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The article discusses the key role played by nurses in supporting patients with type 2 diabetes in reversing their condition or remission of the disease and achieving and sustaining weight loss. Other topics include the research on the dietary strategies to weight loss, the incidence of diabetes mellitus in the United Kingdom (UK), and how obesity or overweight raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Why you should read this article: • To learn about the concept of logical fallacies in the context of nursing practice • To be aware of six logical fallacies that are common deceptive patterns of reasoning • To recognise that logical fallacies in critical reasoning and decision-making can affect patient care Logical fallacies can affect routine and complex decision-making, potentially leading to a reduction in the efficacy or application of robust evidence to care. Experienced and inexperienced nurses may inadvertently integrate fallacious reasoning into their clinical decisions due to the inherent deceptiveness of logical fallacies and the effect of cognitive biases. By gaining an understanding of logical fallacies, nurses may be able to identify them during clinical reasoning processes, thereby mitigating their effects on clinical outcomes. This article considers six of the most common logical fallacies and provides examples of how they might manifest in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the importance of nurses understanding research and applying research evidence in their clinical practice • To understand the motivations and barriers to engaging with research • To consider opportunities for increasing your engagement with research Nurses at every level can reflect on their active engagement with clinical research. This article aims to support nurses to understand how they can facilitate and lead research. It provides practical advice to support the integration of research evidence into care delivery and increase the opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research. This is important because patients can benefit from nurses who are knowledgeable, confident and supported in applying research evidence. Furthermore, nurses can support and inform patient choice through increased confidence and competence in engaging with research and implementing research findings. Organisational culture and leadership are also important elements in fostering environments where evidence and research are promoted throughout the nursing workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your understanding of the principles of patient blood management • To recognise the factors that can influence transfusion decisions and enhance patient safety • To understand the role of the nurse in transfusion decisions, managing anaemia, and supporting patients to be involved in their treatment and care Patient blood management has been defined as a patient-focused and evidence-based approach to optimising the management of patients during the transfusion of blood components. This article explores the complex factors that can influence clinical decisions and enhance patient safety in the administration of blood components, particularly red blood cell transfusions in patients with anaemia. The article also explores the nurse's role in acting as a patient advocate and considering alternatives to the use of blood components. While this article focuses on anaemia-related transfusions, the author relates the principles of patient blood management to all transfusion care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programmes are an innovative approach to optimising patient outcomes in the perioperative period and have been implemented in various surgical departments across a range of specialties, with varying degrees of success. ERAS is an evidence-based, multimodal programme that has repeatedly demonstrated a reduction in post-operative complications and reduced the length of hospital stays following elective surgery. However, despite extensive evidence to support these benefits, several barriers to ERAS implementation have been identified. This article outlines the components of ERAS, focusing on the barriers to its implementation and how these could be overcome. It also discusses the implications of ERAS for patients, nurses and healthcare organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses are increasingly using professional portfolios as a way to maintain evidence of their learning and reflection, and to demonstrate that they have met their professional requirements. A portfolio can assist nurses to store and manage their revalidation or re-registration documents in one place, so that these can be easily updated and produced when required, for example in performance reviews and job applications. All nurses are required to undertake continuing professional development activities to maintain, update and improve their knowledge and practice, and they can use their portfolio to document these activities. Creating and maintaining a portfolio can also enable nurses to identify their strengths and learning needs, and to develop a learning plan to address these needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how nurses can use evidence-based practice to critique and evaluate the rationale and evidence for specific nursing procedures or practices. Through the development of a focused research question and search strategy, nurses can select and critique relevant research articles to answer the research question, which can support the provision of optimal practice and high-quality care. This article demonstrates the process of evidence-based practice, with the aim of increasing novice researchers' confidence in applying this process in practice. The article evaluates the rationale for the use of an early-warning score system in the identification of patients at risk of deterioration, in particular the identification of sepsis and septic shock in the emergency setting. In this article, one research article will be selected and critiqued; however, in practice several appropriate articles should be reviewed to draw firm conclusions. Some of the barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practice and the dissemination of research will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicines