Community nurses Resources

The population is ageing and so we are seeing an increase in the prevalence and incidence of age-related conditions, such as frailty and dementia. These two conditions can often go ‘hand in hand’, making it important to ensure appropriate recognition, assessment and then management of each when experienced together. This paper uses a case study approach to illustrate and discuss the issues as relating to community nurse practice.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) held its annual Awards Ceremonies on 8th December in London. Two ceremonies were held, including the presentation of some of the most prestigious awards in nursing, including: 

• The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Award for Outstanding Service
• Fellowship of the Institute
• The Queen’s Nurse title
• The International Community Nurse of the Year Award
• Presentation of the QNI Gold Badge.

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms characterised by behavioural changes, loss of cognitive and social functioning brought about by progressive neurological disorders. It is estimated that around one million people live with a dementia in the UK, with that figure set to rise to 1.2 million by the year 2040. We are learning more about the risk factors for developing dementia over the life course. This paper discusses the non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors for dementia and considers health promotion and health education activities that can be used by community nurses.

Melanoma awareness month, held annually in May, aims to promote sun safety and education on checking skin for signs and symptoms of melanoma. Earlier this year, Melanoma Focus surveyed over 1,000 people in the UK to assess public knowledge and attitudes on melanoma prevention and detection.

Cigarette smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of ill health and death. Despite a continued decline, figures show that 14.4% or six million adults still smoke in the UK, with those aged between 25 and 34 years being the highest smokers (Action on Smoking and Health [ASH], 2019). The White Paper, ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’ (Department of Health [DH], 2011) recognises the impact that smoking has among younger people in England.

A syringe driver is a device used for administering medications subcutaneously to patients in a range of healthcare settings (Dickman and Schneider, 2016). However, this device is most commonly used in palliative and end-of-life care, which this article will focus on. They are small, battery-operated devices allowing portability and discretion, which are placed under the skin (subcutaneously) and typically infuse medication over 24 hours before requiring replenishment (Marie Curie, 2021). Using a syringe driver does not always signify that a person has reached the last days of their life. Instead, they function as a convenient method of administering medication for those patients who are unable to take prescriptions orally. The Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines (2020) explain that their use is valuable for patients who are experiencing bowel obstruction, malabsorption, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia or reduced consciousness, such as that seen towards the end of life.

In each issue we investigate a hot topic currently affecting you and your community practice.

The last 12 months have highlighted the vital contribution that nurses have made in treating and caring for patients across the globe during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, clinical research has been placed in the spotlight, as breakthroughs in treatments for, and protection against, Covid-19 have only been made possible due to pioneering and innovative clinical research trials. This dual focus on nurses and clinical research creates a real opportunity to highlight the research that nurses are undertaking within their own areas of clinical practice to raise the profile of research within the nursing profession.

In each issue we investigate a hot topic currently affecting you and your community
practice. Here, we ask... how can community nurses support carers?