Managing director Rhonda Oliver Editor in chief Jean Gray Editor Graham Scott Deputy editors Elaine Cole, Janet Snell Assistant editor Roger Evans
Editorial
ART&SCIENCE Editor Gwen Clarke Deputy editor Tanya Fernandes Clinical editor Noreen Begley NEWS & VIEWS News editor Sarah Harrison Deputy news editor Sally Gillen Reporters Kat Keogh, Alistair Kleebauer Development editor Frances Pickersgill Features editor Thelma Agnew Reflections editor Clare Lomas PRODUCTION & DESIGN Head of production Fiona Maclean Senior production editor Julie Hickey Production manager Arnie Beeson Production editors Sarah Howe, Jennifer Oldfield Deputy production editor Justin Stevens Sub editors Yvonne Byron Nour, Joyce McKimm, Jennifer Saunders Art directors Ken McLoone, Paul Swainson Deputy art director Minesh Parmar Designer Sujata Aurora Picture editor Philip Brecht Deputy picture editor Helen Jones Assistant picture editor Karen Gordon Production assistant Annette Taylor-Anderson Ad production executives Sally Gauntlett, Sue Horn IT AND NEW MEDIA Technology director John Day Manager Alex Oldfield Web editor Amanda Carter IT assistant Kerry Taylor ADMINISTRATION Administration manager Maria O’Brien Editorial administrative assistants Sarah Musisi, Jane Yates BUSINESS UNIT Commercial director Tony O’Rourke PA to commercial director Kim Sanders Head of marketing Helen Sumner Deputy head of marketing Michelle Day Events executive Rachel Weeden Subscriptions manager Beryl John Group educational projects manager Laura Downes RGN Advertisement and sponsorship sales manager Neil Hobson Senior sponsorship and advertising specialist Julia Gomersall Advertisement and sponsorship executives Rachel Fisher, Kelly Smith Classified sales manager Andy McCallum Sales project specialist Freddie Collier Classified sales executives Mandy Croggon, Shona Gethin, Pamela Gethin, Stephanie Mackrill SUBSCRIPTIONS
Personal rates from £76.80 a year. Telephone +44 (0)345 772 6100 Institutional rates from £675 a year. Send all enquiries to [email protected] Visit www.nursing-standard.co.uk for details. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
The Heights, 59-65 Lowlands Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex HA1 3AW Tel: +44 (0)20 8423 1333 Fax: +44 (0)20 8872 3197 ISSN 0029-6570 Email: [email protected] You can email staff at Nursing Standard in the following way: (first name).(second name)@rcnpublishing.co.uk Nursing Standard is published every Wednesday by RCN Publishing Company Ltd, the publishing company of the Royal College of Nursing. It seeks to promote professional excellence, and encourage creativity and innovation in nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice. Nursing Standard also aims to enhance nurses’ and healthcare assistants’ career development and to help them achieve and maintain a healthy and rewarding working environment. Nursing Standard is editorially independent and the opinions expressed are not those of the RCN or of the contributor’s employing organisation unless specifically stated. Acceptance of an advertisement does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of a product or service, either by the RCN or RCN Publishing.
Graham Scott EDITOR
Leading nurses highlight the truth about nursing Complaints about nurses should be seen as an early warning sign that the quality of care is being eroded, rather than a reason to blame the profession for declining standards. These wise words are not mine, but those of three eminent nurse academics who have written a fascinating feature in this week’s Nursing Standard. The authors are from the United States, the UK and Belgium and their article is based on research they have undertaken in 12 European countries. Surprise, surprise, England’s hospitals scored poorly in almost every measure, with relatively low staffing levels, diluted skill mix and inferior working environments than comparable health systems. As a result, nurses in England are more likely to suffer burnout.
