Search
You are currently searching within the context of the global site
Search in local site-
Understanding equality and diversity in nursing practice
Equality and diversity are terms that are used frequently in nursing, healthcare and workplace settings. Nurses’ professional standards of practice and behaviour are underpinned by values of equality and diversity. This means that nurses must treat people as individuals, avoid making assumptions about them, recognise diversity and individual choice, and respect and uphold their dignity and human rights. This article explores what equality and diversity mean in nursing practice, the legal framework that underpins these terms, and the inequalities and discrimination that patients and staff may experience in health and social care settings. It discusses the role of organisational culture in supporting nurses to uphold the values of equality and diversity and encourages nurses to reflect on this topic to enhance their practice.
-
Understanding the relevance of human rights in healthcare and nursing practice
While the NHS aims to respect the human rights of every individual, it also has a wider social duty to promote equality in the services it provides. This means that the rights of individual patients are not absolute, because the aim of the NHS is to improve the overall health and well-being of the nation. For example, certain treatments may be withheld from individuals because of the excessive cost to the NHS, or concerns about its clinical effectiveness. This article explains the origins of human rights and their function, and examines the relationship between nursing care and human rights.
-
Care of patients undergoing the removal of an indwelling urinary catheter
An indwelling urinary (Foley) catheter may be used in the management of various urological conditions, such as intractable incontinence and urinary retention, or as part of treatment regimens such as chemotherapy. Although some catheters may be required for long-term use, healthcare practitioners should regularly assess whether the device is still necessary and if it can be removed. This is because urinary catheters are a highly invasive intervention and their use is associated with a range of potential complications, including healthcare-associated infection and trauma to the neck of the bladder. This article outlines the procedure for the safe removal of a urinary catheter, including the patient care and monitoring required before, during and after this procedure. It also explains the complications that are associated with catheter removal and how these can be prevented and managed.
-
Management of haemorrhage and haemorrhagic shock
Haemorrhage is defined as the acute loss of blood from the circulating volume, while haemorrhagic shock is characterised by suboptimal perfusion caused by bleeding. Their prompt recognition and management is vital to ensure optimal outcomes. This article discusses the assessment and management of patients experiencing haemorrhage and developing haemorrhagic shock. It also outlines how these conditions are classified, and explains their pathophysiology. The article emphasises the importance of a thorough ABCDE (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure) assessment and prompt identification of the source of bleeding, along with the initial management of a patient who is bleeding.
-
Understanding nurses’ responsibilities in promoting equality and diversity
Nurses have a duty to promote the values of equality and diversity during their interactions with patients and their families and carers, as well as peers and colleagues. This article defines the terms equality, diversity and inclusion, and explains the importance of the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 in protecting people from various types of discrimination. It also outlines nurses’ responsibilities in promoting equality and diversity by treating all patients and colleagues with respect and dignity, providing compassionate leadership, and practising in accordance with the ethical principle of justice. The article encourages and empowers nurses to recognise and challenge discrimination wherever they see it, thereby delivering high-quality care to all patients.
-
Enhancing the quality of clinical supervision in nursing practice
Clinical supervision has been an aspect of nursing practice in various forms for several years; however, it remains challenging to ensure its widespread implementation across healthcare organisations. There is an increasingly evident need for formalised support in nurses’ busy practice settings, so it is important to improve the quality of clinical supervision in healthcare. This will also assist nurses in providing evidence of their continuing professional development as part of revalidation. This article provides an overview of clinical supervision, outlining its features and functions in healthcare practice. It includes three case studies related to group clinical supervision, discussing how this was implemented in each case and the various methods of group-working that were used.
-
Care of the critically ill patient with a tracheostomy
Tracheostomy insertion and management is increasingly common in critical care units and general wards. Therefore, it is important that nurses are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the individual needs of patients with a tracheostomy safely and competently. This article aims to enhance nurses’ understanding of the potential challenges that patients with a tracheostomy may experience, and to guide nurses in providing effective care and support to these patients. It outlines the care that should be provided for patients with a tracheostomy who are critically ill, including methods of humidification and endotracheal suctioning. This article also discusses the effects that a tracheostomy may have on a patient’s communication and psychological well-being, and explains the actions that nurses should take in an emergency and if complications occur.
-
Managing challenging conversations by telephone with people living with cancer
Nurses working in cancer care can often find themselves engaged in challenging conversations with patients and their family members or carers. These conversations can cover a range of emotive subjects due to the negative effects of cancer on people and those close to them. Such conversations have become more challenging due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic because increasingly they have had to be conducted over the telephone.This article examines some of the psychological effects of cancer and considers some ways in which nurses can engage in challenging telephone conversations with patients with cancer, including the use of mnemonic frameworks. The article also explores the importance of nurses’ self-care and how this can underpin safe practice.
-
Exploring the therapeutic relationship in nursing theory and practice
The therapeutic relationship is widely regarded as central to nursing practice, yet the concept is so familiar that it is easily taken for granted. However, like any relationship, a therapeutic relationship cannot be assumed, and to be therapeutic it requires investment from both nurse and service user. This article outlines the theoretical background and fundamental components of the therapeutic relationship, such as self-awareness, reflection and professionalism. The author also describes the skills required to develop therapeutic relationships with service users and introduces a new mnemonic – ATTACH – which encapsulates some of these qualities and skills.
-
Using cultural safety to enhance nursing care for people with a learning disability
Culture has an important role at every level of healthcare. It can have a significant effect on the interactions between nurses, other staff members in the multidisciplinary team, people with learning disabilities and their family members.This article outlines the concept of cultural safety and how it can enable learning disability nurses to work more effectively with people with a learning disability and their families. The authors provide specific tools which learning disability nurses can use to ensure that they consider diversity when providing care, thereby enhancing healthcare outcomes.
