NOTICE BOARD Clinical project The Barbers’ Company Clinical Nursing Scholarship enables nurses to undertake further education, research or a clinical project. Worth up to £7,500, the scholarship covers the fees or subsistence of a nurse undertaking a taught master’s programme relevant to nursing or research. Applicants should submit a brief outline of about 500 words on their course, research or project, together with their CV and covering letter, to [email protected] or telephone 024 7615 0618. Healthcare assistants The Kershaw Family Bursary provides up to £500 to encourage and support healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners in furthering their careers. Applicants can apply for support for patient-related projects or to attend a course or conference to learn new skills that benefit patients. The application form is available at www.rcnfoundation.org.uk and the closing date for applications is January 21. Telephone 020 7647 3731. Alcohol-free challenge NHS Employers is working with Public Health England and Alcohol Concern to promote the no-alcohol challenge ‘Dry January’. It has developed a range of free resources to help NHS organisations run their own ‘Dry January’ campaigns and encourage staff to start healthier conversations about alcohol. tinyurl.com/NHSEDryJanuary Leadership development The Foundation of Nursing Studies Richard Tompkins Nurse Development Scholarship allows a nurse, midwife or health visitor to develop their skills as a facilitator and team leader. Applicants must work clinically at ward sister level, or equivalent. Scholars receive mentorship and support at work, attend a five-day foundation practice development school, and can contribute to a reflective paper for the International Practice Development Journal. The closing date for applications is January 14. tinyurl.com/FoNScholar Study skills Skills for Health will hold two webinars to inform healthcare managers in England about the Bridging Programme, which helps healthcare assistants to develop the study skills they need to succeed in higher education. The sessions, designed to answer questions about eligibility, funding, and actions to get started and continue the programme, will be held on January 12 and 28, from 10-11am at tinyurl.com/BPHCAs
NEW APPROACH TO INTERVENTION The role of alcohol nurse specialists is evolving to meet a growing demand for the service. Catharine Sadler reports As alcohol consumption rises in England, so too does the importance of alcohol nurse specialists’ role in reducing the health impact of alcohol misuse. According to Alcohol Concern, there were 1.2 million alcohol-related hospital admissions in England in 2011-12 – which was 135 per cent more than a decade earlier. A recent report from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) says that an alcohol nurse specialist (ANS) is often the first to identify the severity of a patient’s alcohol problem, and they have a key role in providing advice, support and care co-ordination for withdrawal. It recommends that all hospitals have this specialist cover seven days a week to provide brief intervention, assessment and access to alcohol services within 24 hours. Central and North West London NHS Trust ANS Adrian Brown says: ‘Not all hospitals have these nurses yet. But this report has certainly given momentum to new appointments, which are also evolving into clinic-based alcohol liver disease nurse posts. ‘Twenty years ago, patients were first referred with alcohol-related liver disease in their fifties. Today, it is usually their forties or earlier. We even
see teenagers with early signs of liver damage. ‘Ideally, ANSs should be training and supervising non-specialist nurses to identify alcohol-related symptoms and raising patients’ awareness about their alcohol intake.’ Nurse consultant Lynn Owens, who developed the alcohol nurse role in 1995, supervises five of these specialists at Liverpool University Hospital.
Emergency admissions
She says the ANS role is evolving to meet the needs of people with alcohol-related issues. ‘They are now able to treat liver disease symptoms, perform scans and prescribe anti-craving medications. ‘But alcohol nurses cannot work in isolation. For example, they work with emergency department nurses, who often care for intoxicated patients who cannot receive specialist treatment there and then, but will need referral to specialist advice and treatment later.’ RESOURCES RCGP certificate in managing alcohol problems tinyurl.com/RCGPAPs Alcohol Learning Centre www.alcohollearningcentre. org.uk Balance North East www.balancenortheast.co.uk
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CAREERS
Course resource
University of Derby Advanced Diploma in Dementia Care
Alcohol-related hospital admissions for those aged under 30 have risen 400 per cent in the past ten years in the north east of England, according to Balance North East, a local authority-funded organisation that liaises with ANSs to tackle the region’s severe alcohol problems. Helen Clay, an ANS based at North Tees and Hartlepool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says: ‘Since my colleague and I were appointed two years ago, we have seen a fall in alcohol-related admissions. And because we are treating inpatients more quickly and effectively, they spend less time in hospital. ‘Most of our alcohol-related admissions, such as falls, pancreatitis or gastro-intestinal bleeds, are unplanned.’ Assessment of patients includes a full alcohol-related history.
