While lifestyle-related conditions such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes are on the rise, district nurse numbers are falling. At the same time, traditional methods for providing lifestyle advice on factors such as smoking, alcohol intake and exercise have proven to be ineffective. This article examines how a technique called motivational interviewing, which seeks to build a partnership with the client, can promote positive change by strengthening the person's own motivation to change.
Exudate management in chronic wounds and hard-to-heal wounds is a vital process and community nurses need to be aware of the best practice evidence as well as correct product choice. This is particularly important when attempting to provide the optimum moist healing environment and achieve a balance of moisture in the wound bed. Another important element in chronic wounds is the promotion of autolytic debridement, which helps to ensure that healing is not complicated by any devitalised tissue, which can harbour bacteria and impede new tissue growth. This article investigates best practice in the treatment of chronic wounds, with a focus on the management of moisture in the wound bed. The author also looks at one dressing in particular, Cutimed HydroControl® (BSN medical, an SCA company), which uses an osmotic effect and a high moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) to ensure that excessive wound exudate is drawn away from the wound bed, while also ensuring that fresh exudate is produced to promote autolytic debridement and maintain moisture levels in dry wounds. Cutimed HydroControl is able to avoid inappropriate dressing use by facilitating the needs of both exuding and dry wounds, thereby ensuring an optimum moist wound environment
In each issue we investigate a hot topic currently affecting you and your community practice. Here, Jason Beckford-Ball looks at the current state of the NHS Mental Health Services and asks the question...
Though incidents suchasthis highlight the fragilityof life, they also show thestrength of thehuman spirit.With terribletragedy comesselfless acts of kindness,from both members of thepublic and trained clinicians.
Traditional values may appear to be in decline in some aspects of society, but all of us should seek to bring them into everyday working lives, not only for the benefit of ourselves, but also for those around us.
Sunday is a day we associate with friends and family. Cooking Sunday lunches, watching our favourite television shows and catching up with friends. But, for hundreds of thousands of older people across the UK, Sunday can be a day they dread. Contact the Elderly’s recent research reveals 76% of older people find Sunday to be the hardest day of the week.
Social care has become a hot topic in the news in the past year, with the worries and fears of the sector being widely reported. Many people may think it is an issue which does not affect them — but the reality is that most of us at some point in our lives will need care and support.
Experiences of emotional trauma can lead to poorer physical health. Trauma can originate from childhood experiences, domestic violence, being a refugee, or military service. Very often people who are homeless have experienced some kind of psychological trauma earlier in their life. Hence, it is extremely important that healthcare professionals have some knowledge of this process, if they are to offer holistic care to people.
With more people living longer, an increasing amount of care and support is being given in people’s homes. The Department of Health (DH, 2012) has highlighted how complex care, which was previously only delivered in hospital, is now being provided by district nursing teams and other multidisciplinary agencies.
