Behind the Rituals
All posts from: November 2011
Is it acceptable to refer to patients as bed blockers? What do you think?
No, we shouldn’t because it stigmatises the older person.
It sends the message that the older person has no right to remain in their bed and that the individual is at fault.
Often the reason a person remains in a hospital bed when ‘medically fit’ is because of deficiencies in discharge planning or in care services.
It seems unjust that these deficiencies can affect perceptions of an older person’s value and entitlement to NHS services.
Linda is Consultant nurse, Ealing Hospital Trust.
Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN has suggested that visiting times should be extended and made more flexible.
What do you think?
Should nurses use an automated external defibrillator without training? What do you think?
AEDs are straightforward to use.
One study of their use at the three Chicago Airports showed that the best results were achieved when the machine was operated by someone who had no prior training.
Safe operation of an AED require people to use their common sense and follow the instructions.
Although procedures should be in place to ensure that nurses receive AED training, in the event of no prior training, nurses should be encouraged to use the AED if necessary.
Phil Jevon is Resuscitation Officer/Clinical Skills Lead, Manor Hospital, Walsall.
Can the flu jab give you the flu? What do you think?
“It is impossible to get flu from having the flu jab.
This is because the vaccine doesn’t contain any live viruses.
A very small number of people experience side effects that are similar to those of the flu, such as aching muscles, but this is simply your immune system responding to what it thinks is an attack from flu.”