Adrian Brown: ‘Alcohol nurse specialists should be training and supervising non-specialist nurses’
Alcohol nurse specialist essentials The Royal College of General Practitioners’ online certificate in primary care alcohol management . Brief intervention courses from the Alcohol Learning Centre University-based courses in diagnosis and prescribing Clinical supervision. Source: Lynn Owens
Ms Clay and her ASN colleague also train all medical and nursing staff to use an alcohol screening tool recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Patients who score over five are asked to have a brief educational chat and are referred for community support, while those who score over nine are referred for a full ANS assessment. Ms Clay plans to start a nurse-led alcohol liver disease clinic. ‘Fortunately, our trust has prioritised reducing alcohol admissions,’ she says. Dr Owens adds that commissioners should view ANSs as cost-effective alcohol team members. ‘I am optimistic that the growing number of alcohol nurses will identify a needs gap by creating pathways to help these patients,’ she says. ‘ANSs see past the alcohol and witness a whole patient journey from emergency admission, through education, treatment and support, to regaining self-esteem and a dignified, normal life’ NS Catharine Sadler is a freelance journalist
Run by University of Derby Online Learning Course objectives To provide a deeper understanding of dementia care to carers or health or social care professionals. Course format All learning and coursework assessment is online. The course can be taken over 12-24 months part time, depending on the individual’s pace of study. Aimed at Health and social care professionals who want to learn more about dementia care and gain a level 6 qualification. Venue Online learning. Cost Course fees of £2,100 What you learn Practical elements of dementia care. Students will complete three modules covering the challenges of dementia care, different approaches and models of care, and the professional, ethical and legal dilemmas surrounding dementia and related to quality of life, age and culture. Students also learn about the ethical and legal issues of healthcare policy, and how these relate to dementia care. Qualification achieved A university advanced diploma at level 6. Follow-on course Students can continue to the university’s online BSc nursing top-up degree or progress to the online MSc in integrative health and social care. Start dates February, May, September Contact matthew.onlineadmissions@ derby.ac.uk, or tel: 01332 592141. Further information tinyurl.com/lf9plya
NURSING :: vol uses 29 no 19 :: permission. 2015 65 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 17, 2015. For personal usejanuary only. No7 other without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
NEW APPROACH TO INTERVENTION The role of alcohol nurse specialists is evolving to meet a growing demand for the service. Catharine Sadler reports As alcohol consumption rises in England, so too does the importance of alcohol nurse specialists’ role in reducing the health impact of alcohol misuse. According to Alcohol Concern, there were 1.2 million alcohol-related hospital admissions in England in 2011-12 – which was 135 per cent more than a decade earlier. A recent report from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) says that an alcohol nurse specialist (ANS) is often the first to identify the severity of a patient’s alcohol problem, and they have a key role in providing advice, support and care co-ordination for withdrawal. It recommends that all hospitals have this specialist cover seven days a week to provide brief intervention, assessment and access to alcohol services within 24 hours. Central and North West London NHS Trust ANS Adrian Brown says: ‘Not all hospitals have these nurses yet. But this report has certainly given momentum to new appointments, which are also evolving into clinic-based alcohol liver disease nurse posts. ‘Twenty years ago, patients were first referred with alcohol-related liver disease in their fifties. Today, it is usually their forties or earlier. We even
see teenagers with early signs of liver damage. ‘Ideally, ANSs should be training and supervising non-specialist nurses to identify alcohol-related symptoms and raising patients’ awareness about their alcohol intake.’ Nurse consultant Lynn Owens, who developed the alcohol nurse role in 1995, supervises five of these specialists at Liverpool University Hospital.
