A POSITIVE COUNSELLING STYLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO PATIENTS Raising sensitive issues with patients, such as their unhealthy behaviours, can be difficult. But I thought the approach taken by Jennifer Percival (Features December 11) was one likely to yield results. As identified in the article, a patient’s choice not to make a change that would benefit their own health is to be respected. But the key is that they are able to make an informed choice and that is where we as nurses come in. We must not let the pressures of the job prevent us from taking the time to talk to a patient in a caring, polite and engaging manner. Only then will we be able to make a positive difference to people’s lives. Donato Tallo, by email
PATIENTS NEED ADVICE ABOUT THE KINDS OF SUPPORT AVAILABLE As part of my first-year nursing student education, a great deal of time was spent discussing the role of the nurse in health promotion. While in practice, we were tasked to provide health promotion advice to patients and reflect on our attempts. I found that many patients already understood how their lifestyle choices had affected their health, but felt helpless to change. So having someone approach them sensitively to provide advice about the kinds of support available made a lot difference to them. Most patients had negative experiences of health promotion, and felt that often healthcare professionals came across as judgemental or accusatory. Simply talking to patients to discover if they are interested in change and finding the local services that can help them is all that may be required. Chris Ball, by email
JOIN IN THE CELEBRATIONS TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF CAVELL’S DEATH When first world war commemorations get under way in 2014, Cavell Nurses’ Trust will be finalising plans to remember Edith Cavell’s nursing heritage.
In August 2015 we will be partnering with nurses and army representatives to climb Mount Edith Cavell, in Jasper National Park, Canada to mark the centenary of Cavell’s death and remember all those lost during the Great War. Anyone who would like to get involved in the climb or find out more about our centenary plans, should contact: [email protected] Victoria Law, Cavell Nurses’ Trust
BURSARIES TO HELP WITH LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES The RCN Foundation provides bursaries to fund a wide variety of learning and development opportunities for nurses. For example, I would like to draw your readers’ attention to The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers Educational Bursary, which offers up to £1,000 to nurses working in areas such as maternity and palliative care, who are currently registered in the UK. Applications for this bursary are being accepted until January 22 2014. To learn more, go to www. rcnfoundation.org.uk/bursaries. Georgina Sayers, RCN Foundation
CLARIFICATION ON NEUROMUSCULAR CONDITIONS IN CAREERS ARTICLE I would like to clarify a point in my article, Increasing Understanding of Neuromuscular Disease (Careers December 11). The article was amended to state that multiple sclerosis and myalgias are among neuromuscular conditions. These conditions fall under NHS neurological services, not the neuromuscular services in which I specialise. Examples of conditions treated by neuromuscular specialists include all muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy, mitochondrial myopathies, myotonic dystrophies, mitochondrial diseases and muscle channel diseases. Catherine Parry, neuromuscular disorders clinical nurse specialist, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Should no more than 8 patients per Registered Nurse be a “never event” ? @HowardCatton
Can’t have too many more shifts like that! 11.25 hrs, no break. Poorly patient. Looking forward to my bed! @karenjc70
@karenjc70 this contravenes the NHS expectations of safe staffing and needs to be reported to @theRCN & incident reported to Board. So sorry! @e1ucidate
Help. Looking for best examples, including in published papers, of patients using social media to positively influence other patients @LynneMaher1
Aung San Suu Kyi opening speech at Wish conference about her mother who was a nurse, a compassionate person. 1st director of maternal health @JuliaCumberlege
Colleagues in US are in despair about Obamacare. Because the messing up of the IT system is denying access for the people and confusion over policy implementation @katebfnp
@katebfnp So the nurses want Obamacare, they are just frustrated at the difficulties. Interesting. We only hear ‘no one wants it’ @Hattie_Jacques
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD december 18No :: vol 28uses no without 16-18 ::permission. 2013 37 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jul 26, 2016. For personal use only. other Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
PATIENTS NEED ADVICE ABOUT THE KINDS OF SUPPORT AVAILABLE As part of my first-year nursing student education, a great deal of time was spent discussing the role of the nurse in health promotion. While in practice, we were tasked to provide health promotion advice to patients and reflect on our attempts. I found that many patients already understood how their lifestyle choices had affected their health, but felt helpless to change. So having someone approach them sensitively to provide advice about the kinds of support available made a lot difference to them. Most patients had negative experiences of health promotion, and felt that often healthcare professionals came across as judgemental or accusatory. Simply talking to patients to discover if they are interested in change and finding the local services that can help them is all that may be required. Chris Ball, by email
JOIN IN THE CELEBRATIONS TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF CAVELL’S DEATH When first world war commemorations get under way in 2014, Cavell Nurses’ Trust will be finalising plans to remember Edith Cavell’s nursing heritage.
In August 2015 we will be partnering with nurses and army representatives to climb Mount Edith Cavell, in Jasper National Park, Canada to mark the centenary of Cavell’s death and remember all those lost during the Great War. Anyone who would like to get involved in the climb or find out more about our centenary plans, should contact: [email protected] Victoria Law, Cavell Nurses’ Trust
BURSARIES TO HELP WITH LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES The RCN Foundation provides bursaries to fund a wide variety of learning and development opportunities for nurses. For example, I would like to draw your readers’ attention to The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers Educational Bursary, which offers up to £1,000 to nurses working in areas such as maternity and palliative care, who are currently registered in the UK. Applications for this bursary are being accepted until January 22 2014. To learn more, go to www. rcnfoundation.org.uk/bursaries. Georgina Sayers, RCN Foundation
CLARIFICATION ON NEUROMUSCULAR CONDITIONS IN CAREERS ARTICLE I would like to clarify a point in my article, Increasing Understanding of Neuromuscular Disease (Careers December 11). The article was amended to state that multiple sclerosis and myalgias are among neuromuscular conditions. These conditions fall under NHS neurological services, not the neuromuscular services in which I specialise. Examples of conditions treated by neuromuscular specialists include all muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy, mitochondrial myopathies, myotonic dystrophies, mitochondrial diseases and muscle channel diseases. Catherine Parry, neuromuscular disorders clinical nurse specialist, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Should no more than 8 patients per Registered Nurse be a “never event” ? @HowardCatton
Can’t have too many more shifts like that! 11.25 hrs, no break. Poorly patient. Looking forward to my bed! @karenjc70
@karenjc70 this contravenes the NHS expectations of safe staffing and needs to be reported to @theRCN & incident reported to Board. So sorry! @e1ucidate
Help. Looking for best examples, including in published papers, of patients using social media to positively influence other patients @LynneMaher1
Aung San Suu Kyi opening speech at Wish conference about her mother who was a nurse, a compassionate person. 1st director of maternal health @JuliaCumberlege
Colleagues in US are in despair about Obamacare. Because the messing up of the IT system is denying access for the people and confusion over policy implementation @katebfnp
@katebfnp So the nurses want Obamacare, they are just frustrated at the difficulties. Interesting. We only hear ‘no one wants it’ @Hattie_Jacques
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD december 18No :: vol 28uses no without 16-18 ::permission. 2013 37 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jul 26, 2016. For personal use only. other Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
