Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
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The effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain relief has been challenged. This article evaluates systematic review findings and demonstrates that studies using appropriate TENS technique and dosage are more likely to demonstrate clinical efficacy. Therefore, it seems reasonable to continue to use TENS as a pain management intervention.
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Intentional rounding is a structured approach whereby nurses conduct checks on patients at set times to assess and manage their fundamental care needs. Concerns about poor standards of basic nursing care have refocused attention on the need to ensure fundamental aspects of care are delivered reliably. A literature review was conducted to inform nurses planning to use this approach in their practice and to direct future research in this area. The aim is to explore the implementation and use of intentional rounding and its effectiveness in improving patient care.
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Sleep is a fundamental component of good health, however its promotion in acute hospital settings does not appear to be a priority. This literature review, which considered qualitative and quantitative research methodology, aimed to determine the factors that affect the quality of sleep experienced by patients in hospital, and the effects of sleep deprivation on the health and wellbeing of these individuals. Causes of sleep disruption are varied and include environmental and bio-cognitive factors, including pain, bright light, noise, anxiety and stress. The environmental and bio-cognitive consequences of sleep deprivation on the health and recovery of hospital inpatients are outlined.
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Review Case Reports
Preventing acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD patients.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk of developing acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) if given high-concentration uncontrolled oxygen inappropriately. This article analyses a critical incident involving a patient who developed AHRF, and identifies areas for improvement in clinical practice that would improve the standard of care for patients with COPD.
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Emergency care services in the UK are receiving increasing numbers of patients presenting with a wide range of problems, from life-threatening conditions to minor injury or illness. All patients seeking emergency care need to be assessed and classified to prioritise those who have the most urgent problems and are in need of immediate care. ⋯ It explores the development of triage and describes the nationally recognised Manchester Triage System. The professional and legal responsibilities of the triage nurse are also discussed.