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The British National Formulary (BNF) is essentially the bible for prescribed medication in the UK, with key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To appreciate the value of nurses scoping the literature on a chosen subject • To become familiar with the main steps involved in undertaking a scoping review • To understand what types of evidence can be included in a scoping review. Rationale and key points: Scoping reviews have become a popular approach for exploring what literature has been published on a particular field of interest. They can enable nurses to gain an overview of the contemporary evidence base relating to a practice area, treatment or specific patient demographic, for example. This article provides a concise guide for nurses planning to undertake a scoping review, explaining the various steps involved. • Scoping reviews are classified as ‘big picture’ reviews used for knowledge synthesis, and their primary objective is to identify, review and clarify the breadth and nature of the evidence. • A well-structured scoping review can be useful for determining the emerging evidence on a subject and may act as a useful precursor to a systematic review. • Undertaking a scoping review involves identifying a focus, selecting the pertinent evidence, synthesising that evidence and reporting the findings. Reflective activity: ‘How to’ articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: • How this article might improve your practice when undertaking a scoping review. • How you could use this information to educate nursing students and colleagues on the appropriate techniques and evidence base required for scoping the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers best practice in record-keeping and documentation in the light of recent public inquiries and reports, renewed national interest in record-keeping standards, and the challenge of moving from paper to electronic healthcare documentation and digital storage of data. The nature of the nurse-patient relationship is also changing, and should be reflected in nurses' record-keeping practices. Collaborative approaches to the planning and evaluation of care, and more emphasis on patients having a greater sense of ownership of information held about them should be reflected in nurses' and other healthcare professionals' attitudes and approaches to this aspect of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast-developing field of artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to change society – but as well as the possibility for positive impact, there is the prospect of its misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on research which was conducted to investigate the support that newly qualified nurses need when transitioning from student to registered nurse. The research, which reviewed 24 papers, found that newly qualified nurses need support from management and that preceptorships were effective in helping them transition from students to registered nurses. Recommendations on preceptorships from the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Britain's Department of Health are discussed.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to a comment from the commons public accounts committee chairman Margaret Hodge regarding the consultation paper "No Voice Unheard, No Right Ignored" in the April 1, 2015 issue.

More than one in ten (13%) NHS patients in England have a catheter, research suggests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents 2014 news on medicine. The British organization The Children's Trust will hold events on May 15th and November 13th to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Great Britain's King's Fund announced that it is accepting papers for the International Digital Health and Care Congress which will be held on September 10-12. The General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust is offering grants worth up to £20,000 for nursing research.

The article presents 2014 information on medical topics, including National Health Service Change Day, which will be held on March 2, 2014 in Great Britain to help improve patient care, a seminar titled "Developing Primary Care and the Next Steps for General Practice" offered by the Westminster Health Forum in England and a conference on safeguarding vulnerable children and adults being held at Bucks New University in Buckinghamshire, England on May 19-20, 2014.

Nurses are required to maintain their fitness to practise through continuing professional development activities, and must demonstrate this by maintaining a portfolio of evidence that should be available for inspection every three years. The Nursing and Midwifery Council introduced revalidation in 2016 to demonstrate that nurses are practising safely and effectively. Nurses, however, are busy healthcare professionals and, as well as clinical practice, they have other demands on their time, such as providing evidence for annual appraisals. Admiral Nurses, specialist dementia nurses who support families living with dementia, also have a three-tier competency framework designed to demonstrate their acquired expertise and knowledge in dementia care. To support Admiral Nurses in managing these activities, the charity Dementia UK gave them access to the PebblePad e-portfolio system. This article details the implementation and outcomes of this project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with serious mental illness (SMI) are at risk of dying many years earlier than the general population. Providing an effective, cost-efficient healthcare service requires a holistic approach, and improving the physical health of people with SMI should be integral to all healthcare roles. It is important for nurses to identify and understand the barriers that people with SMI may experience when accessing physical healthcare. A range of factors contribute to reduced life expectancy, including lifestyle factors, symptoms of mental illness and the side effects of medications. This article discusses four areas of health that commonly affect people with SMI: metabolic syndrome, smoking, oral health and sexual health. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that increase an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Smoking is increasingly prevalent in people with SMI, with rates remaining steady despite a decline in smoking rates nationally. Oral health and sexual health can negatively affect the physical health and well-being of people with SMI; however, these aspects of health are often neglected. This article identifies ways that nurses in all practice settings can use health promotion, assessment and treatment to improve the physical health of people with SMI in relation to these four areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lynne Pearce asks if district nursing is still relevant, a topic that will be debated at RCN congress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurse consultant Bethann Siviter describes how assistance dog Taska has brought fun, affection and practical support to her life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology is set to transform health services in low resource countries, benefits which could filter down to their wealthier counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author offers survival guide for students and researchers on the resources available in libraries and online, however most of these resources are written for individual products that is in a form of riddled with jargon or assume previous knowledge. The authors clarify that their guide serves as a basic overview of the resources available in university and workplace libraries.

The article offers step-by-step instructions for inserting a nasogastric tube and for checking gastric position.

The article offers tips for nurses in performing first aid. Topics covered include the use of airway, breathing and circulation (ABC) principles to identify life-threatening problems, assessment of wound, possible limb fractures, burns and scalds and the reminder that nurses should only perform first aid interventions within the limits of their competency.

