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Using a structured clinical assessment to identify the cause of chest pain
Chest pain is a common reason for patient presentation to emergency departments and visits to primary care settings. While most causes of chest pain are not life-threatening, a small proportion require urgent intervention, particularly cardiac conditions such as acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, i...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Effective approaches to health promotion in nursing practice
This article defines the concept of health promotion and explains why it is essential for nurses to embed health promotion aims and values in their practice. It discusses how health promotion contributes to the improvement and maintenance of population health and contemporary public health agendas i...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Assessment, diagnosis and management of constipation
Constipation is a common, treatable condition that can be experienced by all age groups. This article outlines the different types of constipation and explains how the condition is diagnosed. A comprehensive and person-centred assessment is fundamental to identifying constipation, and should include...
Updated: 16 November 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 -
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Cardiac pacing: principles, interventions and patient support
Cardiac pacing is used to treat a variety of heart rhythm irregularities or arrhythmias, most commonly bradyarrhythmia, which is characterised by an abnormally slow heart rate. Temporary and permanent pacemakers work by sending intermittent electric impulses to the heart muscle, stimulating it to co...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Understanding the elements of a holistic wound assessment
Wounds have become a significant public health challenge and consume a large amount of healthcare resources. Wounds can have severe negative effects on patients’ quality of life, causing psychological and social distress, and may lead to significant periods of lost employment, resulting in financial...
Updated: 16 November 2023 -
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Acute coronary syndrome: role of the nurse in patient assessment and management
Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity and hospitalisation in the UK and worldwide. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a serious manifestation of coronary heart disease. ACS encompasses several conditions that represent acute injury or damage to the myocardium, including ST-...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Respiratory assessment: undertaking a physical examination of the chest in adults
Nurses frequently encounter patients in respiratory distress or with respiratory complications, whether from acute disease or a long-term condition. A physical examination of the chest should be conducted as part of a comprehensive respiratory assessment of the patient, and should follow a systemati...
Updated: 22 November 2023 -
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Practising cultural humility to promote person and family-centred care
The concept of cultural humility in nursing involves an awareness of diversity and how an individual’s culture can affect their health behaviours. Nurses can use this awareness to develop sensitive, tailored and person-centred approaches to patient care, which ultimately contribute to a positive hea...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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Heel pressure ulcers: understanding why they develop and how to prevent them
Because of its anatomical location and the fact that it has no muscle or fascia and little subcutaneous tissue, the heel is highly vulnerable to pressure damage and pressure ulcer development. Heel pressure ulcers are often severe and challenging to heal. Heel pressure ulcers are caused by factors s...
Updated: 22 November 2023
