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When you're a practice nurse in Scotland you could find yourself working anywhere from a remote is and community to a deprived innercity health centre. Francesca Robinson takes a closer [...]

Issues are presented concerning the services which are being offered by a nurse-led clinic to patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The influence of the clinic in reducing general practitioners' workload is discussed.

A step-by-step description is presented of the procedure which should be adopted for the performance of bladder ultrasounds by nurses. Patients most at risk of suffering from voiding problems are discussed.

Issues are presented concerning the management of the nurse-led clinic for the treatment and care of patients diagnosed with lung cancer which has been set up at the Northampton General Hospital.

In a World War II cartoon by Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Mauldin, two GIs are sitting in a foxhole. One is saying to the other, 'The hell this ain't the [...]

The UK government is providing 9 million pounds sterling to help recruit extra nurses to help carry out a vaccination programme which should cover up to 15 million people. School nurses will spear head the campaign which will introduce a newly developed meningitis C vaccination. Nurses will be required to offer advice to parents who may be anxious about vaccinations being given to their children.

Nurse operators working for UK 24-hour medical helpline NHS Direct found they required additional skills in communication, computer literacy and patience when dealing with medical queries from the public. Each nurse was given an intensive 11-week teaching course, with much of the training focused on how to obtain information from callers regarding medical queries. The system is fully back up by specialist services, such as the police and ambulance service.

Research into the public's reaction to the introduction of a 24-hour medical helpline in the UK shows the majority of people welcome the reassurance and advice they receive from the service. There are several pilot schemes running throughout the country and the researchers found a varying degree of discrepancy when it came to medical advice and the way in which callers were asked for information. NHS Direct provides an opportunity for nurses to work directly with the public, offering advice, support and reassurance on medical matters.

The successful development of a self-management programme for patients suffering from rheumatology problems has lead to UK nurse sister Pat Cole being awarded a leadership award by the Foundation of Nursing Studies. Cole is a strong believer in the psychological and physical benefits gained by patients who decide to take control of their illness through education and information. Cole has been recognized for her ability to motivate people through positive leadership.

Safety issues must be examined and strategies implemented when setting up a 24-hour service run by district nurses. All aspects of nursing care may be required on a 24-hour basis, making it essential for a dedicated team of nurses to be on call. A wide range of nursing specialities has developed to provide a fully functional care package for clients who require 24-hour nursing.

The UK government established the 24-hour medical helpline, NHS Direct with a grant of 50 million pounds sterling, with the expectation of millions of pounds sterling savings made in doctor and hospital costs. The helpline is designed to provide a 24-hour medical service for users who have queries regarding medical matters. Nurses running the helpline claim the service would be improved if they were given more time to study and undertake research. The average salary for a telephone nurse is 18,000 pounds sterling per year, including share options.

Practice nurses have developed a wide range of skills to ensure adequate health care provision for patients. Practice development nurses can help in the extension of learning opportunities within care units by evaluating services and the assessing the role which nurses can play in the implementation of patient care. Clear communication lines and positive inter-personal skills are essential for the job of practice developement nursing.

The role of practice development nurse (PDN) needs to be properly established within a practice to ensure success in the long-term. The practice needs to take into account factors such as finance, skill mix, management support and accountability when establishing a PDN role. The main advantage of a PDN is making developments in education, professionalism and practice a priority within the health care facility.

People with impaired capacity need to cared for in a paternalistic way to avoid risks, although nurses must be able to weight up the element of risk involved before deciding to intervene in decision making. Institutionalization may by the best option for some people with impaired capacity, however a strategic nursing regime will help many to avoid this fate.

Socially deprived inner-city areas of the UK are being provided with quality health care services led through the provision of Primary-Care Act Pilot Schemes (PCAPS). The focus of PCAPS is to ensure deprived groups, such as travellers, drug addicts and young people living on the streets, receive health care advise. Underlying causes for social illness are addressed by PCAPS, such as housing and education. Nurse-led care aims to empower and educate people.

The 'crisis' in out of hours primary care[1 2] and availability of new development funding[3] have prompted new service arrangements, primarily general practice cooperatives and primary care emergency centres. Nurse [...]

INDIANA-Indiana cannot afford its $1 million share of a nurse background check scheme, and will therefore not participate in the program, state officials announced on Aug. 9. In response, State [...]

The two-yearly conference of the gerontology nurses' section, this year titled 'Gerontology centre stage', will take place in Auckland in early September. The programme will appeal to nurses working in [...]