Article: Equipping children's nurses to de-escalate conflict and communicate challenging information

This article considers some of the challenging situations that healthcare staff may encounter when there are tensions and disagreements between the family of a child and the wider professional staff.  The focus is on disagreements about what some might consider futile critical care. The options available to support the healthcare team and therefore avoid litigation are explored, along with identifying situations that might need de-escalation.   A CPD multiple choice quiz is also available on request.

Crawford, D et al. 2020.  Equipping children's nurses to de-escalate conflict and communicate challenging information.   Nursing Children and Young People, 32 (5) p 23 - 31.

Contact the library for a copy

Article: Developing the personal qualities required for effective nurse leadership.

Leadership within the healthcare system should be visible at all levels, rather than being dependent solely on the characteristics of those who exert control from the top of the organisation.  All nurses can act as leaders, and providing effective leadership requires them to develop specific personal qualities and behaviours.  This article explores four 'leadership intelligences' - spiritual, emotional, business or practice, and political and discusses how understanding these can assist nurses to enhance their leadership skills.

Lucas B. (2019) Developing the personal qualities required for effective nurse leadership. Nursing Standard. 34 (12) p 45-48

Contact the library for a copy

Article: Long-term nurse-parent relationships in paediatric palliative care

Close, long-lasting relationships frequently exist in children's palliative care and can enhance emotional support and influence how parents manage their role in the face of uncertainty.  This literature review on the long term relationships between parents and nurses in children's palliative care identified 4 main themes: bonds, attachment and trust; sharing the journey; going the extra mile and boundaries and integrity.  All themes revealed an element of tension between closeness and professionalism.  Gaining a greater understanding of how closeness and professionalism are successfully managed by children's palliative care nurses is thought to be useful for pre and post registration nurse education.

Brimble, M. 2019. Long-term nurse-parent relationships in paediatric palliative care: a narrative literature review.  International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 25 (11) p 542-550.

Contact the library for a copy

Article: Achieving beneficial outcomes for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions receiving palliative care and their families

The aim of this international review was to investigate beneficial outcomes in palliative care from the perspective of children and families and the contexts and hidden mechanisms through which these outcomes can be achieved.  Sixty papers were included in the study.  They found trusted relationships with healthcare professionals are essential, and this in turn triggers a number of underlying mechanisms including advocacy, decision making and shared emotional impact, which lead to important outcomes being achieved.  A number of recommendations for practice are made.

Mitchell, S. et al. 2019.  Achieving beneficial outcomes for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions receiving palliative care and their families: a realistic review.  Palliative Medicine, epub.

Contact the library for a copy (not available to hospices outside the UK)

Article: Enhance the quality of clinical supervision in nursing practice

This article provides an overview of clinical supervision, outlining it's features and functions.  It includes 3 case studies relating to group clinical supervision, discussing how this was implemented in each case and the various methods of group working that were used.

Driscoll, J. et al. 2019.  Enhance the quality of clinical supervision in nursing practice.  Nursing Standard, 34 (5) p 43-47.

Contact the library for a copy

Article: How to get the most out of reflective discussions

A two page easy to read article on the benefits that reflection can bring to staff working in stressful work areas.  Particularly useful for staff undertaking NMC revalidation.

How to get the most out of reflective discussions.  Nursing Standard, 2019. 34 (5) p 37-39.

Contact the library for a copy

Article: Engaging leadership - a better approach to leading a team

This article discusses a specific approach to leadership, called Engaging Transformational Leadership, and how it provides a framework for nursing leaders.

Alban-Metcalfe, J. & Alimo-Metcalfe, B. 2018. Engaging leadership - a better approach to leading a team.  Nursing Times, 114 (6) p 21-24

Contact the library for a copy

New Book: Delegation

Aimed at people who are short on time, this condensed and accessible book is aimed at helping managers who are responsible for the performance of others.  Recommended for those new to management or find it difficult to delegate work.

Brian Rothwell. Delegation. Directory of Social Change Speed Reads.

Contact the library for a loan

New Book: Interviewing

This short and easy to read book covers the essential elements to make sure you get the right people in the right job.  Includes top tips, examples and case studies.

Heather Brierley.  Interviewing.  Director of Social Change Speed Reads

Contact the library for a loan

New Book: Motivating staff

This short easy to read book aims to support managers to create the right conditions to get their best from their team.  It's also useful for those planning to move into a more management role.

