Familiarity with the clinical environment, achieved by priming, improves time to antibiotic administration in a simulated paediatric sepsis scenario: a randomised control trial.

Aim: The early administration of antibiotics in sepsis reduces mortality and improves outcomes. This randomised control trial evaluated the effect of environmental priming (EP) on healthcare student performance in a simulated paediatric sepsis scenario.

Methods: Medical and nursing students were randomised into primed and unprimed groups.

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

This article considers some of the challenging situations that children's nurses may encounter when there are tensions and disagreements between the family of the child or young person in their care and the wider professional team. The focus is on disagreements about what some might consider futile critical care. It aims to equip children's nurses with strategies for dealing with conflict and tensions, and support them to be proactive in identifying situations that might need de-escalation.

The importance of protocol-based eye care in the paediatric intensive care unit.

Eye care is a fundamental aspect of personal hygiene that should not be neglected in a critically ill child. This article informs nursing care by linking theory to practice, based on a systematic search and critical review of the literature. It explores the significance of evidence related to the eye care of a ventilated child and considers the role of the children's nurse as an agent for change in developing an eye care protocol for use in the paediatric intensive care unit.

Quality patient care: challenges and opportunities.

There are several interlocking elements integral to the delivery of safe patient care, including clinical governance, efficient communication, teamwork, risk assessment, inter-professional education and effective leadership. Each element can be challenging to understand, develop, or act on, but it is essential that nurses use these as opportunities to ensure their specialty or service delivers safe and high-quality care. This article discusses each of these elements and its relationship to quality patient care, with specific reference to the role of children's nurses.

A children's nurse's role in the global development of a child with diabetes mellitus.

The nursing care of a six year old with type 1 diabetes reveals the importance of accurate control of the condition for normal physical, emotional and cognitive development. Clearly the children's nurse can educate and support the child, parents and extended family towards achieving independence and self-care. Theoretical knowledge of normal child maturation can guide nurses to constantly adapt their modes of communication and nursing skills, so as to promote every aspect and stage of the child's growth.

Educating children's nurses for communicating bad news.

Some parents are unhappy with the way news is broken to them. This article seeks to educate and inform the reflective practitioner on a series of communication strategies to enhance their skills. This is important because the way news is disclosed can affect the way news is accepted and the level of support the family will require.

Is care planning still relevant in the 21st century?

As we progress into the second decade of the 21st century, the healthcare needs of an increasingly diverse population are changing. Children's nurses must respond to these challenges by creating clear and effective plans of care in collaboration with children and their families. Legally and professionally, children's nurses are required to accurately record plans of care given to individual patients to provide a legal document demonstrating that care has been delivered (Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 2008).

Children's nursing education: 'the future characterised by paradoxes'.

According to Healthcare Futures 2010 (Warner et al 1998) the future for the nursing and midwifery professions will be characterised by a series of paradoxes. There will be 'a growing emphasis on prevention, yet a great demand for cure and palliation; public reliance upon professionalism within the workforce, yet greater lay assertiveness; a greater demand for technical competence and scientific rationality among nurses and midwives, yet a continuing need for traditional nursing qualities and the time to express them' (Warner et al 1998). If these projections hold true there are significant implications for nursing and midwifery education.

Community children's nursing in Northern Ireland: an evaluative review.

All parents taking on the responsibility of providing care for their child with complex needs in the community setting need to feel competent, confident and supported. Despite policy recommendations that reinforce the value of community children's nursing in meeting child and family needs, numbers in Northern Ireland remain small. The development of community children's nursing in Northern Ireland is examined using an evaluative module published by the Royal College of Nursing paediatric oncology nursing forum (RCN 2000).

Respite care for children, young people and families--are their needs addressed?

In recent years there has been an increasing demand for respite care in the community setting, as advances in medicine and technology have enhanced the life expectancy of children and young people with a life-limiting illness. However, the need for flexible respite provision in the home frequently presents a challenge for those health care professionals involved in caring for these children and their families. Following a review of literature this paper will demonstrate how a family-centred approach to respite provision and palliative care can enhance the quality of life for a child nearing the end of life and support the expressed needs of the child's family with accessible respite care.