View from the top: the health secretary's views on patient safety

In a speech on 6 February 2019, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, stated that we trust nurses and doctors more than any other profession (Department of Health and Social...

Avoiding hospital readmission of a person with dementia

Some people with dementia may appear not to understand what is being discussed and give the impression they don't have the ability to contribute to decisions being made about their care. However, if...

Preparing nursing professionals fit for the evolving healthcare landscape

This may be a scary thought for some qualified staff. However, collaborative and inclusive theory, and practice education that is completely different from what has so far been the standard will...

Fear and excitement mark the transition to autonomous, registered nurse

Before starting my management placement at the critical care unit, I set myself targets that I considered to be reasonable and that I hoped would ease the sense of self-doubt I'd been feeling in the...

Self-care is a vital part of safe care

‘Employers and managers need to recognise that in order to create safe and healthy working environments, nurses should be able to have regular breaks and have access to drinking water and healthy...

Valuing the district nurse

Silver linings amid the clouds

The hepatology research nurse: an academic but patient-focused role

The hepatology research nurse role is demanding, but varied and interesting. The principal investigator (PI), usually a clinician, is ultimately responsible for patient clinical care and trial...

Lawfully admitting a person who lacks decision-making capacity to hospital

A nurse acting in the best interests of an incapable adult would not incur liability for arranging the admission of that person to hospital for care and treatment, even where they appeared to object...

A long-term plan for embracing digital healthcare technology

The use of technology to manage care is as old as the use of the telephone itself. In fact, the first recorded use of telephone technology in health care occurred in 1879 when a doctor was able to...

The role of the NHS Constitution in balancing the care equation

The NHS Constitution for England (Department of Health, 2015) can be seen as an attempt to balance the healthcare equation. Rights and pledges for patients, the public and NHS staff are set out, as...

The implications of nurse shortages