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Nurses on strike outside Northern General Hospital, Sheffield

New anti-strike code of practice approved by MPs, despite human rights concerns

Government anti-strike measures called ‘a brazen attack on the right to strike’

Two nurses look at a laptop screen together amid the bustle of a ward around them

UK-trained nurse numbers hits record high but red-list recruitment remains a concern

NMC records a rise of almost 20,000 registrants in six months

Scene at a busy hospital with medics engaged in various tasks as a trolley with a patient on it is pushed past

Rise in nurses hits 50,000 target but too many posts still unfilled, say critics

‘Political target’ met but nurses still having to care for too many patients, says RCN

RCN general secretary looks serious during visit to nurses' picket line outside Leeds General Infirmary in December 2022. Behind her, striking nurses hold signs with messages about staffing and pay. Everyone is dressed for winter weather

NHS pay deal: reopen talks with nurses, union leader urges government

Consultants’ better deal exposes injustice our female-dominated profession faces – RCN

Nurse with her back to the camera appears to feel isolated as union and care sector call on government to act against exploitation of foreign care staff in the UK

Focus on curbing exploitation of foreign staff, not immigration levels, minister told

Union and care providers call on government to take action against unethical employers

Photo of nurse staffing rota on ward computer

Nurses may see shorter working week if AfC recommendations approved

Scottish Government also considering pay changes and protected learning time

Analysis

Can a new training programme help fix the learning disability nurse shortage?

An innovative approach used in Plymouth could help pave the way to attracting new recruits

A speech and language therapist assists a patient to drink a glass of water, gently touching his throat while encouraging him to swallow by mimicking the action

Preventing aspiration pneumonia in people with learning disabilities

Delayed diagnosis and treatment, and lack of effective preventive action, may increase risk

Fundamental care: is competence being eroded in essential areas of practice?

Nurses voice concerns about routine bowel and wound care being missed

A  woman with Down’s syndrome leans her head against a tree looking downcast and vulnerable

Gender-based violence: how to protect and support women with learning disabilities

A new strategy aims to improve support for women who are particularly vulnerable to abuse

An aerial view of Cawston Park where three people with learning disabilities died

What can be learned from NHS England’s safe and well-being reviews?

The reviews can be used to improve inpatient services for people with learning disabilities

A man who has a learning disability is given some guidance on painting on canvas by a tutor during an art healthcare workshop

Could new career pathways kick-start learning disability nursing?

It is a pressing need to find new ways of attracting more people to the specialty

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

Prescribing

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

Picture shows two medics in discussion. Lack of personal protective equipment allows nurses to take a decision to protect themselves, RCN guidance says.

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

Picture shows mental health professional sitting at a table with a woman with Down’s syndrome woman. A national framework in Ireland aims to provide person-centred services for people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.

Putting person-centred care at the heart of learning disability services

Ireland targets services for those with learning disabilities and their families and carers

Nurses meeting to discuss and reflect following a difficult situation

Helping nurses to ‘defuse’ after difficult situations

The RCN has issued guidance on how to discuss and reflect on challenging incidents at work

Glove awareness week

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

Picture shows a child scratching himself. Relying too much on observed stereotypical and repetitive behaviour may result in incorrect diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in people with a learning disability and sensory impairments, a study suggests.

Beware diagnosis of ASD based on stereotype behaviour

People with learning disability and sensory impairments can be wrongly diagnosed as autistic

Picture shows a young male who is autistic. Research shows nearly half of autistic children have anxieties specifically associated with autism and commonly related to sensory experiences.

Exploring anxiety in young people with autism spectrum disorder

Autistic children anxious over sensory experiences, phobias, unpredictability and change

Picture shows an older woman talking to a therapist. A new study shows the wider lifestyle benefits associated with PBS-based approaches and the need to capitalise on these gains.

Lifestyle gains linked to positive behaviour support

Study shows lifestyle benefits of PBS-based approaches and need to capitalise on these gains

Picture shows a woman and a boy sitting on a hospital bed, reading a book together. Nurses interviewed about caring for children with learning disabilities in acute settings stressed the need to be adaptable and flexible

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

Picture shows a young male holding a smartphone. This article reports on a study showing social media presents opportunities for people with learning disabilities, but those supporting them must be alert to risks including cyberbullying and exploitation.

Social media risks for people who have learning disabilities

Use of social media presents opportunities, but also risks of cyberbullying and exploitation

Journal scan

Isolation and loneliness

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

Inequalities

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

Criminal

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

Two people talking in a training session

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

Close up of someone preparing to take a pill with a glass of water

Psychotropic medication often given in the absence of multidisciplinary assessments

Research raises concerns about a lack of guidelines and review of prescriptions

Podcast

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Michael Rosen at the Nursing Live event

Author’s tale of pandemic journey – and what he owes to nurses

Michael Rosen reflects in our podcast on intensive care and his admiration for nurses

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Jayne Chidgey-Clark

Raising concerns: helping you to speak up without fear of repercussions

Our podcast guest tells us how she's striving to help nurses speak up with confidence

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Photo of exhausted nurse at work, illustrating podcast about burnout

Is work causing you to burn out? How to spot the warning signs

Our podcast explores causes of burnout, including long shifts, and what to do about it

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How to call out rudeness (politely) at work

How to call out rudeness (politely) at work

Taking appropriate action can protect yourself, your team’s and your patients’ well-being

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Woman touching her forehead looking worried fraught, which are symptoms common in perimeopause

Don’t let perimenopause get you down: advice on how to get support in your workplace

Symptoms of perimenopause can be distressing – but they don’t need to be career-ending

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RCN general secretary Pat Cullen with logo of Nursing Standard podcast in the background

Latest NHS strike ballot and why a better pay deal is still worth fighting for

Podcast special: Pat Cullen calls on ministers to get back to the negotiating table

Sponsored

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Sponsored: Mölnlycke’s clinical consensus statement ‘Healthy skin, safe patients'

This article explores Mölnlycke’s clinical consensus statement and the fight against healthcare-associated infections

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This webinar, sponsored by HARTMANN, seeks to address variation in practice and outcomes for lower limb wounds

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UK-made respiratory protection for healthcare helps reduce environmental impact

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Sponsored: Wales offers a great quality of life for the newly qualified nurse

Newly qualified Mental Health Nurse Luke Pybus, from Somerset, is delighted he made the career move to work in Wales.

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Sian Thomas, a Consultant Nurse for Child Health in South Wales, and Nurse of the Year 2016, talks about why everyone looking for a rewarding nursing career should put Wales at the top of their list.

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