mental health and ensure timely referral to appropriate services to enable young people to access the support they need. This article explores how the pandemic and social media have affected young people's mental health, particularly in relation to anxiety. It also explains how nurses can discuss these issues with young people and their parents or guardians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is seven years since #hellomynameis founder Kate Granger died, but as the campaign for a friendlier health service that she instigated ten years ago continues to thrive, her widower believes she is 'smiling down'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing has a problem with retention across the UK. But the scale of the issue is not uniform – it varies between organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Have you been called ‘the band 5’ or ‘the student’ in the workplace or on placement? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with disputes between parents and the National Health Service (NHS) providers in Great Britain over decisions to withdraw treatment for critically ill children. Topics discussed are child's best interest as a key consideration in disputes, circumstances in which clinicians may consider withdrawing or limiting treatment for a child, role of nurses in mediating and helping families understand cases and significance of independent mediation services to preventing court action.

The article discusses some of the barriers to breaking bad news effectively to patients and the communication skills needed to engage in challenging conversations. Topics include communication skills required to engage in challenging conversations, process involved in breaking bad news, and mnemonic protocols that can be used to structure challenging conversations with patients face to face and over the phone.

The article describes factors affecting health literacy of nurses which is said to be one of the main barriers preventing healthcare professionals from adequately transmitting information to people in their care. Topics include consequences of low health literacy, strategies to mitigate low health literacy, and communication techniques to mitigate low health literacy.

High intensity theatre (HIT) lists are an efficient new way to maximise numbers of patients treated to help reduce backlogs in non-emergency surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nursing workforce is getting older – the latest data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register shows that one in three nurses on the permanent register is aged 51 or older. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how nurses can identify and effectively manage adverse drug reactions (ADR) to promote medicines adherence and safety. Topics include the potential effects of ADRs on people's quality of life and therapeutic results, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) principles of medicines optimisation, and the types of ADRs like types A, B and C.

Having had a career in nursing since the mid-1980s and the role of a senior lecturer for 20 years, I thought I would recognise a heart attack if I saw one. Until it happened to me. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a nursing student, it is important to be able to raise concerns in a professional manner, but this can be a daunting prospect when you are working with more senior and experienced staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeling safe to raise concerns in the knowledge that any issues will be listened to and acted on is essential to our well-being at work. Whether about patient safety or staffing levels, we must have the courage to raise and escalate our concerns using the tools and support available, such as a red flag system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]