State School Nurse Consultants Issue RN Action Agendas.

The National Association of State School Nurse Consultants (NASSNC) recently issued two action agendas for school nurses. The first action agenda promotes school nurses using their credentials in all communications, documenting their expertise and asserting their legal authority to practice professional nursing. The focus is on the baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse (RN) being the entry level preparation for school nursing. The second action agenda suggests school nurses can increase school administrator support by explaining their specialty practice and offers several marketing strategies. School nurses are invited to access the RN Action Agendas at the NASSNC website link provided.

A whole healthcare system mortality review of the second wave COVID-19 pandemic response, were lessons learned?

We previously reported a study of features of emergency healthcare response to COVID-19 that could be modified to mitigate against future excess deaths. Here we determined what themes persisted in later waves. This was an expert panel review of all components of care delivered to COVID-19 patients who died (primary and secondary care, community services, NHS 111 and 999, COVID oximetry at home, virtual wards). 174 deaths were included. 5% were deemed >50% avoidable, 75% included avoidability themes. Contact with primary care remains mostly via telephone, creating diagnostic risk. Patient decision to avoid healthcare contact was common. Recommendations include: better utilisation of home monitoring in future pandemics; improved avoidance of nosocomial spread; patients be encouraged to seek medical advice earlier.

Inhaled nitrous oxide during painful procedures: a satisfaction survey.

Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) undergo repeated invasive medical procedures. This article summarises a survey of the use of nitrous oxide to minimise the psychological trauma and pain that was undertaken within the paediatric unit of a district general hospital (Williams et al 2004). Pain levels pre and post procedure, whether the treatment was effective, any adverse effects and comments by children and carers were recorded. Nitrous oxide was safe and effective in reducing pain, trauma and 'needle phobia'. It is now being offered to other children in the management of procedural pain.