Unless we ensure that the ‘C’ of competence in the six Cs is considered as important as care and compassion, we risk being viewed as nothing more than kind people who ‘do what the computer says’. This could ultimately lead to a redundant profession, with care assistants and technicians filling the void. We must be sure to place the same importance on clinical knowledge and judgement as on the softer nursing skills that have dominated recent debate. Michael Adams, associate head of nursing, midwifery and social work, Birmingham City University
A GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR SAFE, HEALTHY AND NOURISHED EATERS Food Tank wishes Nursing Standard well with its Eat Well, Nurse Well campaign to help nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants stay healthy (rcnpublishing.com/page/ns/ campaigns/eat-well-nurse-well). It chimes with our vision of building a global community for safe, healthy and nourished eaters. To help encourage sustainable eating, Food Tank has selected 20 books that entertain, inform and reaffirm the importance of food and agriculture (tinyurl.com/khanqyp). From sustainable seafood and ethical eating to field guides for food activists, these books highlight innovative and creative methods that are educating and informing eaters and consumers. If you have any books that are inspiring you, please let us know. Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank,
@Food_Tank
NURSES ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa is a global threat. It is of particular concern that many front line medical personnel are being infected, with nurses who have close contact with patients at particular risk. Nurses care for their patients regardless of their diseases or the risks involved. For new, emerging diseases,
particularly those where the modes of transmission are poorly understood, it may be difficult to prevent infection. Nurses generally have more close contact with patients than other medical personnel such as physicians. Good training and adequate protection and equipment are required. Urgent international assistance is required to end this outbreak, with a focus on the care of nursing and medical personnel who have to work with the infection. The lessons learned from previous Ebola outbreaks show there is a need to protect staff physically and emotionally. In addition, information on the infection should be systematically collected and provided to all the relevant personnel and agencies. Viroj Wiwanitkit, visiting professor, Hainan Medical University, China
IF EBOLA WERE TO BECOME AIRBORNE, IT WOULD BE A GLOBAL CATASTROPHE The global systems that sound the alarm on emerging epidemics such as Ebola need to be revamped (News October 1). The alerts were slow in coming and too late to cut off the epidemic at source. The longer the epidemic is allowed to develop, the more likely it is that the virus will mutate. If Ebola were to mutate into a virus capable of airborne transmission, it would be a global catastrophe. Christine Clark, by email
CORRECTION Last week’s cover (October 1) incorrectly described Estephanie Dunn, the new RCN regional director for north west England, as the college’s ‘first female BME regional director’. In fact she is the third black and minority ethnic regional director. Jennette Arnold was senior officer of the then North East Thames region in London from 1991 to 1994, and Sharon Dennis was regional co-director for south east England from 2004 to 2009. Nursing Standard apologises for the error.
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Ebola on social media shows some revealing insights bit.ly/ YHbnQI. Participation going down as cases continue to grow @rdjfraser
Graphic: How much we spend on cancers against how deadly they are i100.io/ws0ulAY @thei100
NHS funding is falling as a percentage of GDP. The NHS is not safe with Cameron/Clegg. Their priorities lie elsewhere @peoplesNHSni
@RichH1337 @cpeedell None of 4 majors can be trusted with the NHS, but be sure that you CAN trust the National Health Action Party @NHAparty @Gerrysea
Does your MP #engage with you as constituent #nurse? #RCNreps know every MP has at least 1000 RCN members as #voters fairpay matters 2 them @e1ucidate
Good meeting with @NHSour and GPs at our surgery today – cathartic to express our views about all our problems in the NHS but what to do? @RjtaylorGrech
Trouble for trailblazing hospital. Patients neglected at privately run NHS hospital, watchdog finds gu.com/p/42vg8/tw via @guardian @denis_campbell
Follow Nursing Standard @NurseStandard and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD 8 :: vol 29without no 6 ::permission. 2014 33 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jul 23, 2016. For personal use october only. No other uses Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
A GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR SAFE, HEALTHY AND NOURISHED EATERS Food Tank wishes Nursing Standard well with its Eat Well, Nurse Well campaign to help nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants stay healthy (rcnpublishing.com/page/ns/ campaigns/eat-well-nurse-well). It chimes with our vision of building a global community for safe, healthy and nourished eaters. To help encourage sustainable eating, Food Tank has selected 20 books that entertain, inform and reaffirm the importance of food and agriculture (tinyurl.com/khanqyp). From sustainable seafood and ethical eating to field guides for food activists, these books highlight innovative and creative methods that are educating and informing eaters and consumers. If you have any books that are inspiring you, please let us know. Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank,
@Food_Tank
NURSES ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa is a global threat. It is of particular concern that many front line medical personnel are being infected, with nurses who have close contact with patients at particular risk. Nurses care for their patients regardless of their diseases or the risks involved. For new, emerging diseases,
particularly those where the modes of transmission are poorly understood, it may be difficult to prevent infection. Nurses generally have more close contact with patients than other medical personnel such as physicians. Good training and adequate protection and equipment are required. Urgent international assistance is required to end this outbreak, with a focus on the care of nursing and medical personnel who have to work with the infection. The lessons learned from previous Ebola outbreaks show there is a need to protect staff physically and emotionally. In addition, information on the infection should be systematically collected and provided to all the relevant personnel and agencies. Viroj Wiwanitkit, visiting professor, Hainan Medical University, China
IF EBOLA WERE TO BECOME AIRBORNE, IT WOULD BE A GLOBAL CATASTROPHE The global systems that sound the alarm on emerging epidemics such as Ebola need to be revamped (News October 1). The alerts were slow in coming and too late to cut off the epidemic at source. The longer the epidemic is allowed to develop, the more likely it is that the virus will mutate. If Ebola were to mutate into a virus capable of airborne transmission, it would be a global catastrophe. Christine Clark, by email
CORRECTION Last week’s cover (October 1) incorrectly described Estephanie Dunn, the new RCN regional director for north west England, as the college’s ‘first female BME regional director’. In fact she is the third black and minority ethnic regional director. Jennette Arnold was senior officer of the then North East Thames region in London from 1991 to 1994, and Sharon Dennis was regional co-director for south east England from 2004 to 2009. Nursing Standard apologises for the error.
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Ebola on social media shows some revealing insights bit.ly/ YHbnQI. Participation going down as cases continue to grow @rdjfraser
Graphic: How much we spend on cancers against how deadly they are i100.io/ws0ulAY @thei100
NHS funding is falling as a percentage of GDP. The NHS is not safe with Cameron/Clegg. Their priorities lie elsewhere @peoplesNHSni
@RichH1337 @cpeedell None of 4 majors can be trusted with the NHS, but be sure that you CAN trust the National Health Action Party @NHAparty @Gerrysea
Does your MP #engage with you as constituent #nurse? #RCNreps know every MP has at least 1000 RCN members as #voters fairpay matters 2 them @e1ucidate
Good meeting with @NHSour and GPs at our surgery today – cathartic to express our views about all our problems in the NHS but what to do? @RjtaylorGrech
Trouble for trailblazing hospital. Patients neglected at privately run NHS hospital, watchdog finds gu.com/p/42vg8/tw via @guardian @denis_campbell
Follow Nursing Standard @NurseStandard and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD 8 :: vol 29without no 6 ::permission. 2014 33 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jul 23, 2016. For personal use october only. No other uses Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
