Quality and Safety eBulletin: RCN highlights

This section of the Quality and Safety eBulletin focuses on the latest RCN news and developments. You will also find relevant material in other themes. For details see Quality and Safety eBulletin.

You can get the latest on quality and safety developments by signing up for our fortnightly email.

Please note: The contents of the RCN highlights page changes each time an eBulletin is issued. But you can access earlier contents using the eBulletin archive.

Some of the resources linked to are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

Latest RCN highlights 2 May 2013

RCN Strategic Plan 2013-18 (PDF 359KB). The Strategic Plan gives a clear picture of what is important to the RCN and this summarised version provides the main highlights. This new strategy sets out how the RCN will seek to make progress over the next five years, from 2013 to 2018.

RCN Strategic Plan 2013-18 Pocket guide (PDF 166KB). A pocket guide to the RCN's new Strategic Plan 2013 to 2018.

Regulating for quality – virtual group of nurses with an interest in the work of CQC and Monitor in England. Are you worried about having a CQC inspection? Do you need to work with your employer to be compliant with Monitor’s license for providers? Do you want your voice heard on how system regulation can enable, and not hinder, the delivery of safe, effective compassionate care? Do you worry about competition in the NHS and profit coming before patients? Want to make sure that the recommendations for the system from the Francis Inquiry are not forgotten? Then please join this virtual group of nurses. Your views, given by email or by phone, will feed into the RCN’s work on system regulation. You’ll also get to hear about what the RCN is up to. Just drop an email to join to: leela.barham@rcn.org.uk.

RCN briefing in advance of the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No. 2) Regulations 2013 – Motion to annul – tabled by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (PDF 380KB). “Guidance for commissioners, setting out how these regulations should be interpreted, must be released as a matter of urgency." This guidance sets out that commissioners will have the freedom to use competition only when it is in the interests of their patients.”

RCN Bulletin – 1 May 2013. This issue looks ahead to Nurses’ Day on 12 May, and includes features on the latest findings from the Frontline First campaign, the innovative work of a member who leads a service helping women manage the debilitating effects of intense radiotherapy, and the vital role RCN members can play in reporting poor care to challenge failing trusts.

Baseline Emergency Staffing Tool (BEST) (PDF 339KB). Between April and Nov 2013 BEST will be available for use but is under continuous evaluation. The aim of the evaluation period is to refine the calculations performed by the tool. During this period if you have questions about the tool or the results generated contact us via eca@rcn.org.uk. It is important we receive your feedback to help us edit the final version for issue in Nov 2013.

Better medicines management. Advice for nursing staff and patients (PDF 758.9KB). This leaflet includes some headline tips for clinicians with a view to optimising the use of medicines and avoiding wastage. Included is a tool to help clinicians assess their effectiveness in talking to patients about medicines as well as a tear-off guide for patients with tips on how to avoid waste and get the most from their medications. This project is supported by MSD.

Better medicines management poster (PDF 183.6KB). This poster is designed to raise awareness of medicines wastage and promote the role both nurses and patients play in reducing waste. This project is supported by MSD.

Frontline first. Nursing on red alert (PDF 887.8KB). The RCN has been examining the impact of financial pressures on the NHS since 2010 through the Frontline First campaign. This is the first report following the publication of Robert Francis QC’s findings into the scandal at Stafford Hospital. This new report warns that the UK is heading for a nursing shortage, identifying six ‘warning lights’ that shouldn’t be ignored as they could have serious implications for health services and patients. The report stresses, that just like at Stafford, there are now numerous and obvious warning signs. However, the RCN has identified eight recommendations that governments and health care organisations across the UK should follow.

Monitor and the NHS provider license. This RCN briefing sets out details on the provider license introduced in April 2013 for Foundation Trusts and issued by Monitor as part of their responsibilities as a sector regulator. The license will also apply to other providers of NHS services from 2014.

Nursing on the move – specialist nursing for patients requiring repatriation and retrieval. RCN guidance (PDF 777.4KB). Repatriation and retrieval nursing is an extremely complex and challenging field. This RCN publication outlines recommendations about educational preparation, plus reinforces the role nurses have at the forefront of patient transportation – especially in the context of increasing centralisation of care and worldwide travel. Nursing on the move covers four main areas of nursing: commercial flight, air ambulance, retrieval, and military. Designed for use by nurses, managers and commissioners, this guidance will help you develop your role or develop a new or existing service, as well as assist in identifying needs within commissioning.

Right blood, right patient, right time. RCN guidance for improving transfusion practice (PDF 343.9KB). Blood transfusion is generally a safe process that saves lives and improves the quality of life for patients. However, there are a number of risks associated with transfusion, as with any other clinical intervention. This newly updated RCN guidance sets out advice for nursing staff in the administration of red blood cells and other components. It is not wholly evidence based but built on recommendations to improve the safety of blood ordering and administration from current national guidelines, including the Serious Hazards of Transfusion reports. This publication covers the transfusion process, the role of the nurse in this process, as well as the role of the transfusion practitioner. Each area includes lots of good practice advice, information on patient monitoring and what to do if you suspect a reaction, plus a comprehensive reference and useful websites section.

Rights, risks and responsibilities in service redesign for vulnerable groups. RCN guidance (PDF 671KB). Designed to support RCN members engaged in service redesign, this publication will help identify issues and mitigate against risks. At 2012 Congress, members debated on the implications of service redesign – the potential loss and fragmentation of specialist knowledge, expertise and staff, and the consequent effect on delivery of high quality services for vulnerable groups such as children, older people and those with learning disabilities or mental health conditions. While aimed primarily at nurses working with vulnerable groups, the core principles identified may be helpful for any member going through a process of service redesign.

Be part of our future. Stand for election to an RCN role. RCN elections 2013 (PDF 1.1MB). This booklet provides information on RCN elections to be held in 2013 and how to stand for election.

RCN: RCN 2013 Annual International Nursing Research Conference. See the presentations from the RCN 2013 Research Society annual international conference. More than 300 delegates from more than 20 countries attended the conference in March 2013. You can view online or download many of the presentations given by speakers for the concurrent sessions, symposia, workshops, keynotes and master classes as well as the posters on the website.

Find out more about the research and innovation events at RCN Congress 2013. You can see the slides shown at research and innovation events at Congress focusing on ‘Contributing to the UK Clinical Research Agenda: Career development and opportunities for clinical research nurses’, ‘Leading innovation in healthcare’ or ‘Caring Conversations: the heart of delivering compassionate care’.

Nurses Day – 12 May 2013. The RCN has launched a new website to celebrate this year’s Nurses’ Day, which takes place on Sunday 12 May. Nurses' Day is an opportunity to celebrate what's great about the nursing profession, share experiences and take time to reflect on all that nurses achieve. The RCN is encouraging members of the public to share their stories of when nursing staff have made a real difference in their lives and the website contains a simple online form to allow people to submit their nursing experiences. The website also contains information about local Nurses’ Day events taking place across the UK, patient and nursing stories, and the opportunity to order Nurses’ Day promotional materials.

NICE Consultation Gateway

The NICE consultation gateway pages provide information about the work that NICE does, current NICE consultations and new topics for guideline and guidance development, and how you can get involved. We will highlight these pages in every bulletin.

You can find out the latest on NICE consultations and new topics in development at Current consultations and topics in development.

RCN events

The RCN organises an annual programme of events and conferences, including RCN Congress, to support all health care professionals with their personal and professional development. See: