Newsroom
What all nurses have to gain from learning disabilities training
Steep rise in NHS staff absence: do you feel under pressure to fill the gaps?
Nursing students are not part of COVID-19 workforce, RCN asserts
News
Nursing students are not part of COVID-19 workforce, RCN asserts
College says Scottish Government implies students on placements are ‘additional staff’
Shorter self-isolation time gets you back to work sooner – but is it worth extra risk?
Science adviser admits rule-change comes with risk, as RCN calls for nurse exemption
New COVID-19 self-isolation rules: what nurses need to know
Isolation period for people testing positive in England reduced to five days from 17 January
Mandatory vaccinations for nurses would be ‘sabotage’ amid staffing pressures, says RCN
College joins demands to delay making jabs compulsory from April for front-line staff
Free tickets to see Florence Nightingale-inspired ballet
English National Ballet’s show centres on a woman who becomes a nurse during the Crimean War
Nurses condemn Boris Johnson over lockdown party in Downing Street
Prime minister apologises for lockdown party as nurses take to social media to protest
Analysis
Steep rise in NHS staff absence: do you feel under pressure to fill the gaps?
Find out about your rights to time off as your work life hits new levels of stress
Are you a disordered eater? How being a nurse could be putting you at risk
Protected mealtimes are helpful to patients, so maybe it’s time you had them too
Presents from patients: when is accepting a Christmas gift not allowed?
Patients may want to show appreciation, but there are rules about gifts to staff
Trauma-informed care: why it should be part of every nurse’s practice
One in three adults has experienced trauma, which can affect mental and physical health
How to improve patient care – and save the planet at the same time
Small sustainable changes can make a huge impact on the health of your patients and the world
Your guide to RCN congress 2021
All you need to know about this year’s amended programme, educational events and lectures
Clinical update
Wound care: what the framework for standardised treatment means for your patients
Guidance focuses on individualised care for pressure ulcers, lower limbs and surgical wounds
Long-COVID: what it means and how to manage the longer-term effects
Advice from NICE on how to care for patients with ongoing symptoms of the virus
Managing aerosol generating procedures in school for children with complex medical needs
Updated guidance covers children with a tracheostomy or respiratory difficulties
Menopause symptoms and period pain: identify women’s health conditions with confidence
Updated RCN resource also includes information on pregnancy, continence and sexual health
Diabetes care: how a coin-sized device can monitor blood glucose levels continuously
Up to 3,000 people with learning disabilities set to benefit from ‘life-changing’ device
Preparing to Prescribe toolkit: becoming a non-medical prescriber
Updated online resource is a step-by-step guide for nurses considering a prescribing course
Policy briefing
COVID-19: how to make PPE less daunting for people with learning disabilities
Public Health England has issued guidance for staff in care homes
COVID-19: when you can refuse to treat a patient due to inadequate PPE
The implications for nurses of RCN guidance on care provision and inadequate PPE
Putting person-centred care at the heart of learning disability services
Ireland targets services for those with learning disabilities and their families and carers
Helping nurses to ‘defuse’ after difficult situations
The RCN has issued guidance on how to discuss and reflect on challenging incidents at work
Correct use of gloves and how to protect your skin
RCN Glove Awareness week stresses correct use of gloves and how nurses can protect their skin
Identifying the needs of older people with learning disabilities
People with learning disabilities are living longer but will have specific health needs
Research news
Beware diagnosis of ASD based on stereotype behaviour
People with learning disability and sensory impairments can be wrongly diagnosed as autistic
Lifestyle gains linked to positive behaviour support
Study shows lifestyle benefits of PBS-based approaches and need to capitalise on these gains
Exploring anxiety in young people with autism spectrum disorder
Autistic children anxious over sensory experiences, phobias, unpredictability and change
Nurses need more exposure to children with learning disabilities
In interviews, nurses on acute paediatric ward stress need to be adaptable and flexible
Parent peer support is important for families with children who have LDs
Parent peer support provides practical, social and emotional help
Social media risks for people who have learning disabilities
Use of social media presents opportunities, but also risks of cyberbullying and exploitation
Journal scan
Scottish survey reveals the scale of social isolation and loneliness
More than 70% of young adults with learning disabilities reported feeling lonely ‘a lot of the time’, according to a campaigning organisation
Long-term conditions management
Systematic review finds that people with learning disabilities were less likely to access health screening and preventive healthcare such as immunisations
Secure settings: what makes for a good outcome when people move on from inpatient...
Study finds need to establish specialist forensic support teams to ensure best possible outcomes for offenders who have behaviours that challenge
Blood plasma test could lead to earlier diagnosis of autism
A pioneering test has revealed a link between autism and damage to proteins in blood plasma that could lead to earlier diagnosis of the condition, scientists say
Study raises questions about clinical outcomes associated with positive behaviour...
Of services where staff underwent training only 30% produced positive behaviour support plans that included all essential components
Psychotropic medication often given in the absence of multidisciplinary assessments
Research raises concerns about a lack of guidelines and review of prescriptions
Podcast
What all nurses have to gain from learning disabilities training
Our podcast looks at what's behind mandatory training, plus strategies from specialist nurses
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