Looking beyond the coronavirus: lessons and principles

Some fundamental public health lessons have been lost on generations born in the second half of the 20th century and in the early part of this one. These include neglecting to wash hands, washing them...

From staff nurse to nurse consultant: Survival Guide part 11: Surviving self-doubt

Open visiting in the NHS

Peripheral intravenous cannulation: reducing pain and local complications

Although peripheral IV cannulation has been part of the scope of professional practice for registered nurses and appropriately trained support workers, such as healthcare assistants and assistant...

Medical adhesive-related skin injuries associated with vascular access: minimising risk with Appeel Sterile

An 80-year-old woman had septic arthritis (Figure 2). She had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and type II diabetes. She was an inpatient receiving intravenous antibiotics and...

Universal adhesive vascular access securement with Grip-Lok devices

The Grip-Lok range of catheter securement devices are available in a range of sizes and configurations so can be used universally. The devices secure IV catheters reliably, which minimises...

Improving patient safety

Central venous catheter infection in Canadian home parenteral nutrition patients: a 5-year multicenter retrospective study

This observational study was based on a 5-year retrospective chart review of adult patients participating in the Canadian HPN Registry between 2005 and 2009 from 3 HPN programs in 3 provinces...

Clinically indicated replacement of peripheral vascular catheters: is it safe for patients?

Nurses, as well as other clinical personnel, who have been certified as competent, insert PVCs in the hospital. Standard precautions training, including hand hygiene, is mandatory for all staff when...

Ultrasound-detected venous changes associated with peripheral intravenous placement in children

The purpose of this study was to identify, document, and describe venous changes associated with PIV placement using US imaging in order to better understand factors that may contribute to high rates...

Self-isolation and the homeless population

What is a therapeutic environment?

‘The ability to do something successfully or efficiently. Competence indicates sufficiency of knowledge and skills to enable someone to act in a wide variety of situations. Each level of...