Fit to fly: Meeting health needs in the sunshine

The Nursing in Practice May/June issue is now available in print, online and as an app. Jonny Benjamin, the mental health campaigner, discusses his experience and diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and how he is urging for mental health to be taught in schools. He says: “If we want to have mental and physical health equality then surely we need to have mental health being taught in schools.” The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) new guidance is outlined in this issue, which includes: health issues in people with multimorbidity, the risks and benefits of sunlight exposure, recognition and treatment of sepsis and safer use of controlled drugs. Nurses can also read some of the latest healthcare news, including stories on: nursing bursaries, NHS Health Checks, work increases in the nursing profession, the junior doctors’ strike, incurable lung cancer and the Royal College of Midwives new menopause and equality in the workplace guidelines. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the topic discussed in the magazine’s feature. Last November it became mandatory for nurses to inform the police if a girl ages under 18 has been subjected to genital mutilation. Therefore the feature looks into the exact prevalence of FGM in the UKand how it is being tackled in healthcare. Carmel Bagness, women’s health professional lead at the Royal College of Nursing; Jackie Mathers, designated nurse for safeguarding children at Bristol clinical commissioning group; Carole Jackson, nurse lead in safeguarding at Brook; and Royal College of Midwives professional advisor Janet Fyle all comment on FGM in the UK. Additionally, Elaine McInnes, fellow of the Institute of Health Visiting, says: “Listening is one of a health visitor’s core skills. [Some girls] may feel they’re not welcomed into their family until [FGM] has happened. For us to come in and say ‘this is unlawful in this country’, it’s very tricky. You have to build a relationship.” Elizabeth Rosser, professor of nursing and deputy dean at Bournemouth University, discusses the introduction of the new nursing associate role and how this will impact the profession. She says: “With the ongoing radical change required by the NHS and the necessity to deliver greater levels of out-of-hospital care, a new role is needed.” The May/June 2016 magazine’s nurse profile speaks to Zoe Edward, a nurse who volunteers at Glastonbury festival each year. She explains that the team she works with “are fully equipped for any emergency in our little tent at the side of the stage, and can provide basic first aid and wound management, advanced airway and resuscitation skills”. The 12 clinical, peer-reviewed articles include the following: managing childhood asthma in primary care, warning signs of deep vein thrombosis, treating hepatitis, high blood pressure, tackling childhood obesity, heat rash in infants and sexual health in young people. To download the app click here. To see the issue online click here.