Facing the future

The latest edition of Nursing in Practice has been dominated by Covid-19, with our cover feature exploring how the pandemic will change the face of nursing forever.

We found while nurses have quickly got to grips with new ways of working during the coronavirus crisis it is taking a physical and mental toll that could ultimately lead to greater workforce pressures.

Columns from practice nurses Marilyn Eveleigh and Rhona Aikman show just how resilient nurses have been in the face of the crisis, and GPN Elia Monteiro writes about her experience in a Covid-19 ‘hot hub’ – a centre set up to help patients who potentially have the virus.

In our debate this issue we ask whether student nurses should step forward to work on the frontline and have advice for clinicians who are struggling mentally at the moment.

We bust the myth that the Covid-19 is like seasonal flu and give tips on how to help patients with their mental health at this time.

In non-Covid content, we speak to a network of student nurses on their work promoting the role of the GPN as a first career step and look at research showing how personal preferences are key to advanced care planning.