Exploring nurses' well-being and strategies to support self-care.

Nurses experience a range of challenges in their practice that can adversely affect their well-being, for example work-related stress and workforce issues. These challenges may have been intensified by various factors, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and shift working. This article considers the concept of well-being and explores nurses' well-being in the context of ongoing stressors and workforce issues.

Supporting transgender patients with their personal hygiene.

Attending to one's personal hygiene is a private and ritualistic act that is linked to self-expression and is important for one's well-being and self-esteem. Providing effective support with personal hygiene to patients can demonstrate thoughtfulness and sensitivity to their individual needs. Nurses in all fields of nursing may encounter patients who identify as transgender, but many nurses have expressed concerns about their lack of knowledge and confidence in that area of care.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a more common condition than you may think.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive incurable lung disease that affects a significant amount of people in the UK. Many health professionals have a limited understanding of IPF, which can result in a delayed diagnosis and inadequate care for individuals and their families. This article aims to provide an overview of IPF and help to enhance health professionals' understanding of the disease, thus contributing towards improving the care that IPF sufferers receive.

Managing complications associated with the use of indwelling urinary catheters.

The insertion of an indwelling urethral urinary catheter is an invasive procedure that is commonly undertaken in healthcare settings. However, there are several risks and potential complications associated with these devices, so their use should be avoided where possible. It is important that nurses are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills not only to assess if a patient requires a catheter, but also to minimise the risk of associated complications and to understand how these can be managed.

How nurse leaders can support staff going through the menopause.

The menopause is a normal biological stage in a woman's life that is often accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms, such as hot flushes and low mood. Symptoms vary widely between women, and can be unpleasant, burdensome and distressing. Many women going through the menopause remain in employment and some will experience symptoms that adversely affect them in their working lives.

Implementing laughter therapy to enhance the well-being of patients and nurses.

Most people enjoy laughing and having fun, and this can enable individuals to socialise and bond. However, there is a difference between spontaneous laughter and laughter therapy, which consists of physical exercise, relaxation techniques and simulated vigorous laughter. This article aims to enhance nurses' knowledge and understanding of laughter therapy, which is a practice within complementary and alternative medicine.

Has anyone seen the student? Creating a welcoming practice environment for students.

A person's introduction to a new environment, whether they are a patient or a student, is critical. Although patients have the 'Hello my name is …' campaign to make them less anxious when entering a clinical setting, there is no equivalent for students. Making both patients and students welcome is essential to establishing a rapport and a sense of belonging at a time when each can feel at their most vulnerable.

Sexuality and the older woman.

Sexual health is a key public health issue. The older woman faces a number of changes to her sexual health, wellbeing and sexuality. These changes result in many older women having to adapt to a series of complex transitions that can be challenging.

Gastrointestinal care for older people.

This article discusses gastrointestinal (GI) healthcare in older people. It outlines the physiological changes that occur in the GI tract as a result of ageing, and discusses common GI disorders in older people. These GI disorders include dysphagia, gastrointestinal reflux disease, colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, constipation and anaemia.

Sex and the older man.

Sexual health is an important part of an individual's physical and emotional wellbeing. Sexuality and sexual wellbeing are often associated with young people and therefore the needs of the older person can be overlooked. Such discrimination is unjustifiable given that statistics show a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and new diagnoses of HIV in the older man.

Using humour to enhance the nurse-patient relationship.

The appropriate use of humour is a valuable asset in nursing practice. Used daily in interactions with patients, humour can help to develop the therapeutic relationship and build resilience. This article discusses how humour can promote physiological and psychological wellbeing, while reducing stress and anxiety.

Service user involvement in nurse education.

Service user involvement is now recognised as an integral component of nurse education. This article describes the involvement of one service user, who experienced a traumatic limb amputation, in an educational session for second-year nursing students at De Montfort University. The aim of the initiative was to use the patient's experience to improve care delivery.

Simulation suit aids tailored care.

Nurses need to empathise with patients but it can be challenging to teach students these skills. They may struggle to make sense of situations and events unless they have experienced them. This article focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of an aged simulation suit in pre-registration nurse education to enhance knowledge and understanding of some of the changes that can occur as a consequence of ageing.

How to make care champions.

This article provides an overview of how second-year, adult branch nursing students at De Montfort University, Leicester, were trained as older people's champions to improve the care provided to this patient group.

Recruiting minimum-age nurses: is the profession ready?

The minimum age restriction for entry onto nursing courses of 17.5 years has recently been removed. Students of 16 and 17 years could potentially be on nurse education programmes and therefore in clinical practice in the very near future.

Using poster presentations in nursing education.

This article outlines how student nurses evaluated the introduction of a poster presentation within a module. It highlights how such a strategy can: make learning more enjoyable; disseminate information to peers and practice staff; and be used as a teaching aid for patients.

Addressing a deficit: wound care and mental health nursing.

This article details the development and implementation of a teaching session introduced to address one of the key clinical skills that mental health nurses require in the practice setting--wound management. The session was introduced to equip a group of final year mental health nursing students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they will need for practicing in a professional environment. The sessions were evaluated to determine their effectiveness in terms of the students' satisfaction with the teaching process, the clinical value and relevance of the content, and to improve the quality of future clinical skills teaching.

Evaluating an interview preparation process for student nurses.

The aim of this article is to share innovative practice in relation to the recruitment process for nurses. Quality of preparation offered to student nurses prior to interview was variable, therefore, a study day to equip student nurses with the necessary knowledge and skills for interviews was devised. The strategies employed include a range of teaching approaches.