Nursing times
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Patient-controlled analgesia is a method of pain control that allows the patient to self-administer opioid medication as and when it is needed. Pain is a personal experience and one pain-relieving intervention may not be effective for all patients. ⋯ Pain policies and education programmes need to be proactive in addressing staff and patient gaps in knowledge and misconceptions about pain assessment and management. Nurses need to appreciate the nature and importance of research in promoting a more critical approach to patient care and the development of quality nursing practice.
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Vasectomy or male sterilisation is the severing or electrocoagulation of the vas deferens connecting the testes to the seminal vesicles and urethra. It is a safe and a highly effective operation that offers a permanent method of contraception. Reversal of a vasectomy is possible but can be difficult and is not always successful. The permanency of the procedure means that careful counselling is essential and, where appropriate, should be conducted with both partners.
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Menorrhagia is a common problem in women and increasing numbers are seeking help and advice regarding management. In many cases, surgery is not appropriate and so awareness of alternative treatments is important. The aim of this review is to summarise the evidence available regarding current medical therapies.
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Nurses play a vital role in A&E, monitoring patients' physiological responses to stress and disease, and identifying any deterioration in their condition so that appropriate treatment can be instigated. This article describes the monitoring techniques used in A&E to assess critically ill patients.