Public health - RCN support
Products and services
Here is an alphabetical listing of RCN products and services relating to this clinical governance theme. We make clear in the description for each entry whether the product or service is available exclusively to RCN members.
Public Health Forum
The RCN Public Health Forum is an amalgamation of five specialist areas - these are public health, occupational health, travel health, TB and sexual health. The aim of the forum is 'to lead on all aspects of public health and take a strategic lead for the development of nursing'.
Currently the forum is calling for examples of innovative public health practice that will highlight the depth and breadth of public health nursing roles. This is for a new publication that will be launched in February 2012 – See the heading ‘Prevent, promote, protect – public health is every nurse’s business’ on the forum’s homepage.
Go to: Public Health Forum.
RCN members can join up to a forum for free online see RCN forums. For details of other RCN communities, see: Nursing specialisms and areas of practice.
RCN leadership programmes
The RCN offers a variety of leadership programmes that can enable practitioners to enhance their practice and to influence health and social care policy at local or national levels. These include a Political Leadership Programme and Leading for Quality Care. There is also an RCN Consultancy Service which can design and develop bespoke programmes.
Go to: RCN leadership programmes.
RCN Learning Zone
The Learning Zone is available to RCN members and aims to provide easy-access learning materials to support professional needs. A wide range of topics is available. For details of the full range access the Learning Zone.
The following learning areas may be of particular interest:
Alcohol and minimal interventions
This learning area aims to raise healthcare awareness of issues around alcohol use and provide learning opportunities for practitioners in any healthcare setting on minimal intervention strategies and techniques. The learning area is available to RCN members.
Go to Alcohol and minimal interventions.
See also the close-up section within this clinical governance resource which is on alcohol misuse.
Dignity introduction
This looks at what person-centred care involves and processes that support this and ensure dignified care. There is an accompanying online resource which builds on the learning from the RCN's 'Dignity: at the heart of everything we do' campaign and signposts RCN and UK wide resources to support dignified care. Go to Dignity.
Exploring leadership
This learning area is based around the need for all practitioners to lead the way in providing patient care and is designed to help everyone achieve their leadership potential.
NICE care - irritable bowel syndrome
Difficulties of dealing with the symptoms of IBS affects a large number of people and impacts on many aspects of their lives. This learning area has been developed around the clinical guideline from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and , along with a related online resource highlights the key recommendations and how people with IBS can be supported. For the online resource see Irritable bowel syndrome.
Sexual health for non-experts
The learning content is specifically aimed at non-specialists and is orientated more to nurses of health care assistants (HCAs) who are likely to come into contact with patients and clients with sexual health needs. The learning area will help you with identifying key issues in sexual health and with identifying local and national services and agencies who specialise in sexual health matters. It will help you with recognising the limits of your competence and role in managing sexual health problems and when to refer to other services and agencies.
Team effectiveness
This learning area can be used to develop a clear understanding of teamwork and team effectiveness, and for improving ways of teamworking.
Telehealth explained
With use of telehealth increasing this will help you to develop a deeper understanding of what telehealth is about and how it might be used in addressing some of the challenging problems in health care delivery such as providing integrated and quality care for people with long-term conditions.
Violence in the workplace
This learning has been primarily developed for nurses and health care support workers - those based in hospital and health care environments as well as lone workers. It includes an in-depth look at dynamic risk assessments.
RCN Principles of Nursing Practice
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, practice development as well as continuing professional development. This online resource provides information about the Principles and their development and resources and ideas to support their use. Go to Principles of Nursing Practice.
Social inclusion
The impact of social exclusion, poverty and social inequalities on health is known to be considerable. This online resource devised by the Royal College of Nursing is for all nurses and health care assistants in all settings and aims to support practice with excluded people and hard to reach communities. It presents key principles for inclusive practice and provides information about agencies, policies and guidance relevant to the UK social inclusion agenda with areas devoted to people who are asylum seekers and refugees, Gypsies and Travellers, sex workers, people with an offending history and people who are homeless, have a learning disability or who have a mental health problem. Experiences of people from these different groups are highlighted and examples of good practice are included. Visit: Social inclusion