‘Appeared to sleep well’: How much sleep has your patient had and why does...
Nurses are in a unique position to promote multi-pronged approaches, based on research, to enhance the environment so that patients can gain the most benefit from sleep.
Skin tear rates: a quality of care indicator
Although skin tears represent more than half of all skin injuries in older adults, they have been described as forgotten wounds2, receiving little attention or research.
Nursing portfolios: a simple guide to competency self-assessment
Developing a portfolio and interpreting the Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies remains a confusing landscape for many nurses. This article provides supportive advice and examples of how to effectively self-assess nursing practice against the competencies, especially for nurses randomly selected for a recertification audit. By Liz Manning
Safe care for multicultural patients in acute care
Patients from minority ethnic groups experience challenges in the healthcare system resulting from cultural and language factors. This article looks at some of the challenges that multicultural patients can experience as in-patients and suggests some strategies to help minimise those challenges.
Fundamental nursing care: getting back to ‘basics’
Fundamental cares provide the foundation for all nursing care. So, what are fundamental, ‘basic’ or essential cares, and what enables or stops nurses providing this care?
Preventing and managing blood clots in pregnancy
Every year in New Zealand around 4,000 people develop a blood clot in a vein. This article looks at venous thromboembolism – in particular why pregnancy puts women at increased risk – and how to help prevent, diagnose and treat pregnancy-associated venous blood clots.
Do nurses ‘eat their own’? Identifying and managing workplace bullying
Workplace bullying is a pervasive problem for nursing in New Zealand, resulting in harmful consequences for individuals exposed to bullying and their organisations. This article explores the problem of bullying, strategies for its prevention and management, and the obstacles to resolving bullying complaints.
Peripheral IV cannulae (PIVC): Saving a line might just save a life.
It is estimated that over half of all hospital patients have an intravenous catheter inserted. Inserting peripheral intravenous cannulae (PIVC) is now a commonplace procedure; however, more can be done to reduce the risk of complications from these invasive devices.
Prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections
Eight out of 10 healthcare-associated urinary tract infections are attributed to poorly managed indwelling urinary catheters. The longer the catheter remains in situ, the higher the risk for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).
‘Legal highs’ and mental health: raising nurse awareness
How can you as a nurse identify and manage risks around NPS in your everyday nursing practice? By David & Bernadette Solomon
DR WELLNESS
More than just a ‘pill for every ill’
Dr Tracy Chandler (a.k.a. Dr Wellness) says we need to move beyond the current ‘pill for every ill’ model of general practice to a more patient-centred integrative approach.
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“There for me every step of the way”
“Lucky” is not an adjective many people would choose after going through what Barbara Bew experienced. Yet despite enduring a terrifying domestic assault after...
