NEWS WORLD IN BRIEF Transforming care Nurse-led initiatives at seven hospitals in Boston, Massachusetts, have improved patient outcomes and saved more than £4.7 million. Nurses took part in a 16-month excellence and leadership programme, funded by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Their successes include reducing the average length of hospital stays, reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers and improving communication between departments. Jeanette Ives Erickson, chief nurse and senior vice-president for patient care services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said: ‘These initiatives confirm the vital role that nursing can and should have in the transformation of health care.’ Working in Japan Thirty six Filipino nurses and 147 caregivers have arrived to work in Japan under a bilateral agreement between the two countries. The healthcare workers will undergo Japanese language training for six months before being assigned to training and working facilities. Since 2009, more than 1,000 Filipino health workers have travelled to Japan under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement. Japan recruits from overseas, including Indonesia, because it has an ageing population and a dwindling supply of health workers. Nurse attacked A nurse was attacked by five men in a United Arab Emirates hospital after they accused him of laughing at a bereaved relative. The incident took place at Al Qassimi Hospital after a woman collapsed when she heard her relative had died. The attackers said the nurse laughed at the woman. The Asian nurse, said to be in his thirties, sustained bruises in the attack and is receiving treatment at the same hospital. Police have brought charges against the five alleged attackers.
NURSING STANDARD
‘Nurses are not just there for when patients are ill’ By Kat Keogh England’s top public health nurse is launching a guide for nurses on how they can play their part in improving the health of the nation. Public Health England (PHE) nursing director Viv Bennett is urging all nurses to ‘think beyond illness’ and help educate patients on how their lifestyle choices can affect their general health. Obesity rates in adults have risen by more than 10 per cent over the past two decades in the UK and charity Diabetes UK warned last week that one in three adults in England are on the cusp of developing type 2 diabetes. Professor Bennett and other nursing leaders have drawn up a framework for how nurses, midwives and allied health professionals can promote public health as part of their day-to-day work. The framework, which is due to be unveiled at the PHE annual conference in Birmingham next month, sets out how personalised care can improve the health of the population. It sets out six key areas, including making every contact with patients
count, health protection and supporting independence and wellbeing. For example, a patient with respiratory problems should be asked if they have had their flu vaccination. The framework, which will be available on the PHE website, also suggests models for local service development to address national priorities, such as tuberculosis. Professor Bennett told Nursing Standard that nurses have a pivotal public health role. ‘Public health is everyone’s business. We want to raise the visibility of nurses – they are not just there for when a patient is ill; they have an important role in giving advice on how to live healthy lives.’ Professor Bennett is also leading a ‘week of action’ next week, in the run-up to next month’s conference. This will include web chats, blogs, and facts and figures on public health concerns such as smoking, sexual health, obesity and child health (see box). In addition Nursing Standard is publishing a special public health edition next week.
Week of action highlights Monday June 23 Viv Bennett podcast outlining plans for public health nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions. PHE factsheet on the importance of physical activity published. Tuesday June 24 Child health web discussion. Blog by NHS England regional chief nurse (Midlands and East) Ruth May on preventing pressure ulcers. PHE factsheet on obesity published. Wednesday June 25 Nursing Standard will publish a
dedicated public health edition. PHE factsheet on smoking published. Thursday June 26 Twitter chat hosted by @WeNurses on ‘how can we all be health promoting practitioners’. Factsheet on alcohol published. Friday June 27 Blogs from Royal College of Midwives midwifery director Louise Silverton and RCN public health adviser Helen Donovan. Factsheet on oral health. Go to: tinyurl.com/py8jyk8
june 18 :: vol 28 no 42 :: 2014 13
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NURSING STANDARD
‘Nurses are not just there for when patients are ill’ By Kat Keogh England’s top public health nurse is launching a guide for nurses on how they can play their part in improving the health of the nation. Public Health England (PHE) nursing director Viv Bennett is urging all nurses to ‘think beyond illness’ and help educate patients on how their lifestyle choices can affect their general health. Obesity rates in adults have risen by more than 10 per cent over the past two decades in the UK and charity Diabetes UK warned last week that one in three adults in England are on the cusp of developing type 2 diabetes. Professor Bennett and other nursing leaders have drawn up a framework for how nurses, midwives and allied health professionals can promote public health as part of their day-to-day work. The framework, which is due to be unveiled at the PHE annual conference in Birmingham next month, sets out how personalised care can improve the health of the population. It sets out six key areas, including making every contact with patients
count, health protection and supporting independence and wellbeing. For example, a patient with respiratory problems should be asked if they have had their flu vaccination. The framework, which will be available on the PHE website, also suggests models for local service development to address national priorities, such as tuberculosis. Professor Bennett told Nursing Standard that nurses have a pivotal public health role. ‘Public health is everyone’s business. We want to raise the visibility of nurses – they are not just there for when a patient is ill; they have an important role in giving advice on how to live healthy lives.’ Professor Bennett is also leading a ‘week of action’ next week, in the run-up to next month’s conference. This will include web chats, blogs, and facts and figures on public health concerns such as smoking, sexual health, obesity and child health (see box). In addition Nursing Standard is publishing a special public health edition next week.
Week of action highlights Monday June 23 Viv Bennett podcast outlining plans for public health nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions. PHE factsheet on the importance of physical activity published. Tuesday June 24 Child health web discussion. Blog by NHS England regional chief nurse (Midlands and East) Ruth May on preventing pressure ulcers. PHE factsheet on obesity published. Wednesday June 25 Nursing Standard will publish a
dedicated public health edition. PHE factsheet on smoking published. Thursday June 26 Twitter chat hosted by @WeNurses on ‘how can we all be health promoting practitioners’. Factsheet on alcohol published. Friday June 27 Blogs from Royal College of Midwives midwifery director Louise Silverton and RCN public health adviser Helen Donovan. Factsheet on oral health. Go to: tinyurl.com/py8jyk8
june 18 :: vol 28 no 42 :: 2014 13
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
