Viewpoints Resources

Here, Carole Young, professional nurse advocate, independent tissue viability nurse consultant and associate lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University, reflects on the impact of the pandemic on specialist nurses in the last two years and considers what is needed next in terms of support and recovery of self and service. The role of compassionate
leadership and professional nurse advocacy (PNA) will be discussed to share an understanding of how restorative clinical supervision (RCS) can be used to support emotional recovery and plan for future development. Models including A-EQUIP and the GROW coaching model used by PNAs to guide RCS will be explained as tools which can
support personal reflection and recovery through personal actions for quality improvement

Here, Joan Gracie, talks about the importance of addressing blind spots in preconception health and why she wanted to get involved in the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland’s (QNIS’) new programme, Healthier Pregnancies, Better Lives, to support women to better prepare for pregnancy.

Here, Jaqui Walker, chats about the things you can do to support your team and boost morale during the Covid crisis.

Here, Jaqui Walker, chats about how experience has taught her to stop and think when something just doesn’t feel quite right.

Here, Jaqui Walker, chats about the highs and lows of general practice nursing and invites you to share your thoughts, frustrations and experiences.

In this new regular feature, Jaqui Walker chats about the highs and lows of general practice nursing and invites you to share your thoughts, frustrations and experiences.

Why NICE quality standards should be applied in practice.

Here, Nick Baillie, describes what quality standards are and who they are for, as well as how to get involved in their development.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) was established in 1999 and initially produced guidance, including technology appraisals and clinical guidelines for the NHS. Since this time, NICE has been asked to develop a range of other types of guidance, run different programmes of work, and support the implementation and use of its products. The scope of NICE has also been extended to cover the public health and social care sectors. Among all these developments, the NICE quality standards programme was established in 2009.

Allergy UK is the leading national patient information charity, providing advice and support to the estimated 21 million people living with allergic disease in the UK.

Allergic disorders are now the most common chronic conditions in children and young people, encompassing asthma, eczema, food allergy, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and drug allergy (European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology [EAACI], 2016).

Toby Capstick highlights why healthcare professionals and patients need the new UK Inhaler Group standards.

Teaching correct inhaler technique has long been known to be key in the management of respiratory conditions; the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network asthma (BTS/SIGN, 2016) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (NICE, 2010) guidelines give almost identical advice to healthcare professionals; namely, that inhalers should be prescribed only after patients have received training in the use of the device, and have demonstrated satisfactory technique, which is repeated regularly thereafter. This recommendation is emphasised in the NICE asthma and COPD quality standards (NICE, 2013; 2016).