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Top ten downloads
Below is a list of the latest top ten most downloaded articles from the Nursing Standard archive.
One: Intramuscular injection techniques
The Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC's) (2007) Standards for Medicines Management state that administration of medicines 'is not solely a mechanistic task to beperformed in strict compliance with the written prescription of a medical practitioner (now independent/supplementary prescriber). It requires thought and the exercise of professional judgement.'
Author: Janet Hunter
Issue: Volume 22, Number 24
Date: February 2008
Download: Intramuscular injection techniques
Two: Respiratory assessment
This article, part of Nursing Standard's clinical skills series, discusses the 'look, listen and feel' approach to respiratory assessment. This will assist nurses to carry out a basic respiratory assessment of the patient.
Authors: Janet Hunter | Karen Rawlings-Anderson
Date: June 2006
Issue: Volume 22, Number 41
Download: Respiratory assessment
Three: Thyroidectomy: post-operative care and common complications
Any surgical procedure involves risks. Thyroid surgery can cause potentially fatal complications during the early post-operative phase. It is essential that nurses have the knowledge and skills to detect early signs and symptoms of potential complications and take appropriate action. Early detection and rapid response are key to maintaining patient safety and minimising harm.
Author: Luís Furtado
Date: April 2011
Issue: Volume 25, Number 34
Download: Thyroidectomy
Four: An introduction to ethics in nursing
Ethics is concerned with 'right and wrong', although agreeing what is 'right' can be challenging. An understanding of ethics is essential to the delivery of skilled professional care. It is vital that nurses appreciate the value of ethics in their work. Ethics is relevant to clinical, practice-based issues and affects all areas of the professional nursing role. To apply ethics effectively, nurses must develop reasoning skills and understand the concepts and principles that assist ethical analysis. This article, the first in a series of articles relating to ethics and nursing, offers an introduction to ethics, primarily focusing on their application in clinical nursing practice. Throughout the article, the terms 'ethical' and 'moral' are used interchangeably.
Date: April 2007
Issue: Volume 21, Number 32
Download: An introduction to ethics in nursing
Five: Role of the nurse-to-nurse handover in patient care
The nurse-to-nurse handover is not taught formally during training, yet it is one of the most important rituals of the nursing shift. This article focuses on the structure and function of change-of-shift reports and lists the events that occur within them, describing the locations of the handover process and the mode of communication involved. The problems that can occur during handover are discussed and solutions are proposed.
Author: Sles Scovell
Date: January 2010
Issue: Volume 24, Number 20
Download: Role of the nurse-to-nurse handover in patient care
Six: Understanding the NMC code of conduct: a student perspective
The Code, published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008), provides standards of performance and ethics for nurses and midwives, and is a means of safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public. Guidance from the NMC may appear relatively straightforward, however it can be difficult to implement in practice. This article identifies specific challenges that nurses may be presented with when adhering to The Code, as well as more general issues in interpreting the standards.
Author: Hannah Sutcliffe
Date: August 2011
Issue: Volume 25, Number 52
Download: Understanding the NMC code of conduct: a student perspective
Seven: The importance of fluid balance in clinical practice
This article reviews the physiology that underpins normal fluid balance and discusses how fluid balance can be affected by illness. Clinical assessment of hydration and the importance of fluid balance record keeping are explained. Recommendations are made to improve fluid balance management in clinical practice and the professional importance of record keeping is highlighted.
Author: Katie Scales | Julie Pilsworth
Issue: Volume 22, Number 47
Date: July 2008
Download: The importance of fluid balance in clinical practice
Eight: Promoting self-awareness in nurses to improve nursing practice
This article explores the concept of self-awareness and describes how it can be beneficial to nurses on a personal and professional level. Practical tools such as the Johari Window are presented to assist the reader in this process. The authors discuss portfolio development, which provides the opportunity to document personal and professional growth.
Author: Kirsten Jack
Issue: Volume 21, Number 32
Date: April 2007
Download: Promoting self-awareness in nurses to improve nursing practice
Nine: Deep vein thrombosis: clinical nursing management
The occurrence of a deep vein thrombosis is potentially life threatening and rapid assessment and treatment are essential to prevent development of a pulmonary embolism. Prophylaxis and risk assessment are important aspects of DVT management.
Authors: Martha Wallis | Ricky Autar
Date: January 2001
Issue: Volume 15, Number 18
Download: Deep vein thrombosis: clinical nursing management
Ten: The student-mentor relationship: a review of the literature
The student-mentor relationship is a complex one, which can be rewarding as well as problematic at times. Mentors want to provide a valuable practice experience for students but are constrained by multiple demands and limited resources. The mentor's role is paramount in student assessment and the mentor should receive the support necessary to enhance student learning.
Author: Zoe Wilkes
Issue: Volume 20, Number 37
Date: May 2006
Download: The student-mentor relationship: a review of the literature
The RCN Publishing Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing, the world's largest organisation for nurses. RCN Publishing produces one weekly, eight monthly and two quarterly nursing publications. Nursing Standard, the flagship journal, is the UK's biggest selling weekly for nursing. It is produced by RCN Publishing Company along with a suite of specialist nursing journals - Cancer Nursing Practice, Mental Health Practice, Learning Disability Practice, Nursing Children and Young People, Nursing Management, Emergency Nurse, Nursing Older People, Nurse Researcher and Primary Health Care. RCN Publishing Company also produce the RCN Bulletin, a major source of up-to-the-minute information for RCN members in all specialities, grades and working environments. With the latest nurse vacancies from trusts nationwide, it has become the most cost-effective nurse recruitment magazine available.