THE RESEARCHERS FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT OUR NURSES ARE UNCARING
Yet to the great credit of England’s nurses, the researchers found no evidence that they are uncaring. Indeed, on one measure they were the most caring of all, with 89 per cent saying they never felt a lack of compassion towards patients. There was no link between an individual nurse’s qualification and their attitude to those in their care, debunking the myth that requiring students study at degree level will produce heartless practitioners. Linda Aiken from the University of Pennsylvania, Anne Marie Rafferty from King’s College London and Walter Sermeus from the Catholic University Leuven have done nursing a great service by conducting their research, which was funded by the European Union. They have provided nurses and their professional leaders with further ammunition in the fight against unjust media reports and politicians’ speeches deriding nurses for failing to care. As they write: ‘Nurses’ concerns about quality of care, patients’ reports of negative care experiences, and press reports about uncaring nurses, are harbingers of declining quality and safety, and should be considered warning signs that austerity measures may be risking harm to patients.’ See page 22 Air your views on
Nursing Standard and
@NScomment
Have your say by joining our weekly Twitter debate. Every Thursday from 12.30 to 1.30 use #NScomment and share your views with other nurses on a hot topic of the day april 30 :: vol 28 no 35 :: 2014 3
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Editorial
ART&SCIENCE Editor Gwen Clarke Deputy editor Tanya Fernandes Clinical editor Noreen Begley NEWS & VIEWS News editor Sarah Harrison Deputy news editor Sally Gillen Reporters Kat Keogh, Alistair Kleebauer Development editor Frances Pickersgill Features editor Thelma Agnew Reflections editor Clare Lomas PRODUCTION & DESIGN Head of production Fiona Maclean Senior production editor Julie Hickey Production manager Arnie Beeson Production editors Sarah Howe, Jennifer Oldfield Deputy production editor Justin Stevens Sub editors Yvonne Byron Nour, Joyce McKimm, Jennifer Saunders Art directors Ken McLoone, Paul Swainson Deputy art director Minesh Parmar Designer Sujata Aurora Picture editor Philip Brecht Deputy picture editor Helen Jones Assistant picture editor Karen Gordon Production assistant Annette Taylor-Anderson Ad production executives Sally Gauntlett, Sue Horn IT AND NEW MEDIA Technology director John Day Manager Alex Oldfield Web editor Amanda Carter IT assistant Kerry Taylor ADMINISTRATION Administration manager Maria O’Brien Editorial administrative assistants Sarah Musisi, Jane Yates BUSINESS UNIT Commercial director Tony O’Rourke PA to commercial director Kim Sanders Head of marketing Helen Sumner Deputy head of marketing Michelle Day Events executive Rachel Weeden Subscriptions manager Beryl John Group educational projects manager Laura Downes RGN Advertisement and sponsorship sales manager Neil Hobson Senior sponsorship and advertising specialist Julia Gomersall Advertisement and sponsorship executives Rachel Fisher, Kelly Smith Classified sales manager Andy McCallum Sales project specialist Freddie Collier Classified sales executives Mandy Croggon, Shona Gethin, Pamela Gethin, Stephanie Mackrill SUBSCRIPTIONS
Personal rates from £76.80 a year. Telephone +44 (0)345 772 6100 Institutional rates from £675 a year. Send all enquiries to [email protected] Visit www.nursing-standard.co.uk for details. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
The Heights, 59-65 Lowlands Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex HA1 3AW Tel: +44 (0)20 8423 1333 Fax: +44 (0)20 8872 3197 ISSN 0029-6570 Email: [email protected] You can email staff at Nursing Standard in the following way: (first name).(second name)@rcnpublishing.co.uk Nursing Standard is published every Wednesday by RCN Publishing Company Ltd, the publishing company of the Royal College of Nursing. It seeks to promote professional excellence, and encourage creativity and innovation in nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice. Nursing Standard also aims to enhance nurses’ and healthcare assistants’ career development and to help them achieve and maintain a healthy and rewarding working environment. Nursing Standard is editorially independent and the opinions expressed are not those of the RCN or of the contributor’s employing organisation unless specifically stated. Acceptance of an advertisement does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of a product or service, either by the RCN or RCN Publishing.
Graham Scott EDITOR
Leading nurses highlight the truth about nursing Complaints about nurses should be seen as an early warning sign that the quality of care is being eroded, rather than a reason to blame the profession for declining standards. These wise words are not mine, but those of three eminent nurse academics who have written a fascinating feature in this week’s Nursing Standard. The authors are from the United States, the UK and Belgium and their article is based on research they have undertaken in 12 European countries. Surprise, surprise, England’s hospitals scored poorly in almost every measure, with relatively low staffing levels, diluted skill mix and inferior working environments than comparable health systems. As a result, nurses in England are more likely to suffer burnout.
THE RESEARCHERS FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT OUR NURSES ARE UNCARING
Yet to the great credit of England’s nurses, the researchers found no evidence that they are uncaring. Indeed, on one measure they were the most caring of all, with 89 per cent saying they never felt a lack of compassion towards patients. There was no link between an individual nurse’s qualification and their attitude to those in their care, debunking the myth that requiring students study at degree level will produce heartless practitioners. Linda Aiken from the University of Pennsylvania, Anne Marie Rafferty from King’s College London and Walter Sermeus from the Catholic University Leuven have done nursing a great service by conducting their research, which was funded by the European Union. They have provided nurses and their professional leaders with further ammunition in the fight against unjust media reports and politicians’ speeches deriding nurses for failing to care. As they write: ‘Nurses’ concerns about quality of care, patients’ reports of negative care experiences, and press reports about uncaring nurses, are harbingers of declining quality and safety, and should be considered warning signs that austerity measures may be risking harm to patients.’ See page 22 Air your views on
Nursing Standard and
@NScomment
Have your say by joining our weekly Twitter debate. Every Thursday from 12.30 to 1.30 use #NScomment and share your views with other nurses on a hot topic of the day april 30 :: vol 28 no 35 :: 2014 3
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Oct 12, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
