Practical guides for clinical skills

16 October 2024

Abstract

BJN produces a number of practical guides for nurses, all aimed at helping you improve some of your core skills. Take a look at some of our recent articles – all written and reviewed by practitioners, and designed for reference in practice:

A guide to removing surgical staples

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the wound healing process, emphasising the critical role of surgical staples in primary intention healing. It outlines the four distinct phases of wound healing including haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation – and discusses the mechanisms by which surgical staples enhance this natural biological process. Read more...

A guide to pain assessment and management in adults

Pain is universally experienced and extremely complex, involving the mind as well as the body. It is activated by a variety of stimuli, including biological, physical and psychological. This article seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the physiology of pain and the various classifications used in clinical practice. Read more... 

A guide to undertaking blood pressure measurement

This article aims to provide background information on blood pressure. It outlines the anatomy and physiology associated with the skill of blood pressure measurement, and the varying techniques for taking blood pressure readings, both invasively and non-invasively. Read more... 

The global elements of vital signs’ assessment

The assessment of vital signs is critical for safe, high-quality care. Vital signs' data provide valuable insight into the patient's condition, including how they are responding to medical treatment and, importantly, whether the patient is deteriorating. Although abnormal vital signs have been associated with poor clinical outcomes, research has consistently found that vital signs' assessment is often neglected in clinical practice. Read more... 

How to undertake a literature search

This article looks at how you can enhance your literature search by going beyond journal databases to using search engines, websites and grey literature sources. Ways to evaluate the resources you find, the use of critical appraisal tools and factors to consider when presenting your results are also discussed. Read more...

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