Optimising chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care: an overview for the community nurse.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which is caused by damage to the airways or other parts of the lung that blocks airflow and eventually makes it difficult for the patient to breathe. As COPD is terminal, the primary goals of treatment are to control symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce exacerbations and mortality. Community nurses can play a vital role in maintaining patients' quality of life and daily functioning, but the ability to access further education in the domain of COPD treatment and allocate dedicated time to patient care is necessary to achieving good outcomes. Francesca Ramadan provides an overview of the mainstays of COPD care, as a foundation for further education.

Exploring the barriers to oral healthcare promotion and provision in the community.

With their wide breadth of expertise and the ability to leverage the therapeutic relationship, community nurses are ideally placed to provide treatment and support to an extensive variety of patients with a diverse range of conditions. However, to date, oral health has remained a neglected domain in the community, especially in older demographics. Francesca Ramadan explores the barriers to community nurse provision of oral healthcare and the solutions proposed to overcome these challenges.

Peristomal skin care: seeking the solution to maintain skin integrity?

Francesca Ramadan reviews the mechanisms, benefits and limitations of the most common peristomal skin complication treatments, empowering stoma care practitioners to provide more effective and personalised solutions for their patients.

Managing incontinence-associated dermatitis in the community: an overview.

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is often treated a hygienic challenge, rather than a serious condition with potentially life-threatening consequences. More appropriate education on the management strategies specific to IAD is required, in order for personalised and effective care that reflects the critical nature of this condition to be provided. Francesca Ramadan provides an overview of the key elements of best practice in IAD management and treatment.

Manual lymphatic drainage: the evidence behind the efficacy.

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), a specific type of massage performed by specialists that aims to enhance the filling and emptying of lymph vessels, is often recommended as an essential part of a successful management strategy for lymphoedema. However, the literature on its efficacy is often contradictory, and its addition may not always be necessary. To ensure optimal understanding of practitioners and benefit to patients, Francesca Ramadan summarises the evidence-based advantages and limitations of MLD.

Optimisation of high-output stomas: the role of the community nurse.

Ostomy surgery is a life-changing intervention, with many significant and challenging lifestyle changes expected from the individual. The community nurse, with their wide-ranging scope of practice and intimate access to patients' lives, are well-placed to support individuals to manage their condition, especially in the case of a high-output stoma, a relatively common complication with potentially deadly consequences. The author outlines the practical interventions the community nurse can offer to the patient to optimise stomal output, including fluid restriction, dietary changes and support in self-care and management.

Overcoming lymphorrhoea: a step to achieve a better life with lymphoedema.

Lymphorrhoea-otherwise known as 'wet' or 'leaky' legs-is an increasingly common condition that many community nurses will encounter in their daily practice; however, until relatively recently, evidence-based literature on its management was limited, and treatment modalities only tackled the symptoms instead of addressing the cause. In this article, Francesca Ramadan highlights the devastating impact of this condition, and the resources available to community practitioners to assist their patients to live well with lymphoedema.

Skin tone and wound care: bridging the knowledge and care provision gap.

A wound care practitioner will likely encounter and care for an increasing number of patients with a wider variety of skin tones on a daily basis. However, wound care research and education does not yet reflect the realities of clinical practice, resulting in compromised care provision and the reinforcement of healthcare inequities. Here, Francesca Ramadan outlines both the quantitative and qualitative steps that can be taken to facilitate more inclusive and culturally sensitive care provision in research, education and clinical practice.

Diabetes Management and the Role of the Community Nurse: a Holistic Perspective.

Nearly 5 million people are now living with diabetes in the UK, with many receiving treatment and management in the community. With their unique and intimate insight into patients' lives, the community nurse is well-placed to offer support, education and advocacy to those who might be struggling to manage their condition. Francesca Ramadan explores the multiple ways in which a community nurse might facilitate a preventative, holistic and personalised approach to diabetes treatment and management.

Night-time compression: a valuable addition to the lymphoedema management toolkit.

As an incurable condition, lymphoedema, whether primary or secondary, is a significant burden for patients, impacting every aspect of their lives, ranging from the personal to the professional. While daytime compression is a pillar of lymphoedema management, night-time compression delivery is also gaining credence. Health writer Francesca Ramadan summarises the exploration of this growing phenomenon in the literature, overviewing the benefits and dispelling the myths.

Intermittent self-catheterisation: the community nurse's role in identifying and overcoming the barriers.

With their expertise and ability to leverage the therapeutic relationship, community nurses are well-placed to manage the complications and challenges associated with intermittent self-catheterisation. Francesca Ramadan provides an overview of the patient-, training- and environmentally-related barriers to intermittent self-catheterisation and of the ways in which these can be overcome by personalised, person-centred training and education.

Infection prevention and control: a guide for community nurses.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC), and accentuated the need for better health and safety measures to protect both healthcare professionals and their patients. In this article, Francesca Ramadan provides an overview of IPC measures for community nurses, such as hand hygiene and personal protective equipment, along with the safe management of care equipment and the care environment.

Adverse cutaneous drug reactions: manifestations, diagnosis and management.

Adverse cutaneous drug reactions (ACDR) are relatively common, especially in multimorbid populations who take a range of medications. Francesca Ramadan provides an overview of several common types of ACDR and their most frequently associated drugs, alongside some options for diagnosis and management.