News Shift work can lead to obesity and diabetes, figures show STAFF WHO work shifts are more likely to be obese, have diabetes or other longstanding health conditions, or both than those working standard hours, figures show. Thirty per cent of shift workers are obese compared with 24% of men and 23% of women not doing shift work, according to Health & Social Care Information Centre data. Its 2013 health survey for England showed that 10% of those working outside 7am to 7pm, which defines shift work, in their main job have diabetes. Nine per cent of men and 7% of women not working shifts have it. Nursing Standard’s Eat Well, Nurse Well campaign, tinyurl.com/eat-nurse-well, calls on employers to offer healthy food and give staff a break so they can eat a healthy meal.
i Find out more To read the health survey, visit tinyurl.com/ os8m6dy and for more information go to tinyurl.com/qxhxn9r
Ward rounding study will find out if quality of care is improved THE EFFECTIVENESS of the intentional rounding system, championed by prime minister David Cameron, is being investigated in a £450,000 study. Intentional rounding involves staff making hourly or two-hourly checks to see that patients are free of pain and comfortable, and receive help to eat and drink. Researchers at St George’s University of London and Kingston University London are examining whether it leads to better care. The study is being led by Kingston professor of nursing innovation and practice Ruth Harris. Recommendations will be made next year. Professor Harris said that, although intentional rounding has proved popular, there was little NURSING MANAGEMENT
Tray design proves a hit with staff and patients A SPECIAL tray designed by a healthcare assistant to make hospital stays more comfortable for patients is to be used throughout West Suffolk Hospital. The ‘Rose Vital’ tray, designed by Rosario Preston (pictured), carries the words ‘please use me before every meal’, with an arrow pointing towards packets of hand wipes. It also comes equipped with a pair of earplugs with the label ‘please use me at night’. reliable evidence to show the approach improves care. ‘The biggest danger with intentional rounding is that it becomes a tick-box exercise and is not delivered in a way that will benefit patients,’ she added. Questionnaires have been sent to all NHS trusts in England to find out how many have adopted intentional rounding and how it has been implemented.
Alarming number of band 5 job candidates fail numeracy tests MORE THAN half of the candidates who undertake assessment tests for band 5 posts at a large London NHS trust fail on basic numeracy and literacy, an exclusive Nursing Management investigation reveals. Of 28 NHS trusts and boards across the UK that responded to our Freedom of Information survey, nine reported that they conduct numeracy or literacy tests, or both.
A trial of the tray saw complaints about noise fall by more than 80%. Ms Preston said: ‘Patients are not always able to go to the toilet to clean their hands before a meal. Previously, nursing assistants would have gone round delivering handwipes individually. By adding them to the tray and reminding the patients to use them, we have freed up extra time for staff to spend on other tasks.’ Only Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust (CHUNFT), Essex, record failure rates. Between January and August last year, 55% of the 310 candidates who undertook the band 5 assessment-centre tests at Central and North West London failed either the numeracy or literacy test. Trust director of nursing and operations Andy Mattin said: ‘The tests do not have a higher requirement than people need to enter nurse-training programmes.’ However, just 3% of the 265 band 5 nurse candidates who undertook an assessment test last year at CHUNFT failed. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust conducts drug calculation testing, which includes calculations, such as converting milligrams to micrograms and calculating a positive or negative fluid balance chart. A trust spokesperson said: ‘We recognised that newly qualified nurses were more likely to make a medication error within the first three months of qualifying.’ See analysis, page 8 February 2015 | Volume 21 | Number 9
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i Find out more To read the health survey, visit tinyurl.com/ os8m6dy and for more information go to tinyurl.com/qxhxn9r
Ward rounding study will find out if quality of care is improved THE EFFECTIVENESS of the intentional rounding system, championed by prime minister David Cameron, is being investigated in a £450,000 study. Intentional rounding involves staff making hourly or two-hourly checks to see that patients are free of pain and comfortable, and receive help to eat and drink. Researchers at St George’s University of London and Kingston University London are examining whether it leads to better care. The study is being led by Kingston professor of nursing innovation and practice Ruth Harris. Recommendations will be made next year. Professor Harris said that, although intentional rounding has proved popular, there was little NURSING MANAGEMENT
Tray design proves a hit with staff and patients A SPECIAL tray designed by a healthcare assistant to make hospital stays more comfortable for patients is to be used throughout West Suffolk Hospital. The ‘Rose Vital’ tray, designed by Rosario Preston (pictured), carries the words ‘please use me before every meal’, with an arrow pointing towards packets of hand wipes. It also comes equipped with a pair of earplugs with the label ‘please use me at night’. reliable evidence to show the approach improves care. ‘The biggest danger with intentional rounding is that it becomes a tick-box exercise and is not delivered in a way that will benefit patients,’ she added. Questionnaires have been sent to all NHS trusts in England to find out how many have adopted intentional rounding and how it has been implemented.
Alarming number of band 5 job candidates fail numeracy tests MORE THAN half of the candidates who undertake assessment tests for band 5 posts at a large London NHS trust fail on basic numeracy and literacy, an exclusive Nursing Management investigation reveals. Of 28 NHS trusts and boards across the UK that responded to our Freedom of Information survey, nine reported that they conduct numeracy or literacy tests, or both.
A trial of the tray saw complaints about noise fall by more than 80%. Ms Preston said: ‘Patients are not always able to go to the toilet to clean their hands before a meal. Previously, nursing assistants would have gone round delivering handwipes individually. By adding them to the tray and reminding the patients to use them, we have freed up extra time for staff to spend on other tasks.’ Only Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust (CHUNFT), Essex, record failure rates. Between January and August last year, 55% of the 310 candidates who undertook the band 5 assessment-centre tests at Central and North West London failed either the numeracy or literacy test. Trust director of nursing and operations Andy Mattin said: ‘The tests do not have a higher requirement than people need to enter nurse-training programmes.’ However, just 3% of the 265 band 5 nurse candidates who undertook an assessment test last year at CHUNFT failed. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust conducts drug calculation testing, which includes calculations, such as converting milligrams to micrograms and calculating a positive or negative fluid balance chart. A trust spokesperson said: ‘We recognised that newly qualified nurses were more likely to make a medication error within the first three months of qualifying.’ See analysis, page 8 February 2015 | Volume 21 | Number 9
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Dec 02, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
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