Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
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Handovers are a crucial aspect of the patient's healthcare pathway. Effective handovers promote patient safety and continuity of care and may contribute to increased job satisfaction for nurses. ⋯ Evidence supports the use of a structured framework in handovers and the author advocates placing patients at the centre of their care by using bedside handovers. Nurses require training and support to enable them to deliver effective handovers that meet the requirements of their organisation, colleagues and patients.
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This article, the third and final in a series of three, discusses the implementation of spiritual care interventions by nurses. It describes how nurses can use clinical reasoning and the nursing process to implement appropriate spiritual care for patients, and outlines the competencies necessary to identify spiritual distress and meet the spiritual needs of patients. Spiritual care interventions are discussed as part of a multidisciplinary team approach to the provision of holistic care.
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Rationale and key points This article provides an overview of the skills required to safely and promptly deliver a defibrillatory shock to patients who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, using an automated external defibrillator (AED). Early defibrillation and use of an AED can significantly improve survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: » How this article might change your practice when using an AED. » Effective aspects of your current practice in relation to (CPR) and defibrillation, and those that could be enhanced.
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It is natural to feel nervous and apprehensive on your first day in uniform, but hopefully you will also feel excited. Your first day is a celebration of all the hard-won achievements throughout your training, so here are a few tips to help you make the most of it: » Organise a ward induction beforehand, or have a look around. Knowing where you are going and what your workplace looks like can help quell your nerves. » Running around trying to find a pair of scrubs to wear during handover is not ideal, so see if you can get your uniform in advance. » Hopefully your manager will introduce themselves to you, but if not, introduce yourself. ⋯ Knowing when and how to report it makes it less daunting to call in sick, and senior staff will appreciate your efforts to help resolve staffing issues. » If you have a preceptorship team, keep the contact details safe and don't be afraid to ask them for help. » Give yourself time to socialise on your days off, but recuperation and relaxation are also important. You will be inundated with new information, especially in your first few weeks, so expect to feel tired. Having adequate time to rest is vital. » Chat with other new starters to discover their experiences.
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In the first two parts of this series, we looked at what mindfulness is, reviewed some of the main benefits and identified fundamental mindfulness techniques.