British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
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Airway assessment and management skills are vital in an emergency department (ED) as they are the most sensitive indicator of patient deterioration. Problems as common as head injury or alcohol intoxication are associated with an inadequate airway or diminished respiratory function and can cause a patient's condition to decline rapidly. ⋯ The key is a thorough assessment to determine whether the airway is patent or not. This paper will discuss the importance and practicalities of airway management and assessment in the emergency and intensive care.
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Comparative Study
Fibromyalgia: an overview and comparison of treatment options.
Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by a multitude of physical and psychological symptoms which tend to persist overtime. The dominant symptom is that of widespread musculoskeletal pain. This paper discusses the possible causations of fibromyalgia, as well as the need for a biopsychosocial assessment to fully understand the pain experience and to inform treatment and the evidence base regarding therapeutic interventions.
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Inadvertant hypothermia is common among surgical patients and can result in serious complications. This article describes active warming systems which can be used preoperatively and intraoperatively to prevent hypothermia and maintain normothermia (normal body temperature).
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The NHS Future Forum has been asked by the Government to continue what it refers to as 'conversations' with patients, service users and professionals (Department of Health (DH), 2011a). The key focus points of the forum are information, education and training, integrated care and public health. ⋯ Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, launched a 'listening exercise' as a response to this widespread criticism. However, this too has been criticized after a confidential memo came to light suggesting that there was actually little room for manoeuvre in terms of changes to the Bill (Bosely et al, 2011).
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Patients undergoing surgery in the UK are seeing a rise in the development of enhanced recovery programmes as a result of increasing medical advances. Enhanced recovery is concerned with helping patients get better sooner after an operation by following a meticulous regime of care. ⋯ Nursing has much to offer through future creation of centrally coordinated, surgical nursing units focusing on patients' holistic experience. This article will briefly describe enhanced recovery, identify aspects of nursing knowledge that can have a positive influence, and outline practical changes to assist the development of such programmes, thereby benefiting all patients undergoing elective surgery.