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Ethical practice in dementia care
This article draws on a range of case study examples from dementia care and explains how ethical theory can be applied to enhance professional practice. Ethical concepts are critically examined in this context and tensions between them are explored. The article demonstrates how an established ethica...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Sexuality and sexual intimacy in later life
Sexuality is as important in older age as it is throughout life, and its expression can be positive, empowering, joyful and life-affirming. The concept of sexuality has many dimensions including identity, need and desire, relationships and behaviour, all of which develop through ageing and life expe...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Recognising and managing non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are organisms that live in water systems, soil and vegetation. Humans come into contact with NTM every day, but relatively few people become unwell as a result. In those that do, pulmonary symptoms are the most common effects. The incidence of NTM pulmonary disease...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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Identifying and managing patients with disease-related malnutrition in primary care
Disease-related malnutrition can be challenging to treat. A disease, its treatment or the consequences of treatment can cause patients to experience a reduction in appetite and the desire to eat, resulting in an inability to consume sufficient food and drink to maintain or improve nutritional status...
Updated: 22 November 2023 -
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Applying public health theory to practice in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Public health has a long history and a contested meaning. Furthermore, public health operates in a social context and its messages may be rejected by the public. Nurses who have a direct public health role, notably those working in the community and in primary care, need to be able to articulate and...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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Helping people live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term condition characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. It is preventable and treatable, but still results in high levels of morbidity and mortality. This affects health service costs, but more importantly it affe...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Nurse prescribing: developing confidence, autonomy and collaboration
Nurse prescribing has been introduced in many countries with benefits for patients, prescribing clinicians and healthcare systems. However, nurse prescribing is not without challenges and the role of nurse prescriber has been debated. Some nurses may be reluctant to take on the role because they are...
Updated: 22 November 2023 -
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How to discuss the human papillomavirus infection with patients in primary care
Human papillomavirus infection is extremely common and is often eliminated by the immune system without being detected or causing harm. However, in some cases, it becomes persistent, and can induce cell changes that may potentially lead to cancer. Despite HPV infection being common, there is a lack ...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Supporting people with dementia who mobilise excessively around and outside of the home
Family carers of people with dementia often report that the person they care for appears to ‘wander’ around or wants to leave the home. Community nurses are in an ideal position to offer guidance and support to carers who may not understand this behaviour. This article discusses the potential reason...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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How to support nursing students to develop community care planning skills
Care planning for patients is an important element of the nurse’s role, yet some nursing students may miss its relevance to their practice. However, they can learn many skills by care planning thoroughly in partnership with patients. They can also expand their knowledge of the wider aspects of holis...
Updated: 19 January 2023