Emergency admissions
She says the ANS role is evolving to meet the needs of people with alcohol-related issues. ‘They are now able to treat liver disease symptoms, perform scans and prescribe anti-craving medications. ‘But alcohol nurses cannot work in isolation. For example, they work with emergency department nurses, who often care for intoxicated patients who cannot receive specialist treatment there and then, but will need referral to specialist advice and treatment later.’ RESOURCES RCGP certificate in managing alcohol problems tinyurl.com/RCGPAPs Alcohol Learning Centre www.alcohollearningcentre. org.uk Balance North East www.balancenortheast.co.uk
64 january 7 :: vol 29RCNi.com no 19 :: 2015 STANDARD Downloaded from by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 17, 2015. For personal use only. NoNURSING other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
CAREERS
Course resource
University of Derby Advanced Diploma in Dementia Care
Alcohol-related hospital admissions for those aged under 30 have risen 400 per cent in the past ten years in the north east of England, according to Balance North East, a local authority-funded organisation that liaises with ANSs to tackle the region’s severe alcohol problems. Helen Clay, an ANS based at North Tees and Hartlepool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says: ‘Since my colleague and I were appointed two years ago, we have seen a fall in alcohol-related admissions. And because we are treating inpatients more quickly and effectively, they spend less time in hospital. ‘Most of our alcohol-related admissions, such as falls, pancreatitis or gastro-intestinal bleeds, are unplanned.’ Assessment of patients includes a full alcohol-related history.
Adrian Brown: ‘Alcohol nurse specialists should be training and supervising non-specialist nurses’
Alcohol nurse specialist essentials The Royal College of General Practitioners’ online certificate in primary care alcohol management . Brief intervention courses from the Alcohol Learning Centre University-based courses in diagnosis and prescribing Clinical supervision. Source: Lynn Owens
Ms Clay and her ASN colleague also train all medical and nursing staff to use an alcohol screening tool recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Patients who score over five are asked to have a brief educational chat and are referred for community support, while those who score over nine are referred for a full ANS assessment. Ms Clay plans to start a nurse-led alcohol liver disease clinic. ‘Fortunately, our trust has prioritised reducing alcohol admissions,’ she says. Dr Owens adds that commissioners should view ANSs as cost-effective alcohol team members. ‘I am optimistic that the growing number of alcohol nurses will identify a needs gap by creating pathways to help these patients,’ she says. ‘ANSs see past the alcohol and witness a whole patient journey from emergency admission, through education, treatment and support, to regaining self-esteem and a dignified, normal life’ NS Catharine Sadler is a freelance journalist
Run by University of Derby Online Learning Course objectives To provide a deeper understanding of dementia care to carers or health or social care professionals. Course format All learning and coursework assessment is online. The course can be taken over 12-24 months part time, depending on the individual’s pace of study. Aimed at Health and social care professionals who want to learn more about dementia care and gain a level 6 qualification. Venue Online learning. Cost Course fees of £2,100 What you learn Practical elements of dementia care. Students will complete three modules covering the challenges of dementia care, different approaches and models of care, and the professional, ethical and legal dilemmas surrounding dementia and related to quality of life, age and culture. Students also learn about the ethical and legal issues of healthcare policy, and how these relate to dementia care. Qualification achieved A university advanced diploma at level 6. Follow-on course Students can continue to the university’s online BSc nursing top-up degree or progress to the online MSc in integrative health and social care. Start dates February, May, September Contact matthew.onlineadmissions@ derby.ac.uk, or tel: 01332 592141. Further information tinyurl.com/lf9plya
NURSING :: vol uses 29 no 19 :: permission. 2015 65 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 17, 2015. For personal usejanuary only. No7 other without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
