Prevention and management of hyperglycaemic crisis.

Hyperglycaemia is a defining feature of diabetes mellitus. It involves an elevated level of glucose in the blood, which develops as a result of the body's inability to produce insulin or process insulin effectively. If left unchecked and untreated, patients with diabetes are at risk of short-term, potentially life-threatening hyperglycaemic crises such as diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state.

Recruiting the next generation: applying a values-based approach to recruitment.

The qualified district nurse (DN) role demands high levels of leadership. Attracting the right candidates to apply for the Specialist Practice Qualification District Nursing (SPQDN) education programme is essential to ensure fitness to practice on qualification. Anecdotal evidence suggested that the traditional panel interview discouraged candidates from applying and a need to improve the quality of the overall interview process was identified by the authors.

Supporting students undertaking the Specialist Practitioner Qualification in District Nursing.

The ever-evolving role of the Specialist Practitioner Qualified District Nurse (SPQDN) presents an increasing number of challenges for Practice Teachers and mentors in preparing SPQDN students for the elevated level clinical and transformational leadership necessary to ensure high-quality patient care. The daily challenges of clinical practice within the community nursing setting in addition to undertaking educational interventions in the clinical arena demand that a structured approach to supervision and mentorship is crucial. Employing learning plans to assess individual students learning needs, prepare plans for educational developments and interventions and evaluate a student's progress can be a helpful tool in aiding the learning journey for both the SPQDN student and Practice Teacher or mentor.