Newsroom
Nurses forced into lower pay bands after requesting flexible hours
NHS employers reject suggested separate pay spine for nurses
News
What next – and who next – for nursing?
As England’s CNO prepares to step down, what should her successor’s priorities be?
Nurses forced into lower pay bands after requesting flexible hours
RCN chief brands practice ‘shameful’ and vows to get college’s lawyers to review issue
NHS employers reject suggested separate pay spine for nurses
RCN’s proposed nursing pay scale would harm morale, employers tell government consultation
Your employment rights: changes to carer’s leave, pregnancy rules and flexible working
Time off to support dependants becomes a legal right and redundancy protection is extended
Nursing student numbers: degree places ‘getting harder to fill’
University says it cannot meet national targets and had to scrap mental health intake
Compensation for charge nurse told she had to stop solely working night shifts
Managers rowed back on reasonable adjustments that helped her manage a chronic condition
Analysis
Common payroll issues: how to keep track and resolve errors
Pay can fluctuate and it is important to report discrepancies – including overpayments
What every nurse in the NHS needs to know about the pension scheme overhaul
How you might be affected – plus a warning to anyone thinking of opting out
The (quiet) steps you can take to help inpatients get a good night’s sleep
Find out about measures that minimise disturbance at night – but don’t mean extra workload
Why are students turning away from nursing courses?
Promises of a rewarding career fail to halt a decline in applicants for nursing courses
How to promote cardiovascular health in people with learning disabilities
Nurses can manage risks with regular check-ups, lifestyle support and monitoring medicine
Carry on nursing: older nurses explain why they have no time for retirement
Hear from four nurses who love practice too much to give it up
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
Exploring anxiety in young people with autism spectrum disorder
Autistic children anxious over sensory experiences, phobias, unpredictability and change
Lifestyle gains linked to positive behaviour support
Study shows lifestyle benefits of PBS-based approaches and need to capitalise on these gains
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
Band Aid remembered: how one nurse inspired a phenomenon
Dr Dame Claire Bertschinger's work in Ethiopia in 1984 helped kickstart the charity song
NHS strikes one year on: how nursing staff took a historic stand with public’s support
Look back at what nurses told us on the picket lines, and why the campaign isn’t over
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
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
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
How to call out rudeness (politely) at work
Taking appropriate action can protect yourself, your team’s and your patients’ well-being
Sponsored
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
Sponsored: When is a swelling not an allergy?
This sponsored article describes emergency care for people with hereditary angioedema
Sponsored: How to improve leg ulcer practice and patient outcomes
This webinar, sponsored by HARTMANN, seeks to address variation in practice and outcomes for lower limb wounds
Sponsored: High ‘face fit test’ pass rate on smaller face shapes with FFP3 respirator
UK-made respiratory protection for healthcare helps reduce environmental impact
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.
Sponsored: Working in Wales can really take you places in your career
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.