Latest publications
Nursing dashboards - measuring quality (PDF 1.1 MB)
Publication code: 004 198
Publication date: 26 January 2012
ISBN:
Abstract:
This report summarises key messages from the nursing dashboard summit held by the RCN on 3 June 2011. The objective of a clinical dashboard is to provide a realtime, or near realtime, measure of nursing quality. Feedback from the summit also helped to detail how the RCN's Principles of Nursing Practice can be used to align and underpin dashboards, as they are applicable to all nursing staff across all four countries.
Essential practice for infection prevention and control (PDF 669.4 KB)
Publication code: 004 166
Publication date: 23 January 2012
ISBN: 978-1-906633-92-9
Abstract:
The prevention and management of infection is the responsibility of all staff working in health and social care, and is an integral element of patient safety programmes. Health and social care settings can provide a challenging environment in which to manage risks associated with the transfer of micro-organisms from patient to patient or between the environment, equipment, staff and patients. Understanding how infections occur and how different micro-organisms act and spread is crucial to preventing infections. This publication provides important information and guidance on the essential principles of infection prevention and control and highlights why other issues, such as hydration and nutrition, should be viewed as an essential complementary component of nursing practice. It provides an overview of the core elements and rationale for infection practice and associated activities and is applicable to all nurses, midwives and health care assistants, regardless of their practice setting.
Putting quality into the Care Quality Commission (PDF 604.8 KB)
Publication code: 004 208
Publication date: 16 January 2012
ISBN:
Abstract:
This report details the findings from a recent survey of more than 5,000 RCN members around the health care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It found that although nurses support the CQC and welcome the improvements it has recently made, there is more work to do to fully understand issues such as staffing levels and skill mix when undertaking assessments.
Lone worker survey 2011 (PDF 1.9 MB)
Publication code: 004 192
Publication date: 4 January 2012
ISBN: 978-1-906633-94-3
Abstract:
A new survey was commissioned by the RCN in 2011, supported by a grant from Reliance High-Tech Ltd and Connexion2 (the organisations awarded with government contracts to provide lone worker solutions to the NHS). The survey was undertaken jointly by the RCN and Sheffield Hallam University. The results from this survey are reported in this publication and will be used to inform future RCN action and policy developments around improving lone worker safety. The results of the survey show that over 60 per cent of nurses surveyed (nearly 800 RCN members) have been subjected to abuse in the past two years while working in the community. Six in ten (60.3 percent) nurses had suffered verbal abuse in the last two years, while one in ten (10.7 percent) had been victims of physical abuse. Almost nine out of ten (89 percent) nurses said that their employer had a lone worker policy in place and of those, over three quarters (77.6 percent) had been provided with a copy. Therefore, while some progress has made around lone working policies and prevention strategies over the last four years, there is clearly still more to be done.
Speaking out. Whistleblowing hotline (PDF 536.4 KB)
Publication code: 004 173
Publication date: 12 December 2011
ISBN:
Abstract:
The RCN is here to help you give the best care you can, to help you protect patients and to protect you if you raise concerns over patient care.
In-flight medicines: guidance for management and adminstration (PDF 396.4 KB)
Publication code: 004 120
Publication date: 9 December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-906633-87-5
Abstract:
There is significant confusion around issues of drug administration in the in-flight or aeromedical setting. This guidance aims to clarify the issue of medicines management and the administration of medicines in the in-flight setting, and advises on the best practice required to work within the current UK law at time of writing. The aim of this guidance paper is to clarify the issues around drug administration by outlining: • the classes and categories of medicines and the implications of these • the practice and legal issues around drug administration • the risks associated with drug administration in the in-flight environment • the options for best practice to enhance patient care and maintain safety.
Sharps safety (PDF 843.9 KB)
Publication code: 004 135
Publication date: 29 November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-906633-90-5
Abstract:
The RCN has a long history of campaigning on improved protection for nurses and other health care professionals exposed to the risk of needlestick and other sharps injuries. This guidance has been developed primarily for RCN safety representatives, but other members of the nursing team with a role in infection prevention and control of sharps injuries may also find it useful. The guidance covers the law on sharps injuries, including the European Directive 2010/32/EU and its underlying principles as well as its requirements on health care providers. It also includes information on preparing your organisation, introducing risk assessments, selecting and evaluating safety-engineered devices and it details what employers should be doing to comply with the directive and minimise the risk of sharps injuries. It also includes a checklist to help safety representatives assess organisational and ward/departmental level compliance with the directive.
Competences: for nurses undertaking bimanual pelvic examinations (PDF 592.3 KB)
Publication code: 004 134
Publication date: 24 November 2011
ISBN: 987-1-906633-81-3
Abstract:
Nurses working in sexual and reproductive health are increasingly extending their role, benefitting both the nurses and their client groups. The ability to carry out pelvic and bimanual examinations is now a key requirement for nurses working in these specialisms in primary, secondary and community care. The purpose of this competency framework is to ensure that women requiring a pelvic exam are cared for safely and that training and assessment processes are in line with local guidance.
Competences: for nurses assessing and counselling women who request and/or receive long-acting reversible methods of contraception (LARC) (PDF 735.9 KB)
Publication code: 004 122
Publication date: 24 November 2011
ISBN: 987-1-906633-80-6
Abstract:
Aimed at sexual and reproductive health practitioners this new set of competences is aimed at nurses who are assessing and counselling women who have requested or received long-acting reversible methods of contraception (LARC). The purpose of this competency framework is to ensure such women are cared for safely and helps professionals to identify their training needs, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to undertake the delivery of contraception services competently and safely.
Community nursing: transforming health care (PDF 776.5 KB)
Publication code: 004 165
Publication date: 18 November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-906633-89-9
Abstract:
Nurses who work in the community are facing significant challenges during this time of health reform and demands to make financial savings. While this is so for all nurses, regardless of their workplace, media and political attention is often focussed on hospital care, and community services remain less visible. As a result there is little understanding of what constitutes community nursing, the range of roles covered, and the principles that underpin the development of nursing services that are suitable to serve their communities well. Within this publication, the RCN highlights the excellent work carried out by community nurses 52 weeks a year and seven days a week so that they have a chance of acquiring a similar profile to those nurses who do equally important, but different work in hospitals. The RCN wants these case studies of excellent community nursing to inform, inspire and persuade people to scrutinise their current community nursing services and identify how they can be both expanded and enhanced – for the benefit of their local population.
Frontline First November 2011 update (PDF 1.3 MB)
Publication code: 004 199
Publication date: 18 November 2011
ISBN:
Abstract:
Despite Government assurances that frontline health care services are being protected, the RCN’s Frontline First campaign continues to identify more and more posts across the UK that have been lost or are at risk. This update from November 2011 contains the latest figures and outlines the RCN’s chief concerns.
Making the business case for ward sisters/team leader to be supervisory to practice (PDF 2.2 MB)
Publication code: 004 188
Publication date: 10 November 2011
ISBN:
Abstract:
The Royal College of Nursing has developed this guidance to help nurse leaders and our members make the business case for ward sisters and team leaders to take up a supervisory role. The guidance looks at the evidence nurse leaders need to complete the business case and is underpinned by the RCN definition of supervisory practice. The publication contains helpful and practical steps for making an effective case to ensure ward sisters and team leaders have dedicated time for improving the quality of care experienced by service users and patients.