Public health - RCN support

Publications

The following are selected publications from the RCN and are downloadable from the RCN website.
Other titles can be accessed from the RCN website.

The lists on the RCN website are arranged in alphabetical order of title. The following list is arranged firstly by publication date order (most recent first), and then alphabetically by title.

All publications are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

Going upstream: nursing’s contribution to public health: prevent, promote and protect. RCN guidance for nurses (PDF 342KB) (2012)
In public health,‘upstream approaches’ seek the causes of disease and preventable disability in order to address problems through prevention, rather than treatment. This publication aims to help RCN members and other health professionals navigate their way upstream, particularly service planners and commissioners of health services, tasked with finding cost effective solutions to the problems caused by unhealthy lifestyles and behaviours. Case studies are included which can help service planners and commissioners exploit the power of nursing to help shift the overall performance in the NHS in moving away from episodic acute care towards prevention and self-care.
Four main sections in the document cover: setting the public health scene in the UK; celebrating the diversity of approaches to public health in each of the four UK countries; a framework to for engaging actively in upstream nursing; innovation in upstream nursing with examples of good practice from RCN members.

RCN’s UK position statement on school nursing (PDF 240.5KB) (2012)
Whilst each government in the four UK countries is mandated to respond individually to the health needs of its population and structure its health services appropriately, the RCN’s position is that there is a set of common core values in relation to the future of school nursing across all parts of the UK. This publication details the RCN’s position for school nursing across the UK and provides details on the context for reform throughout all four nations. It also provides information on the College’s position on the development of the school nursing workforce.

Role of school nurses in providing emergency contraception services in educational settings: RCN position statement (PDF 1.06MB) (2012)
The role of school nurses has extended to provide emergency contraception and advice on sexual health to school-age students in education settings, following OFSTED’s report on sex and relationship education in schools (2006). This updated RCN position statement aims to clarify the responsibilities of school nurses when they are providing emergency contraception to students in education settings. It also highlights the importance of appropriate training, experience and working together with education providers and looks at the laws around providing emergency contraception to under 16s and the duty of confidentiality.

Mental health in children and young people: An RCN toolkit for nurses who are not mental health specialists (PDF 282.5 KB) (2009)
One in 10 children and young people will experience behavioural, emotional and mental health problems at some point in their lives but identifying mental health problems and responding appropriately can prove challenging for nurses working with children and young people. This publication aims to assist those nurses who are not mental health specialists who work with children and young people in community and hospital settings. It will help them in identifying the skills and knowledge they need to recognise and, if necessary, refer children who have problems affecting their mental health.

Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA): RCN guidance for health professionals (PDF 487.4KB) (2011)
The purpose of this guidance is to assist nurses and health care assistants in their assessment, diagnosis, management and prevention of suspected or confirmed Panton-Valentine Leukocidinpositive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA) infections within the household, wider community and health and social care setting (including care homes).

Principles of Nursing Practice poster (PDF 635KB) (2010)
The RCN Principles of Nursing Practice describe what the public can expect from nursing practice in any setting. They can be used as a framework for quality improvement and practice development as well as continuing professional development. In addition to the poster there is a A6 card (PDF 894KB).
For details of the background to, and ongoing work and developments around the Principles see the online resource Principles of Nursing Practice.

RCN response to the Public Health White Paper 'Healthy lives, healthy people: our strategy for public health in England' (PDF 284.0 KB) (2011)
The full response of the RCN to the Public Health White Paper includes an executive summary, responses to individual chapters and specific consultations questions within the white paper and the results of the consultation survey carried out by the RCN.
Executive summary (PDF 78.6KB).

RCN's UK position on health visiting in the early years (2011) (PDF 576KB)
In August 2010 the RCN published 'Pillars of the community: the RCN UK position on the development of the registered nursing workforce in the community'. This position statement builds on that document describing in more detail what this might mean for the future of health visiting in the early years across the UK. Case studies are encompassed in the publication showing exemplars of innovative practice. It is aimed at all RCN members and key stakeholders as well as policy and decision makers. You can access 'Pillars of the community' at community nursing.

School nursing in 2009. Results from a survey of RCN members working in schools in 2009 (PDF 343.4KB)
In 2005 findings from the largest ever survey of school nurses in the UK were published by the RCN showing the breadth and depth of the role, highlighting the wide range of activities undertaken and placing the school nurse at the centre of liaisons with numerous agencies and other professionals working with young people. Four years on, the survey has been repeated to explore how school nursing has changed and what are the issues facing school nurses across the UK in 2009.

Sexual health competences: an integrated career and competency framework for sexual and reproductive health nursing across the UK (PDF 986.9 KB) (2009)
The sexual health of people in the UK today is a serious concern. Against this background there is now an increasing need for competencies for sexual and reproductive health nurses from primary, secondary and community care settings across the UK. This publication outlines a framework of competencies and is designed to help nurses to provide safe, effective and accountable care to clients. It is not prescriptive, but acts as a template that can be modified to suit local and individual need. It can be used to help managers and individual nurses to review their strengths and identify gaps in their competence and specific training and development needs.

RCN toolkit for school nurses: developing your practice to support children and young people in educational settings (2008) (PDF 285.9KB)
The publication aims to highlight the public health role of the school nurse and to disseminate best practice. As well as guidance on school health profiling, it covers infection control, travel health, safeguarding children and risk assessment. It also includes information on management and professional accountability, and on audit.

Nurses as partners in delivering public health (2007) (PDF 158KB)
Published by an alliance of organisations, the Public Health Alliance, this paper aims to support the nursing contribution to public health. It highlights how nurses can strengthen their positions to better influence the health of communities, and includes examples of innovative work already taking place.

Getting it right for children and young people: a self-assessment tool for practice nurses (2006) (PDF 1.7MB)
This self-assessment tool is arranged in two parts. Part one links to the 'Common core of skills and knowledge for the children's workforce' (DfES, 2005). Part two highlights the key clinical skills and knowledge required to address the needs of children and young people presenting with acute illness and injury, as well as the environment for care.

Childhood vaccination factfile (2004) (PDF 2MB)
The purpose of this information pack is to provide healthcare professionals with accurate information, covering all key aspects of the immunisation of children.

RCN sexual health strategy: guidance for nursing staff (2001) (PDF 336KB)
The strategy outlines key elements to consider in promoting sexual health nursing and establishes a clear vision for nurses in all fields. It is aimed at nursing staff working across a range of settings from hospital to care home, and is intended to help shape and inform their nursing practice.