optimisation can be used by healthcare professionals to support patients to gain maximum benefit from their medicines, with two of the main principles being understanding the patient experience and ensuring medicines choice is evidence-based. Non-adherence is a significant issue in medicines management. Relational aspects of the patient experience, such as empathetic two-way communication between the healthcare professional and patient, the provision of clear information and shared decision-making, can have a positive influence on whether patients take their medicines as intended. In practice, the degree of influence exerted by evidence-based guidelines may result in tensions between the healthcare professional's choice of medicines and the patient's experience, while the prevalence of multimorbidity may mean that some patients are prescribed medicines from several clinical guidelines. This raises issues in relation to patient morbidity and safety, including the potential for issues with polypharmacy and an increased risk of adverse drug reactions. Medication review is an important tool for identifying the patient's medication burden, and deprescribing - the planned reduction of medicines that may no longer be effective - is emerging as a strategy to reduce polypharmacy. Further progress is required to increase patient involvement in the development of guidance for medicines management to enhance the quality of patient care, particularly in relation to their values and preferences. Similarly, further research is necessary to identify how patients make decisions about their medicines use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses support patients to make decisions about risk on a regular basis. They aim to offer patients evidence regarding the choices available. However, it is necessary for patients to understand the components of risk and associated decisions, before shared decisionmaking can be realised. This article provides a straightforward explanation of risk and risk decision-making to enable nurses to support patients through the risk-assessment process. Consideration is given to the patient's predisposition towards risk, whether positive or negative, and the necessity of reviewing the patient's understanding of the risks involved. A model of risk assessment is presented, that considers the likelihood of a risk occurring and its possible effects on the patient. The article emphasises the importance of considering risk decisions in the long term, including the opportunities that are realised with each decision made. Case studies are used to consider these principles in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increasing focus on evidence-based practice in health care, it is important that nurses understand the principles underlying systematic reviews. Systematic reviews are used in healthcare to present a comprehensive, policy-neutral, transparent and reproducible synthesis of evidence. This article provides a practical overview of the process of undertaking systematic reviews, explaining the rationale for each stage. It provides guidance on the standard methods applicable to every systematic review: writing and registering a protocol; planning a review; searching and selecting studies; data collection; assessing the risk of bias; and interpreting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, the ninth in a series of II, provides guidance for new and established mentors and practice teachers on evidence-based practice, the seventh domain of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice (SSLAP). Evidence-based practice is an important aspect of contemporary healthcare and is central to student preparation programmes for nursing, midwifery and specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN). The article describes evidence-based practice, discussing the importance and implementation of an evidence-based approach in the context of role development for mentors and practice teachers in the preparation of nursing, midwifery and SCPHN students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicines optimisation is promoted in a guideline published in 2015 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Four guiding principles underpin medicines optimisation: aim to understand the patient's experience; ensure evidence-based choice of medicines; ensure medicines use is as safe as possible; and make medicines optimisation part of routine practice. Understanding the patient experience is important to improve adherence to medication regimens. This involves communication, shared decision making and respect for patient preferences. Evidence-based choice of medicines is important for clinical and cost effectiveness. Systems and processes for the reporting of medicines-related safety incidents have to be improved if medicines use is to be as safe as possible. Ensuring safe practice in medicines use when patients are transferred between organisations, and managing the complexities of polypharmacy are imperative. A medicines use review can help to ensure that medicines optimisation forms part of routine practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care is constantly being reformed to improve the safety and quality of services, and nurses are integral to the provision of this safety and quality. As a result of concerns raised by recent high-profile care failings, there is an expectation that the nursing profession should be able to meet the changing demands of an increasingly complex healthcare environment, based on the best available evidence. This article describes the use of systematic literature reviews to recognise appropriate evidence and develop guidelines to inform nursing practice, thereby enabling safe, high quality nursing care. It uses an example from the literature to illustrate the process of systematic review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article references the study "Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures" by B. Stevens and colleagues, published in Issue 7 of the "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews." Topics covered include the reduction of composite and behavioral pain scores, additional pain relief provided by non-nutritive sucking and swaddling in combination with sucrose, and indications that sucrose reduces pain associated with intramuscular injections.

