Wound fluid, or exudate, is a normal consequence of healing but physiological circumstances within the individual or their wound can arise, which lead to excessive wound fluid production. There is a risk of maceration and excoriation of surrounding skin, which can cause distress and impact on quality of life. Therefore robust assessment and nursing intervention can successfully manage exudate and facilitate improved wound healing.
Vulval health disorders can be painful and chronic conditions. The link between long-term painful illness and the mental wellbeing of patients is firmly established. Taking into account the nature of vulval health conditions, it is important to gain an understanding into the impact they can have upon a patient’s quality of life. As part of an initiative aimed at expanding insight into the realities of living with this type of problem, the British Association of Dermatologists surveyed 325 British women who had suffered, or were currently suffering, from a vulval health disorder.
The study took the form of an online survey, collecting mostly quantitative data, with some qualitative insights. Responses were gathered under the categories of demographics; vulval condition; treatment; physical impact; impact upon career and social life; impact upon romantic and/or sexual relationships, and effect on emotional and mental wellbeing. Eighty-nine percent of survey respondents reported that their vulval health disorder had negatively affected their emotional and mental wellbeing. Patients suffering with a vulval health disorder were twice as likely to have suffered with depression and 22% reported having contemplated self-harm or suicide as a result of their condition. Overall, vulval health conditions were found to have a significant impact on quality of life for patients, affecting every aspect to some extent.
It is widely recognised that the NHS is facing unprecedented challenges in trying to improve the quality of services provided, while managing the most severe and protracted period of resource constraint in its history (NHS Confederation, 2014; Today’s NHS, 2015). The hour-a-day project was specifically designed by the author’s trust as an efficiency initiative, with the aim of saving an hour a day for each team member, releasing half that time as cashable savings, with the other half retained for the benefit of patient care. Saving time across 4,175 trust employees offered considerable scope for achieving efficiencies and reducing costs.
In addition to achieving savings where possible, many services report that they now make better and smarter use of their time and resources (Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, 2015). The hour-a-day initiative was in place from autumn 2013 and drew to a close at the end of February 2015. A total of 92 services completed the process and delivered a combined saving of £1.9 million. Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (2015) demonstrated that the project was not overly complicated and simply offered an opportunity for busy staff members to take a reflective but introspective look at the way they work. For the majority, the hour-a-day initiative acted as a springboard for staff and managers alike to address and solve problems together.
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder which has a major impact on the lives of sufferers and families. Although currently there is no cure for this disease, a variety of therapeutic interventions can alleviate the symptoms. It is important that nurses are able to differentiate allergic and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) from viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in order to best manage their patients. It is also necessary to ask appropriate questions of those patients attending for asthma review, as
they may have unrecognised and untreated disease. Familiarity with the range of medications and their administration is advocated. Patients with troublesome, non-responding symptoms need to be referred, as do those with red flag signs.
Welcome to JCN’s learning zone. By reading the article in each issue, you can learn all about the key principles of subjects that are vital to your role as a community nurse. Once you have read the article, visit the learning-zone to evaluate your knowledge on this topic by answering the 10 questions in the e-learning unit; all answers can be found in the article. If you answer the questions correctly, you can download your certificate, which can be used in your continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio as evidence of your continued learning.
Jenny Smyth, adult nursing student at Queen's University, Belfast, is also a key worker for an adult with a learning disability and a member of the Squad UK for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.
I completed the BTEC level 3 extended diploma in health and social care at the Southern Regional College in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. We studied a total of 18 units over two years as well as completing 100 hours of work placements, which I undertook in a surgical ward in Craigavon Area Hospital and a children’s ward in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. I also volunteered with St John’s Ambulance and in a local nursing home, which involved assisting at mealtimes and shadowing the different clinicians.
In each issue of the Journal of Community Nursing we investigate a hot topic currently affecting our readers. Here, Jason Beckford-Ball looks at the state of NHS mental health provision in the community, and asks the question...
Community nursing is becoming more stressful and some nurses are at risk of burnout. Angela Hall, a former district nurse and Macmillan clinical nurse specialist, explores what can be done...
Every day, community nurses are faced with a multitude of illnesses and conditions, some of which will be easy recognisable while others will be harder to spot. In this respect, the complex make-up of the human body itself presents a challenge. One condition that may not be easily recognisable and which may rarely be encountered by community nurses is complex regional pain syndrome. Here, I hope to provide some guidance on this condition for nurses, and, in particular, help speed-up any diagnosis and subsequent rehabilitation.
The experience of homelessness raises a person’s risk for a number of communicable diseases, long-term conditions, mental health issues and substance use. The trauma caused by fleeing from war and persecution and leaving the security of your home also has a profound impact on mental and physical health. Health outcomes for people from the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities are among the poorest of any group, and sex workers have among the highest rates of drug addiction.
