Delivering asthma reviews during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic meant that the delivery of asthma management in primary care changed virtually overnight, requiring the introduction of alternatives to face-to-face care. This study examines the experiences of nurses who were performing asthma reviews during the pandemic, identifying the key themes that emerged, as well as providing recommendations for future practice.

Cancer nurses have experienced ‘moral injury' due to the pandemic

First, a Happy New Year to you all. I hope you enjoyed the festive break. In this issue, our cover article (evidence and practice, page 21) explains how emotional labour can lead to exhaustion and burnout, which contributes to a high turnover in the nursing workforce. It examines the differences in resilience and coping strategies of less experienced nurses compared with their more experienced counterparts.

A preceptorship programme for school nurses and health visitors

A preceptorship programme for health visitors and school nurses in Highland, Scotland, was developed, delivered and evaluated from 2015 until 2021. The programme used video-conferencing technology to connect remote and rural preceptees, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Preceptees' feedback about the programme was positive;the key benefits highlighted were better networking and peer support capabilities and reduced isolation. As well as describing the programme and its development, this article provides recommendations for other organisations about how to develop a preceptorship programme in their field of practice.

Burnout in nurses: how to cope and when to seek help: An RCN Nurse of the Year describes how work pressures and a traumatic event led her to prioritise her well-being

In April 2022, I was a paediatric NHS nurse and in a bad place emotionally. I was extremely anxious, felt unable to cope and was having nightmares. I was also experiencing what I now know are flashbacks. A series of traumatic events had led me to this point, then an incident with a young patient tipped me over the edge and I realised I needed help.

Quitting in the face of intolerable pressure: To what extent is burnout from the pandemic pushing nurses to leave the profession?

Surveys are highlighting concerns about negative psychological effects of the pandemic – notably stress, burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder – on the UK nursing workforce. Another, published by the RCN, shows nursing staff in the UK are still being asked to keep going in the face of intolerable pressure.

Abuse from patients is affecting nurses’ well-being

I used to love my job, but recently I have had to brace myself before starting a shift, as I wonder 'how much abuse am I going to suffer today?'.

Gibraltar: versatility and flexibility in cancer care: The healthcare system in this British overseas territory is based on the NHS, but there are differences in nursing care

As a nurse working in Gibraltar, I am often struck by just how many differences exist in nursing care developments there compared with mainland UK. Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, enjoys a unique position at the south western tip of Europe. Healthcare services are provided by the Gibraltar Health Authority to the approximately 34,000 residents and about a further 10,000 cross-frontier workers. The healthcare model is closely based on the NHS.

How to maintain the dignity and privacy of a patient following their death: Guidance on the practical procedures that nurses need to follow to prepare a body after death

A nurse's first experience of death in a professional context is often profound and can linger for a long time in the memory.

Tattoos in practice

Dental Nursing reached out to its readers on social media to hear their experiences regarding tattoos. Here are some of the responses:

Professional Quality of Life and Intention to Stay Among Perinatal Registered Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic...Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Convention, 25-29 June, 2022, Aurora, Colorado

The article offers information about the professional quality of life and intention to stay among perinatal registered nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic. It mentions that registered nurses make up the largest component of the health care workforce in the U.S., along with mentions that as direct patient care providers, they are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Is Videoconference "Zoom" Fatigue Real among Nursing Students?

In the article, the authors present their online cross-sectional survey to assess the experiences of Zoom fatigue or videoconference fatigue among nursing students. The research used descriptive, comparative and correlational data analyses and the Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue (ZEF) scale to determine the fatigue experiences of nursing students in a private university in the Philippines. Based on the results, students with unstable internet and poor academic performance were mainly affected.

A nursing perspective on the ACPGBI Colonoscopy Clinical Sub-Committee

The article provides an overview of the work undertaken by the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) Colonoscopy Clinical Sub-Committee in colonoscopy and endoscopy training, service delivery and governance across the United Kingdom (UK) over the past two years since the coronavirus pandemic.