Wheezing is a common problem among preschool children (Bhatt, 2013), and its prevalence is rising in the UK (Kuehni et al, 2001). This has an inevitable impact on healthcare costs. Indeed, it is estimated that caring for this patient group costs around £53 million (Brand et al, 2008). This article informs general practice nurses (GPNs) about the condition which can vary greatly in frequency and acuity, so that appropriate supportive management and follow-up can be offered when a child presents with this condition to the surgery. The patient story sets the scene of a typical wheezing preschool child, and raises the questions about whether to treat or not to treat; the concerns parents have about treatment, acute episodes and the overall management of preschool children with wheeze.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained adult cardiac arrhythmia with over one million people diagnosed with AF in the UK (Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2014; Information Services Division [ISD] Scotland, 2015; Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2015; Stats Wales, 2015). This is the second article of two that discusses the need to improve the management of AF in primary care. ‘Part 1’ considered case identification and the assessment and management of AF-related stroke risk. ‘Part 2’ addresses optimum heart rate control and how this might be achieved, patient education and utilising audit tools to improve the quality of AF management in primary care.
This article provides an overview of eating disorders and the vital role of general practice nurses (GPNs) and primary care teams in identifying, assessing and referring on. It also looks at the role of GPNs and the primary care team in providing supportive care and physical risk management. People with eating disorders are relatively heavy users of primary care services, however it is more likely that they will initially present with another mental health issue. The GPN team can help to support specialists, patients and patients’ families with the management of eating disorders through the development of a compassionate, therapeutic relationship that understands and empathises with the patient and yet maintains firm boundaries, is vigilant about risk and is firmly pro-recovery. GPN teams can be ‘critical friends’ to someone who they may know well, gently encouraging healthy behaviours and being alert to potential warning signs in patients and/or concerns raised by parents/significant others.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, affecting 40,000 people (Patnick and Atkin, 2011). It is likely therefore that general practice nurses (GPNs) will encounter patients at risk of, or with the disease during everyday practice. This article gives GPNs a brief understanding of colorectal cancer, including identifying patients who may be at risk of developing the disease and who may benefit from screening and health promotion. GPNs can play an active role in managing patients with colorectal cancer, providing clinical interventions, while also offering advice and support.
Record-keeping is an integral part of the general practice nurse’s (GPN’s) skill set.
The new Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct (NMC, 2015) has record-keeping threaded throughout the new four standards highlighting its importance for all practitioners.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) used by GPNs aid the production of chronological and contemporaneous records.
Poor records are often reflective of poor practice.
GPNs need to always consider both professional and legal requirements for record-keeping.
This feature asks experts in their particular field to take a look at a therapy area and examine some of the challenges that general practice nurses (GPNs) may face. In this issue, we look at how best to prepare the wound bed for healing...
How can desloughing a wound aid the patient experience?
This piece was sponsored by an educational grant from Urgo Medical.
In each issue of the journal we speak to general practice nurses about their role in primary care. Here, Sarah Anderson and Melissa Canavan talk about why and how they set up the Leeds Respiratory Network.
Welcome to the third issue of the Journal of General Practice Nursing. This summer has been incredibly busy, and has featured lots of great news. In this issue, we’ll be sharing information about our exciting new workshop with Diabetes UK, a heart-warming graduation ceremony, and changes to inhaler device colours.
The coming months will see us holding the first study days for our new modules, and introducing our brand new Virtual Learning Environment, which we’re sure you’ll love!
We hope that you, too, are excited about this issue’s update and it gives you cause to join us in working towards our vision: Everyone living with a Long Term Condition receives high quality care and is empowered to manage their condition.
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