Chrissie Wright. Motivating People.  Directory of Social Change Speed Reads.

Contact the library for a loan

New Book: Presentations

Many people have a fear of speaking in public.  This short and easy to read book helps sweep away anxieties and provides skills to present with confidence.

Maria Pemberton  Presentations.  Directory of Social Change Speed Reads.

Contact the library for a loan

Article: How new nursing roles affect accountability and delegation

With the emergence of healthcare support staff, the boundaries of the role of registered nurses have been blurred. When delegating tasks to unregistered support workers, nurses need reassurance that their colleagues are adequately trained, competent and responsible.  To ensure the safety and reliability of nursing interventions, there may be a need to standardise the education and continuing professional development of all staff.  This article explores the debate around this area.

Kendall, N. 2018. How new nursing roles affect accountability and delegation.  Nursing Times, 114 (4) p 45-47.

Contact the library for a copy

New Book: Reflective practice in nursing

Using clear language and insightful examples, case studies and scenarios, the book shows what reflection is, why it's important and how it can be used to improve practice. 

Howatson-Jones, L. 2016.  Reflective Practice,  3rd Edition. Sage. 

Available for loan or individual chapters can be requested.  More details in the library catalogue.

New Book: Leadership, management and team working in nursing

Written in a clear and straight forward language the book covers team working, negotiation skills, mentoring, and how to create a learning environment.  It also looks at developing confidence as a manager and leader.  This 3rd edition has been updated to include the revised standards of proficiency from the NMC.

Ellis, P. 2019.  Leadership, management and team working in nursing.  3rd Edition. Sage

Available on loan from the library or individual chapters can be requested.  More details in the library catalogue

Article: Effects of singing groups on staff well-being: a feasibility study

A piece of research looking at the benefits of staff singing in choirs.    The research found that work well being increased after the singing programme, both immediately after a session and cumulatively over time.  Participants mentioned feeling increasingly enthusiastic, positive and inspired to meet the challenges they experienced at work.  The authors conclude that although there is insufficient evidence to strongly recommend singing groups for staff, this study suggests they are likely to be beneficial to those who attend.

Skingley, A. & Ross, L. 2018.  Effects of singing groups on staff well-being: a feasibility study.  Nursing Standard, 33 (3) p 58 - 63.

Contact the Library  for a copy.

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] 

To request this article complete the online form

Article: Paediatric palliative nursing: the tensions between closeness and professional distance

Caring for children who are dying puts special demands on health care staff.  This article looks at how nurses working in children's palliative care deal with the tensions of supporting children and families at end of life while being aware of the need for professional distance in certain situations.

Buder, R. & Fringer, A. 2016. Paediatric palliative nursing: the tensions between closeness and professional distance.  European Journal of Palliative Care, 23 (6) p 278 - 280.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] The duty of candour: what it means for practicing nurses

Nurses now have a statutory and professional duty to be open and candid with patients about any errors in their care and treatment. A professional duty of candour is a key requirement of the new revised Nursing and Midwifery Council Code.  In this 2 page article the author gives a good overview of what this means and the impact for nurses.

Griffith, R. 2015. The duty of candour: what it means for practicing nurses.  British Journal of Nursing, 24 (21) p 1102 - 1102.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Paediatric death and dying: exploring coping strategies of health professionals

The aim of this research was to explore health professionals' perceptions of bereavement support surrounding the loss of a child. Semi-structured interviews were held with 10 health professionals including doctors, nurses and social workers who were directly involved in the care of the dying child and family in 7 cases of paediatric death.  The results showed that coping emerged as peer support, personal coping strategies, family support, physical impact of support and spiritual beliefs.  The research also revealed health professionals' perceptions of their support provision.

Forster, E. & Hafiz, A. 2015.  Paediatric death and dying: exploring coping strategies of health professionals and perceptions of support provision. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 21 (6) pp 294 - 300.

You can request this article from the library or download yourself using your Athens username and password. To request a copy from the library click here fill in form and return to the library.

To access electronically, click here log in using your Athens username and password and search via the CINAHL database.

[Article] Leadership of a palliative care team - a personal view

What does the role of a palliative care team leader involve?  The authors discuss the attributes a good team leader requires and what the ideal palliative care environment should comprise of.

Najun, M. & Centeno, C. 2014.  Leadership of a palliative care team - a personal view.  European Journal of Palliative Care 21 (6) p 166 - 169.

To request a copy, click here, fill in form and return to library.