You are currently searching within the context of the global site
Search in local site-
Equipping children’s nurses to de-escalate conflict and communicate challenging information
This article considers some of the challenging situations that children’s nurses may encounter when there are tensions and disagreements between the family of the child or young person in their care and the wider professional team. The focus is on disagreements about what some might consider futile critical care. It aims to equip children’s nurses with strategies for dealing with conflict and tensions, and support them to be proactive in identifying situations that might need de-escalation. The options available to support the healthcare team and therefore avoid litigation are explored, while avenues of support available to nursing staff are considered. Suggestions and examples of effective and skilful communication with families receiving challenging news are provided. The legal position designed to safeguard children’s nurses is reviewed and practical strategies are offered to support nurses to protect themselves from physical violence if the situation escalates.
-
Applying transformational leadership in nursing practice
The updated Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards of proficiency for nurses emphasise the importance of nurse leadership, while the NHS has also developed models to support leadership development. There are several approaches to leadership that are applicable in nursing practice. Transformational leadership is an approach that focuses on the attributes and behaviours of the leader required to empower and motivate team members. This article outlines the four elements of transformational leadership – idealised influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualised consideration – and discusses these in relation to the NMC standards. It also describes the advantages and disadvantages of transformational leadership, and suggests ways that this approach can be applied in nursing practice.
-
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.
-
Biological basis of child health 11: anatomy, physiology and development of the senses
This article, the 11th in the Biological basis of child health series, focuses on the senses. There are five basic senses in humans: hearing, sight, touch, smell and taste. Several congenital and acquired conditions can affect the senses and may have significant negative effects on a child’s development and ability to communicate with others.This article explores each of the five senses, discussing their anatomy, physiology and embryological development, as well as common conditions affecting sensory function in children. It aims to provide children’s nurses with an understanding of the role of the senses in supporting children to make sense of the world, and how knowledge of this can be linked to clinical practice.
-
Biological basis of child health 9: development of the liver and clinical features of childhood liver disease
This article is the ninth in a series on the biological basis of child health and follows on from the previous article, which discussed the gastrointestinal system. The liver is the largest solid organ in the body and has more than 500 functions. These functions include: producing bile, which serves as a vehicle for waste products and as an aid for the digestion of dietary fat; synthesising most coagulation factors, needed in the clotting cascade; and transforming glycogen into glucose for use as energy in cell metabolism. While most liver conditions seen in children are rare, it is important that children’s nurses can identify the clinical features of childhood liver disease. This article provides an overview of the embryological development of the liver, its anatomy and functions, liver function tests in children, and the clinical features and pathophysiology of childhood liver disease.
-
How to give an intramuscular injection to an adult with an intellectual disability
People with intellectual disabilities can have various healthcare needs across their lifespan, which may be closely linked to genetic, biological and/or psychosocial factors. As a result, they may require medicines – some of which may be administered intramuscularly – for various clinical reasons, including as part of the treatment of a range of comorbid physical and mental health conditions. Additionally, this population may not fully understand why certain medicines are administered via the intramuscular (IM) route, nor the potential risks that are involved. Some people with intellectual disabilities may find it distressing to receive medicines via this route, and they may depend on others when making decisions in relation to IM injections. Therefore, it is important for nurses to establish a rapport with patients with intellectual disabilities and gain their consent for the procedure. Nurses also require knowledge of the preparation and administration of IM injections to ensure positive health outcomes.This article aims to enhance intellectual disability nurses’ knowledge of this procedure, and to explain how they can mitigate the potential physical and psychological effects that IM injections may have for people with intellectual disabilities.
-
Understanding status epilepticus and its treatment in the community
Status epilepticus (SE) is a complication of epilepsy characterised by prolonged or repeated seizures. It is a life-threatening condition that requires the immediate administration of a rescue medicine. If given promptly, rescue medicines can reduce the duration of seizures and support SE cessation. Buccal midazolam is the recommended first-line treatment for SE in the community in people who have had a previous episode of prolonged or serial convulsive seizures. Therefore, it is crucial that all those who care for people with learning disabilities who have epilepsy in the community – including family members, friends and professional carers – receive support, training and guidance in the administration of buccal midazolam. This article provides an overview of the treatment of SE in the community, including the administration of buccal midazolam.
-
Effective management of type 1 diabetes in children and young people
Type 1 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes among children and young people, and requires careful management to ensure that blood glucose levels stay as close as possible to the target range. Suboptimal management can lead to serious health consequences, including damage to various organs and body systems. Many children with type 1 diabetes are not diagnosed until they develop diabetic ketoacidosis, which is distressing and potentially life-threatening.This article provides an overview of the management of type 1 diabetes in children and young people, including the insulin replacement therapy and dietary management required. It also emphasises the importance of regular and ongoing monitoring of blood glucose levels, quarterly measurement of glycated haemoglobin, and the management of hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia.
-
Supporting people with learning disabilities to receive subcutaneous injections
The average life expectancy of people with learning disabilities has increased and many of these individuals will experience long-term and potentially life-limiting conditions such as diabetes mellitus, cancer or arthritis. To manage these conditions and any associated complications medicine injections may be required, and many of these will be administered via the subcutaneous route.Learning disability nurses may sometimes need to administer subcutaneous injections as part of the care they provide and should therefore have the knowledge and skills required to undertake this procedure safely and effectively. In addition, learning disability nurses need to understand the principles of safe medicines administration, the equipment required for subcutaneous injections and the potential complications associated with the procedure.This article outlines the best practice for administering subcutaneous injections in people with learning disabilities and explains how nurses can support these individuals before, during and after this procedure.
-
Biological basis of child health 8: development of the gastrointestinal system and associated childhood conditions
This article is the eighth in a series on the biological basis of child health. It describes the embryological development of the gastrointestinal (GI) system and some of the structural anomalies that may arise during that time and later affect GI functioning. The article also discusses the functions of the GI tract – including ingestion, digestion, absorption and defecation – and explains how these relate to GI conditions seen in infants and children. GI conditions are common in childhood and some of these will be medical emergencies, so it is important that children’s nurses have knowledge of the GI system and of the presentation and management of GI conditions in children.
