CPD articles
Our continuing professional development (CPD) articles are designed to assist with your nursing skills and practice.
Nurse prescribing: developing confidence, autonomy and collaboration
Nurse prescribing can benefit patients, prescribing clinicians and healthcare systems
How nurses can promote well-being in personalised care
Harnessing the strengths, skills and resources of people and communities to improve health
How to discuss the human papillomavirus infection with patients in primary care
An overview of HPV, including its types, transmission, links to cancer and testing
Supporting people with dementia who mobilise excessively around and outside of the home
People with dementia who mobilise around and outside the home can present challenges
How to support nursing students to develop community care planning skills
Nurses and nursing students should learn the principles of effective care planning
Ethical challenges in delivering person-centred care
Exploring normative ethics and teleological ethics and how they are applied in everyday care
How to make clear and compelling written arguments: advice for nurses
In healthcare clearly formulated arguments can mean nurses’ efforts are directed effectively
Dengue fever
Nurses involved in travel health should be aware of the signs of dengue fever and what to do
Tracheostomy care in community settings
Risks associated with tracheostomy cannot be eliminated, but they can be addressed
Continuing professional development: lymphoma in primary care
This article summarises the diagnosis, treatment and long-term consequences of lymphoma
Understanding the health risks of varicella zoster virus in pregnancy
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a common illness that causes varicella (chickenpox) and shingles. It is prevalent mostly during childhood but there are additional co-morbidities from this disease for a woman and her fetus, if she contracts it during pregnancy. Many developed countries vaccinate children who have not acquired immunity to prevent their developing complicated varicella as adults. Countries that have implemented widespread vaccination have fewer hospital admissions for such complications. The UK does not have a national VZV vaccination programme and there is no strategy for reporting and documenting the incidence of the illness, so it is difficult to determine the potential prevalence of gestational VZV and its associated outcomes. The aim of this article is to provide an understanding of the aetiology of VZV and the potential health risks to unimmune women who may contact it during pregnancy, to advise them about their healthcare choices.
Increasing use of long-acting contraception in primary care
Long-acting, reversible contraception is a safe and effective way to control fertility, enabling women to have the sex life they want without the risk of pregnancy. Nurses working in primary care are important in providing contraception and promoting long-acting methods. Actively reviewing staff’s knowledge about the accessibility and availability of all contraceptive methods and identifying any gaps informs decisions concerning investment in their training and development. Sexual health and the provision of contraception, as well as the promotion of long-acting contraception, can be achieved by embracing social media and technology, not only with the practice population but with staff accessing e-learning and training pathways.