This article reviews the principles of evidence-based practice (EBP), the essential components of the EBP process, potential barriers to its implementation and the role of education in supporting EBP. The overall aim is to expand the knowledge base and debate surrounding EBP, and to highlight the significant contribution that nurses can make to improving patient outcomes in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pilot project was initiated and carried out by a multidisciplinary team working with older people with the aim of promoting effective practice in continence care. A documentation audit and staff questionnaire covering four independent hospital sites had identified the prevalence of urinary incontinence among inpatients to be 47%. This affected patients' participation in rehabilitation programmes. A framework was adopted that supported the implementation of evidence in practice. Strategies used by the project team included: workshops, role play and tools to aid decision making. Success of the project was confirmed by multidisciplinary focus group evaluations of all members of the ward team and by a post-intervention comparison of practice in the pilot ward with a similar ward using an established continence audit tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a new inpatient hospice unit provided a valuable opportunity to consider ways in which nursing care is defined and documented. Three values which the authors felt should underpin nursing practice in the service were identified. This article outlines these values and describes the documentation framework that was adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines different types of innovation and explores how they can be applied to health care. It provides information on strategies that can be used by nurses to incorporate innovation in their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This information on best practice is based on a systematic review (Callaghan eta! 2005) conducted by the Institute Nurses' Network (Telethon Institute of Child Health Research), Western Australian community and child health nurses and the Western Australian Centre for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery, a collaborating centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The primary references on which this information is based are available online via Blackwell Synergy: www.blackwell-synergy.com and to members of the institute via the web site: www.joannabriggs.edu.au [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current policy and initiatives to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are outlined and discussed. Approaches to the effective control and prevention of HCAIs include surveillance, evidence-based infection control practice and responsible antibiotic prescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the guiding principles of evidence-based practice (EBP). EBP is an overarching concept that spans all healthcare professions. The principles collaborating EBP take account on the part played by the profession, practitioner and the need for desirable patient outcomes, clinical effectiveness and quality. It brings a framework for the organization of health care in the U.S. It is adopted in the basis for decision-making in the healthcare system in Great Britain.

This article explores the compatibility of evidence-based practice with nursing. The generation of relevant research evidence in nursing and determining best evidence are discussed. The article concludes that different forms of research, other than randomised controlled trials, are valid and in many cases more applicable to nursing practice, and that nurses need to determine what constitutes relevant and best evidence for the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Protocol-based care is increasingly being used to deliver collaborative, integrated and improved patient-centred care, based on the best available evidence. This article provides an overview of key issues arising from protocol-based care literature to illustrate the research agenda for this important care delivery approach. Conclusion Protocols provide great potential to deliver best practice. However, questions remain about the benefits of protocol-based care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence base for wound healing management is lacking. This article discusses the methods of assessing evidence base and makes the plea for more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mission of the Cochrane Nursing Care Field (CNCF) is to improve health outcomes by increasing the use of the Cochrane Library and supporting Cochrane's role by providing an evidence base for nurses and healthcare professionals who deliver, lead or research nursing care. The CNCF produces Cochrane Corner columns, summaries of recent nursing-care-relevant Cochrane Reviews that are regularly published in collaborating nursing-related journals. Information on the processes CNCF has developed can be accessed at: nursingcare.cochrane.org/evidence-transfer-program-reviewsummaries. This is a Cochrane review summary of: Hamilton TW, Athanassoglou V, Trivella M et al (2016) Liposomal bupivacaine peripheral nerve block for the management of postoperative pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mission of the Cochrane Nursing Care Field (CNCF) is to improve health outcomes through increasing the use of the Cochrane Library and supporting Cochrane's role by providing an evidence base for nurses and healthcare professionals who deliver, lead or research nursing care. The CNCF produces Cochrane Corner columns, summaries of recent nursing-care-relevant Cochrane Reviews that are regularly published in collaborating nursing-related journals. Information on the processes CNCF has developed can be accessed at: cncf.cochrane.org/evidence-transfer- program-review-summaries. This is a Cochrane review summary of: Heslop R, Roberts H, Flower D et al (2016) Interventions for men and women with their first episode of genital herpes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 8. CD010684. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010684.pub2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical knowledge summaries on how to manage almost 500 clinical scenarios give up-to-date information on the ‘what, why and how’ of best treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]