Article: Independent non-medical prescribing in children's hospices in the UK: a practice snapshot

This article aimed to identify non-medical prescribing in children's hospices, focusing on the perceived benefits and challenges. Internet based questionnaires were sent to 55 hospice services, with 20 responses, identifying a total of 39 non medical prescribers (NMPs).  Perceived benefits included timely access to medicines, increased efficiency and accuracy in the admission process and medicine reconciliation, and improved symptom control. Perceived barriers were confidence, particularly due to the wide range of conditions and ages.  The study showed NMPs are making a significant contribution to the prescribing workforce within hospices but a number of challenges need to be addressed.

Tatterton, M. 2017.  Independent non-medical prescribing in children's hospices in the UK: a practice snapshot.  International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 23 (8) p 386 - 391.

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Article: Mental health and well-being of parent caring for a ventilator-dependent child

This review of the literature was to determine the social and emotional effects of parenting a child on long term ventilation who is cared for at home.  Their findings showed parents' experience a lack of formal and informal support, financial difficulties, limited access to respite care and feelings of social isolation.  The article discusses the role healthcare staff have in improving parents' coping skills and resilience.

Lee. J and Lynn, F 2017. Mental health and well-being of parents caring for a ventilator-dependent child.  Nursing Children and Young People, 29 (5) p 33-40

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Article: Keeping all options open: Parents' approaches to advance care planning

This study uses semi-structured interviews relating to the approaches used in, and experience of, advance care planning for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. It highlights that parents' approaches vary according to the type of decision required and also the time when the decision is sought. The study showed that parents views often change over time and it's important to allow them to keep their options open.

Beecham, E et al. 2017. Keeping all options open: Parents' approaches to advance care planning. Health Expectations (20) p 675-684 [online]

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Article: 'I have to live with the decisions I make': laying a foundation for decision making for children with life-limiting conditions and life-threatening illnesses

The relationship between parents and healthcare professionals  is critical to the care and treatment of children with life-limiting conditions. This article lays outs factors that result in successful consultations and the maintenance of a successful relationship.

Bluebond-Langner, M et al 2017. 'I have to live with the decisions I make': laying a foundation for decision making for children with life-limiting conditions and life-threatening illnesses. Archives of Diseases in Childhood 2017 (102)  p468-471

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Article: Drugs for opioid induced constipation

This article is part of a series of articles reviewing areas of practice, covering new drugs and old drugs with important new indications or concerns. It provides an overview of constipation resulting from use of opioids including treatments available and effectiveness. It also considers safety of the options, how the different treatments are taken and cost effectiveness.

Boland J, Boland E, 2017. Drugs for opioid induced constipation. The British Medical Journal, September, 358 p 326-329

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Article: The experience of providing end of life care at a children's hospice: a qualitative study

This study explored the experiences of staff providing end of life care in a children's hospice.   The findings revealed that the hospice provided a model of excellence in supporting staff and reducing the challenging aspects of end of life care through peer and organizational support.  Key recommendations for improving the experience included advanced communication training, and more knowledge sharing with palliative care specialist colleagues in the acute setting.

McConnell, T. & Porter, S. 2017, The experience of providing end of life care at a children's hospice: a qualitative study. BMC Palliative Care, (16), 15 [online] 

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Article: Multi-agency practice for developing a blended diet for children fed via a gastrostomy

This article describes the approach taken by an NHS Trust to enable a child with complex needs to receive a blended diet at school.  Working with the parents and local school, it involved the development of a protocol, risk assessment, multi-agency care plan, training, and assessment of competencies of school staff  who administered the blended diet at school. The initiative led to positive outcomes for all involved, including the school and wider community.

Thomas, S. 2017. Multi-agency practice for developing a blended diet for children fed via a gastrostomy.  Nursing Children and Young People, 29 (6) p 22 - 25.

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Article: Fifteen-minute consultation - perinatal palliative care

This article defines and describes a model for providing perinatal palliative care.  It includes the range of conditions in which perinatal palliative care may be appropriate, helpful phrases to use with parents', pre-birth planning issues, and location of care.

