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In the article, the author discusses how community nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) can empower people with lymphoedema based on the concept of patient accountability and empowerment. Also cited are the features of lymphoedema like chronic swelling, pain and heaviness in the tissues, and the focus of treatment like lymphatic drainage, exercise, and skincare.

The article discusses studies about lymphoedema, a disease which causes swelling in the tissue of any part of the body. Topics include body parts that are usually most affected, the need to know how to approach the patient's condition, and the first-line of treatment which involves using compression of some kind. Also mentioned is a study on the use of compression garments in a conventional lymphoedema prevention programme for breast cancer patients.

The article discusses the increased prevalence of depression in Great Britain, as of October, 2019. Topics discussed include an increase in the prescription of antidepressants, as compared to benzodiazepines and opioids; increase in the availability and use of data on the prescribing of medicines; and improved information for patients and carers on prescribed medicines and other treatments.

The author suggests that nurses and health professionals should feel safe and supported to report substandard care taking place within their care environments. Topics discussed include five elements which are considered fundamental for a successful whistleblowing programme, according to a key report on whistleblowing "Whistling while they work," definition of whistleblowing, and root cause of the fear behind whistleblowing.

The article reports on processes for helping community nurses deal with the suicide of patients. It presents techniques for identifying and helping patients who may be suicidal, supporting nurses who have lost patients to suicide, and debriefing nurses to gain insight for possible future events.

The article explores how nurses, specifically those working in Great Britain, can achieve a work-life balance. Particular focus is given to the challenges of being involved in a profession where mistakes can make the difference between wellness, illness, or even, death. Additional topics discussed include the consequences of taking work problems home, being engaged with one's personal life and managing boundaries.

The article examines the role of community health nurses in the grieving process of patients diagnosed with an illness or bereaving families. It discusses how nurses can use active listening and individualized support to aid the grief experience as well as how nurses can develop an ability for clear and sensitive communication.

Although the link between psychology and kidney care may not be entirely obvious to everyone at first, renal nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team spend a large amount of time helping people shoulder the emotional burden of kidney disease. In the first article of a new series, Aysha Mendes explains how this link manifests, and why it is so important to those who provide care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aysha Mendes, Editor, British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, aysha.freelance@gmail.com, discusses support for patients living with heart disease [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aysha Mendes, Editor, British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, begins a series on cardiology with a look at attitudes to and guidelines on providing end-of-life care for people with heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with dementia can find change particularly difficult. Aysha Mendes looks at how to minimise distress experienced by these patients when they leave the ward to return home or move to a new care setting [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this month's column, Aysha Mendes discusses the moral distress a nurse may experience when witnessing care that he or she feels is not up to standard—and being faced with the decision about whether or not to blow the whistle, as well as what the consequences could be [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author discusses the role of community nurses in end-of-life care, particularly in home settings, focusing on a review of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), a set of guidelines covering palliative care in Great Britain. The review found that the LCP resulted in standardised care rather than care that centered on the patient and his or her family and loved ones. The author addresses prompt communication with family members, the involvement of the dying person in decisions, and the importance of support for bereaved family members.

The article focuses on medical personnel coping skills after patients commit suicide. It recommends patients receive training to deal with possible situations of providing medical care to patients at risk of suicide and suggests it is in the best interest of healthcare organizations and patients to ensure patient suicides are discussed. It talks about psychological debriefing in the aftermath of incidents to help normalize the impact of a suicide on nurses.