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Breaking bad news to patients in the emergency department
Breaking the news of potentially serious and new diagnoses to patients in the emergency department (ED) is a common but challenging aspect of the autonomous practitioner’s role. It is a complex process, requiring expertise and skill. If the news is delivered appropriately there is evidence to sugges...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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How to get care right for people with learning disabilities in the emergency department: ask and engage
Healthcare professionals are legally obliged to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that people, including those with learning disabilities, can access appropriate and timely care. However, although people with learning disabilities are high users of general health services, staff have little unde...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Managing violence and aggression in the emergency department
Half of all reported violent incidents in healthcare settings occur in the emergency department (ED), so ED nurses are disproportionately affected by violence and aggression. Violence and aggression can cause physical injury, psychological harm, delays to patient care, eroded staff morale, increased...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Meeting the needs of homeless people attending the emergency department
Homelessness is on the rise in the UK and, over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of emergency department (ED) attendances and admissions by homeless people. Those attending the ED will often have multiple unmet health, housing and social care needs. While it is...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Continuing professional development: lymphoma in primary care
Lymphoma encompasses a heterogeneous group of haematological malignancies that require complex management. Patients with lymphoma experience a wide range of physical, social and emotional issues.This article summarises the diagnosis, treatment and long-term consequences of lymphoma, and outlines the...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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Sepsis: an overview of the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and pathophysiology
Sepsis is a common phenomenon surrounded by uncertainty and misunderstanding. The urgency for treatment is complicated by the vagueness of signs and symptoms and lack of a conclusive diagnostic test. This article unpicks the signs and symptoms of sepsis with guidance for emergency department nurses ...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Clinical assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms in adults
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) result from conditions and diseases that affect the bladder and the urethra, and can occur in men and women of all ages. LUTS can be debilitating and affect a person’s quality of life significantly. This article describes the definitions and classification of vari...
Updated: 22 November 2023 -
rcn-learn
Nursing patients with acute aortic dissection in emergency departments
Acute aortic dissection is an emergency condition that is often missed during initial assessment. Delay in diagnosis increases mortality, but the presentation can mimic several more common conditions. Emergency practitioners must maintain a high index of suspicion in patients who present with chest ...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Supporting staff who are second victims after adverse healthcare events
Healthcare delivery is challenging and complex, At some point, most healthcare professionals, including nurses, will be directly or indirectly involved in adverse events, such as medication errors, patient safety incidents, witnessing adverse events and near misses. While the patient is considered t...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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‘Guiding Lights for effective workplace cultures’: enhancing the care environment for staff and patients in older people’s care settings
While much attention has been given to organisational culture, there has been less focus on workplace culture. Yet workplace culture strongly influences the way care is delivered, received and experienced. An effective workplace culture is crucial for the well-being of individual staff members and t...
Updated: 5 September 2024
