Complications Resources

19 December 2023
Hypertension is common and is a cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Many affected are unaware that they have a problem, and it is found opportunistically when their blood pressure is recorded during a consultation for another problem. If the disease is inadequately treated, it can have potentially fatal outcomes. Nurses and non-medical prescribers are likely to come across patients with raised blood pressure readings during routine clinic appointments. This article hopes to give them a better understanding of the condition, its treatment and complications, with the aim of reducing the risk of serious problems and improving outcomes for all those affected by this potentially dangerous condition.
Topics:  Treatment
12 October 2023
Coughs are extremely common and vary in duration and degree of severity. Coughs of any duration are a frequent reason for seeking medical advice and unresolved coughs lasting beyond eight weeks are a cause of patient anxiety and reduced quality of life. Chronic coughs are those lasting for more than eight weeks. There are many causes, some more common than others. This article hopes to give nurses and non-medical prescribers who are approached by patients asking for advice some insight into diagnosing and resolving the problem, with the aim of improving quality of life for those affected.
Topics:  Treatment
09 June 2022
There are over 200,000 people in the UK with a stoma and it is known that skin complications are common. Therefore, it is likely that nurses will encounter patients in the community with peristomal skin complications. Commonly, problems occur due to appliance leakage which might be because of weight change for example. Leaks might be
caused by uneven skin surface, with a skin dip or crease, which means that the stoma appliance cannot adhere adequately to the abdominal 
Topics:  Urostomy
09 June 2022
Pneumonia is defined as an infection of the lung tissue in which the air sacs become filled with microorganisms, fluid and inflammatory cells, affecting the function of the lungs (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2021a). The disease can affect anyone at any age and is a cause of morbidity mortality around the world, and particularly likely to result in poor outcomes in the elderly, babies and young children, and those with additional health problems (Htun et al, 2019). This article focuses on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults, and hopes to give nurses and non-medical prescribers an insight into the recognition, treatment and management of this disease in the adult population, with the aim of reducing hospital admissions and improving outcomes for those patients affected.
Topics:  Treatment
20 October 2014

This article provides an overview of lymphoedema and its management. It includes information on the definition of lymphoedema, anatomy (lymphatics), lymphoedema staging, complications and the psychosocial impact. This leads onto a discussion of the management methods that can be delivered by community staff and practice nurses who have received appropriate training. Involving patients and their family/carers in all aspects of the management plan can help them to cope with this lifelong condition and promote concordance with treatment.

Topics:  Compression

Jenny Marsh describes a clinic which was developed to meet the needs of children requiring circumcision for cultural reasons.
Jenny Marsh RGN, DNCert, BA (Hons) is a Community Anticoagulation Nurse, Public Health, De Montfort University, Leicester. Article accepted for publication: November 2002

Topics:  Complications