WE BELIEVE IT IS BETTER NOT TO EXPLICITLY HIGHLIGHT SPIRITUALITY We welcome the views of those who call for the Nursing and Midwifery Council explicitly to add spirituality to the new code (Reflections April 29). The revised code says you must respect and uphold people’s human rights, of which religious freedom is one, and we believe that it is better not to highlight explicitly a particular human right above all others. If we singled out one particular human right in the Code, the NMC could be seen to be giving greater importance to one over the others. We expect those on our register to use their professional judgement when making decisions about how to care for their patients. Nurses and midwives need to be able to apply the Code across all settings and in all circumstances. The professional standards contained in the revised code reflect the standards that the public told us they expect from healthcare professionals delivering care across a range of practice settings. Jackie Smith, chief executive, Nursing and Midwifery Council
CONTINUE TO TELL WOMEN ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER The news that a new ovarian cancer screening method has almost 90% accuracy is very encouraging. Early indications from a 14-year study are that monitoring a woman’s changing levels of the protein CA125 over time could prove twice as effective as current methods. At present, all women are measured against the same baseline and individual variations are not taken into account. We will have a better idea of how the research will save lives when the final study results are published later this year. Until then, it is crucial that nurses spread the word about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer: persistent bloating and tummy pain, needing to wee more often, and not being able to eat much or feeling full more quickly.
Women diagnosed in the early stages of ovarian cancer have a 90% chance of surviving for more than five years, compared with just 22% when diagnosed in the later stages. Anything that makes a diagnosis easier, earlier and quicker is urgently needed. But until we have a national screening programme for ovarian cancer, swift diagnosis and referral from primary care is vital. Katherine Taylor, chief executive, Ovarian Cancer Action
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Still on cloud 9 after an amazing night at the Savoy for the Nursing Standard Awards. Such a fabulous time! #nurse_awards @markcollins123
@mandiejosh so proud to know you. Your award speaks volumes for the lovely person that you are. Much love. @susieokeefe
APPRENTICESHIPS GIVE YOUNGER PEOPLE ENTRY INTO THE PROFESSION I was pleased to read on rcni.com that The Prince’s Trust has created a pre-apprentice training programme to help disadvantaged young people become older people’s nurses. We already recruit apprentices to our older person wards at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, with great success. One apprentice decided to apply for nurse training on the strength of her experience on our ward. We are entering a new age of nursing where we have to be creative with recruitment and retention strategies to attract the best candidates. This excellent approach offers a creative way forward, giving young people an entry into the profession by enabling them to experience working on a busy hospital ward, and to feel part of a team. Liz Charalambous, via email
WHERE WILL REVALIDATION FIT INTO MY ALREADY PRESSURED WORKLIFE? As a band 5 community nurse, I am anxious about how I am going to fulfil the demands of revalidation. Along with many others, I am struggling to cope with the increasing demands on NHS nurses and the never-ending changes to how services are delivered. There is no money to replace staff who leave, and absence due to stress is on the rise. Many nurses struggle to keep up with mandatory training, meaning revalidation will be difficult. I would welcome any suggestions. Kim Joseph, via email
Coffee & @NurseStandard Wonderful piece on #palliative care for non-malignant #respiratory disease. @ILD_Rehab
#QUB nursing lecturer @karmicgirl shaving her hair to raise funds for #nepal. justgiving.com/OrlaMc-Alinden @cmillar101
Kids being driven straight to the school gate when they could be walking. Schools could have walking clubs? @MachShau
I went to the shop – £1.25 for two pizzas, £1.65 for micro tikka masala, £2.00 for small tub of fruit! #NSComment @Baillie2Piercy
Why are we wondering why kids make unhealthy choices when streets full of takeaways are beside high schools? #NSComment @GGByrneSTN
Follow Nursing Standard @NurseStandard and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING may No 13 other :: vol uses 29 no 37 :: permission. 2015 33 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 14, 2015. For personal use only. without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
CONTINUE TO TELL WOMEN ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER The news that a new ovarian cancer screening method has almost 90% accuracy is very encouraging. Early indications from a 14-year study are that monitoring a woman’s changing levels of the protein CA125 over time could prove twice as effective as current methods. At present, all women are measured against the same baseline and individual variations are not taken into account. We will have a better idea of how the research will save lives when the final study results are published later this year. Until then, it is crucial that nurses spread the word about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer: persistent bloating and tummy pain, needing to wee more often, and not being able to eat much or feeling full more quickly.
Women diagnosed in the early stages of ovarian cancer have a 90% chance of surviving for more than five years, compared with just 22% when diagnosed in the later stages. Anything that makes a diagnosis easier, earlier and quicker is urgently needed. But until we have a national screening programme for ovarian cancer, swift diagnosis and referral from primary care is vital. Katherine Taylor, chief executive, Ovarian Cancer Action
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Still on cloud 9 after an amazing night at the Savoy for the Nursing Standard Awards. Such a fabulous time! #nurse_awards @markcollins123
@mandiejosh so proud to know you. Your award speaks volumes for the lovely person that you are. Much love. @susieokeefe
APPRENTICESHIPS GIVE YOUNGER PEOPLE ENTRY INTO THE PROFESSION I was pleased to read on rcni.com that The Prince’s Trust has created a pre-apprentice training programme to help disadvantaged young people become older people’s nurses. We already recruit apprentices to our older person wards at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, with great success. One apprentice decided to apply for nurse training on the strength of her experience on our ward. We are entering a new age of nursing where we have to be creative with recruitment and retention strategies to attract the best candidates. This excellent approach offers a creative way forward, giving young people an entry into the profession by enabling them to experience working on a busy hospital ward, and to feel part of a team. Liz Charalambous, via email
WHERE WILL REVALIDATION FIT INTO MY ALREADY PRESSURED WORKLIFE? As a band 5 community nurse, I am anxious about how I am going to fulfil the demands of revalidation. Along with many others, I am struggling to cope with the increasing demands on NHS nurses and the never-ending changes to how services are delivered. There is no money to replace staff who leave, and absence due to stress is on the rise. Many nurses struggle to keep up with mandatory training, meaning revalidation will be difficult. I would welcome any suggestions. Kim Joseph, via email
Coffee & @NurseStandard Wonderful piece on #palliative care for non-malignant #respiratory disease. @ILD_Rehab
#QUB nursing lecturer @karmicgirl shaving her hair to raise funds for #nepal. justgiving.com/OrlaMc-Alinden @cmillar101
Kids being driven straight to the school gate when they could be walking. Schools could have walking clubs? @MachShau
I went to the shop – £1.25 for two pizzas, £1.65 for micro tikka masala, £2.00 for small tub of fruit! #NSComment @Baillie2Piercy
Why are we wondering why kids make unhealthy choices when streets full of takeaways are beside high schools? #NSComment @GGByrneSTN
Follow Nursing Standard @NurseStandard and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING may No 13 other :: vol uses 29 no 37 :: permission. 2015 33 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 14, 2015. For personal use only. without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
