Nursing times
-
An increase in minimal-stay surgery has reduced opportunities for nurses to discuss patients' anxieties about anaesthesia and the procedures that they will undergo. To allay patient anxieties and therefore promote a good recovery from surgery, nurses need to put in place a planned programme of information provision for patients. They are in a good position to promote patients' feelings of control and ability to cope, and help them to think positively.
-
The incidence of antimicrobial resistance is increasing and represents a serious threat not only to patients who have infections that do not respond to antimicrobial drugs but also to global healthcare systems. European Antibiotics Awareness Day aims to ensure health professionals and the public understand the importance of ensuring antibiotics are used correctly to minimise the spread of resistance. This article discusses the nursing role in preventing antimicrobial resistance.
-
Body temperature is one of the four main vital signs that must be monitored to ensure safe and effective care. Temperature measurement is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence a part of the initial assessment in acute illness in adults (NICE, 2007) and by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines for post-operative management in adults (SIGN, 2004). ⋯ Inaccurate results may influence diagnosis and treatment, lead to a failure to identify patient deterioration and compromise patient safety. This article explains the importance of temperature regulation and compares methods of its measurement.