Sidwick, P et al, 2017. Fifteen-minute consultation - perinatal palliative care. Archives of Disease in Childhood Education and Practice 102 p 114-116.

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Article: Maintaining family life balance while facing a child's imminent death - A mixed methods study

A child's end of life phase is an extremely vulnerable time, pushing parents to their mental and physical limits.  This Swiss study aimed to find out what needs parents have during this phase and what can be put in place to support them.   Parents who's child at died either at home or hospital were included.  The results showed that parents created an intimate lifeworld in which they tried to provide some normality in daily life before their child's death, which exhausted them.   The study concluded that paediatric end of life care at home is only feasible if parents make extraordinary efforts and additional help is provided with housekeeping help and psychological support.

Eskola, K et al 2017. Maintaining family life balance while facing a child's imminent death - A mixed methods study. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2017 p1-11 [online]

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Article: Real world challenges in delivering person-centred care: A community-based case study.

This article discusses a case study that looked at some of the challenges in providing person-centred care that was experienced by a student nurse and mentor in the community. It looks at the issues central to delivering person centred, care.  The outcome was a partnership of care, not an imposition of the expertise of the health professionals.

Riding S, et al 2017 Real world challenges in delivering person-centred care: A community-based case study. British Journal of Community Nursing 2017 August 22 (8) p391-394

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Article: Complications of stomas

An overview of the new guidelines produced by the Association of Stoma Care Nurses.  The article includes information on the 3 main types of stomas, constipation, care of a blocked ileostomy, urinary infection, and sore skin.

Burch, J., 2017. Complications of stomas: their aetiology and management. British Journal of Community Nursing, 2017 August 22 (8) p 380-384.

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Article: Preventing infection in intravenous catheters in the community

The article provides a good overview on preventing infection relating to the use of intravenous catheters.  It includes types of devices and infections, key guidelines, dressings, and monitoring phlebitis.

Purssell, E 2017. Preventing infection in intravenous catheters in the community. British Journal of community Nursing, 2017 August 22 (8) p 374 -378.

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RCN Guidance: When someone asks for your assistance to die

This updated guidance was developed to support nurses, HCAs, and other health professionals in adult practice who may be asked by patients, or their families or carers, to become involved in assisting suicide. It covers the law on assisted suicide in the UK, as well as the law on advance decisions. 

RCN, 2017.  When someone asks for your assistance to die.  Download guidance here

Article - Guide to developing communication and social interaction

This article includes some of the material which is currently being prepared for adding to the PMLD LINK web site - http://www.pmldlink.org.uk/  The article gives an overview on affective communication, intensive interaction, objects of reference and personalized technology.

Ashdown, R. 2017. Guides to developing communication and social interaction.  PMLD Link, 29 (1) p18 - 20.

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Article: The Mental Capacity Act: 'Best interests' - a review of the literature

This review of the literature looks at the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act between October 2007 and December 2016.   It discusses what is best practice, who can make a best practice decision, the advance decision to refuse treatment, and the role of the independent mental capacity advocate,

Marshall, H and Sprung, S 2017 The Mental Capacity Act: 'Best interests' - a review of the literature. British Journal of Community Nursing, 2017 August 22 (8) p 384 -389.

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RCN Guidance for mentors of nursing and midwifery students

This guidance outlines the responsibilities of a mentor alongside those of students, higher education institutions (HEIs) and practice-based learning providers.

RCN, 2017. Guidance for mentors of nursing and midwifery students. Download guidance here

RCN Guidance: Principles of consent

This document aims to provide information to registered nurses and other healthcare staff to guide their practice around consent.  It includes children and young people.

RCN, 2017.  Principles of consent. Download guidance here

RCN Guidance: Standards for assessing, measuring and monitoring vital signs in infants, children and young people

The monitoring and measurement of vital signs and clinical assessment are core essential skills for all health care practitioners working with infants, children and young people. This guidance applies to professionals who work in acute care settings, as well as those who work in GP surgeries, walk-in clinics, telephone advice and triage services, schools and other community settings.

RCN, 2017. Standards for assessing, measuring and monitoring vital signs in infants, children and young people.   Download guidance here