The article discusses the antibiotic stewardship educational programme developed by Tayside Trust nurse Jo McEwen in treating older people with urinary tract infection (UTI). Topics discussed include the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group decision aid as model to diagnose and manage suspected UTIs in elderlies. Also mentioned are issues against urinalysis as diagnostic tool for UTI.

The article discusses the commitment of Macmillan Cancer Support digital nurse Ellen McPake to help patients in Great Britain use the Internet to search for evidence-based information. Topics discussed include the impact of unverified health information on patients, the Department of Health's standard for trusted sources of information, and the launch of a virtual multidisciplinary team that answers questions about cancer.

The article provides information related to smoking cessation in Great Britain. It reveals that the country has nearly ten million smokers and smoking remains the main cause of preventable illness and premature death. It also provides details on the study which suggests that 11 million smokers were admitted to the hospital and the move of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to publish a paper advocating the routine and systematic delivery of cessation support to smokers.

The article offers step-by-step instructions for administering an enema.

The article offers information on the safe and effective administration of rectal suppositories. The equipment that nurses should prepare before insertion include the patient's prescription, non-latex gloves and a protective bed cover. The rectal suppository administration procedure is given, which includes confirming the patient's identity, assessing his or her needs and checking the prescribed medication.

The article recommends nurses to find ways to understand the needs of patients who are unable to communicate effectively. Topics covered include the suggestion for nurses to ask the patient what could help him or her, the option to use non-verbal gestures such as hand signals, and the recommendation to use short sentences when talking to the patient. Also mentioned is the option to ask help from an occupational therapist or speech and language therapist.

Scotland's chief nursing officer Fiona McQueen admits the results of the 2014 NHS Scotland staff survey gave her a warm glow -- but stresses this does not mean there is any room for complacency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health organisations are finding new ways of keeping us informed about Ebola, write Meab McMahon, Hanna Lange-Chenier and Poorna Rodrigo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of alcohol nurse specialists is evolving to meet a growing demand for the service. Catharine Sadler reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates the online social media toolkit for healthcare organizations launched by Skills for Health.

Nurses on a visit to the UK draw comparisons with care at home, says Frances Pickersgill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents 2014 information on nursing courses and resources. An online resource for health care assistants concerned with the basics of health care has been developed by the Royal College of Nursing. Three online educational modules on wound care are available from the wound care and compression hosiery firm Activa Healthcare. On March 25th the Royal College of Nursing Wales will hold a study day for health care assistants that is concerned with workplace bullying and harassment.

Megan Murray describes a specialist role that is all about supporting families through times of deep grief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents 2013 news on medicine. A National Health Service Values Summit will be held on November 4, 2013 in London, England. Physician Richard Hatchett is conducting a survey in Great Britain to examine the potential development of nurse-led medical clinics. The Royal College of Nursing is conducting an online survey of its members to help develop priorities for the college's 2014 European election manifesto.

Read your handouts, suggests Jane Bates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NHS cuts have put epilepsy nurse jobs at risk but, as Catharine Sadler reports, there is cause for optimism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents 2013 news related to medicine. The annual summer school of Nurse Practitioner Associates will be held on June 21-22 at London Southbank University.

The article presents 2013 news on medicine. The Florence Nightingale Foundation has announced that its scholarship schemes for 2013 and 2014 are open. Two leadership development programs are being offered by the organization Leadership Skills for Health. A workshop on nursing staffing levels an skills mix will be offered in London, England by Healthcare Events on March 19th.

The article offers information on cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is said to be the leading cause of death in England and Wales. Topics covered include the recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to give advice on lifestyle changes to adults at risk of CVD, the symptoms of myocardial infarction such as chest pain and the risk factors of CVD like smoking and high blood pressure.

With employers likely to research a job applicant online, it is vital to ensure your social media profiles look professional. Jane Redfern Jones offers some pointers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Region Public Health Observatory (Erpho) became part of Public Health England on April 1 2013. Its website provides population health data, analysis and interpretation to support healthcare professionals in commissioning, prioritising and improving health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolving student quality ambassador scheme has been empowering, say Sharon Wimpenny and Julie Sheen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the mobile device application the Mendeley app, which is available for the IOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod) from the web site www.mendeley.com.

The article reviews the web site of the International Centre for Nursing Ethics, located at www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/ centres/icne.

The Scottish Government's plans to ban the public display of cigarettes in shops are on track after judges rejected an appeal by manufacturer Imperial Tobacco last month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective use of databases will give students a solid grounding for their dissertation, says Claire Hodkinson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers considerations in finding the right job for nurses. It is suggested that nurses may look for jobs by networking, online searching, and reading periodicals. Nurses should also identify the specific areas they prefer to work, the associated work criteria they are inclined with, and the opportunities they can have in that job.

The article reports on the publication of an online toolkit for developing and optimizing the role of healthcare assistants by the Royal College of Nursing in Great Britain. It was developed by the Working Partnership Programme, an organization set up to improve capacity in general practitioners practices in the region. The toolkit is intended for healthcare assistants in primary care.

The article features the health information site Medline Plus for health consumers and professionals. It is allied to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health. The Web site consists of more than 700 health topics and interactive tutorials about diseases, tests and treatments. A medical encyclopedia and a dictionary are also included in the site.