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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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

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]

The issues patients from minority ethic backgrounds experience when seeking healthcare – like lack of empathy, discrimination, and poor outcomes – are well documented. [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]

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.

Sitting down with the close family members of a patient, my thoughts turned to how they must be feeling since finding out that their loved one was going to die. They had known for a day or so by this point, and I wondered if they could believe what was happening. I also wondered if they had thought about organ donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every day, on average, two black nurses are referred to the nursing regulator over concerns about their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When did you last say sorry? In a professional capacity, perhaps it was at the height of the pandemic when you could not allow a family member to be at the bedside of a loved one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your knowledge of the benefits of music therapy for people with dementia • To understand how music therapy can be provided in acute mental health settings • To learn about a new tool for measuring the effectiveness of music therapy in people with dementia As global figures for dementia are set to rise significantly, there has been a shift towards using non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy to enhance the quality of life for people with the condition. Research into music therapy interventions for this patient group in acute mental health inpatient settings, however, is limited. This article describes a service evaluation that explored whether group music therapy was effective for people with dementia in such settings. Open group music therapy sessions were hosted weekly in two acute wards and the researchers examined the social and behavioural outcomes of participants pre and post-intervention. The results indicated that music therapy significantly improved patient outcomes following participation. The outcome measure developed for this service evaluation was found to be a reliable tool for measuring the effectiveness of music therapy on patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body language is an important part of communication as a nurse. On a busy shift, it can be easy to inadvertently give out the wrong message via non-verbal communication. But being aware of a few key ways in which body language matters can make a huge difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, established at the University of Leicester in June 2022, is pioneering a new approach to medical, nursing and allied health education and training that positions empathy at the heart of healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When communicating information to patients, the words you choose can be as important as the message itself. A nurse's choices of language can affect how patients view their health. Clumsy use of language can make a person feel stigmatised and distressed, which, experts argue, can lead to adverse health outcomes. And there are many ways nurses can unconsciously perpetuate unhelpful and incorrect views about various health conditions, in addition to longstanding societal stigmas, such as those around race, gender and sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imposter syndrome, sometimes known as imposter phenomenon, is a persistent feeling of being unworthy of the status or success you have achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All organisations that provide services under the NHS Standard Contract are required to appoint a Freedom to Speak Up guardian – a crucial contact for any staff member who wants to raise concerns and may be finding it difficult to be heard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When speaking to patients and colleagues, it is vital that nurses can communicate information clearly – but taking in other people's responses is just as important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]