Resources

RCN documents and publications

Measuring for quality in health and social care. An RCN position statement (PDF 67.9KB)
This information sets out the RCN's position in relation to quality and its measurement and outlines the RCN's input on this issue. Designed to be of value to those for whom quality and its measurement is integral to their day-to-day work, it will also assist the wider health and social community to understand the contribution that nursing makes in this arena.
UK-wide RCN work stream: quality standards indicators (PDF 75.4KB)
A diagram showing the partnerships the RCN has with other organisations to help improve the quality of nursing care.
Clinical practice guideline: The recognition and assessment of acute pain in children - update of full guideline (PDF 5.2MB)
In 2000, the RCN produced guidance on how to measure, assess and appropriately respond to acute pain in children. Following a full review of the published evidence, the guidelines have now been completely revised and updated, and now include a new section on assessing pain in children with cognitive impairments. Endorsed by the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists, the British Pain Society and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the guidance is aimed at professionals, patients and carers who may be involved in the assessment and management of children's pain. It is relevant in all care settings and identifies reliable and valid measures of pain intensity appropriate for neonates, preverbal infants, and verbal and non-verbal children. The guidelines also help practitioners to select the right measurement tools to use in different situations. See also the related web resource (below).
Perioperative fasting in adults and children: an RCN guideline for the multidisciplinary team (full version) (PDF 2.4MB)
Until recently, surgical patients were fasted routinely from food and rink for periods of eight to 12 hours before anaesthesia, despite evidence that shortened perioperative fasts do not increase the risk of a harmful event for the patient. This publication looks at the management of pre- and post-operative fasting in adults and children and provides rcommendations for good practice based on the best available evidence of clinical effectiveness. See also the related web resource (below).