4 JCN 2014, Vol 28, No 4

Editorial

Do you ever wish that you had a superpower? Not necessarily anything spectacular like an

invisibility cloak or X-ray vision, but just a mundane everyday superpower, like the ability to be in two places at once or get from A to B at the speed of light? It sounds fanciful, but if reports about the numbers of district nurses are to be believed — not to mention the continued shift of care into the community — you might soon need special powers simply to keep up with the amount of work coming your way.

This issue’s ‘Community matters’ (pp. 8–10) takes an in-depth look at the so-called crisis in district nursing

and tries to find out the truth behind the figures, after all with the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) announcing that there has been an increase in district nursing students (‘District nurse student numbers on the up’ — pp. 14), perhaps the future is not as bleak as we thought?

We also take a look at the power of Twitter, not only as a way of keeping up to date with changes in policy and clinical practice, but also for networking and keeping in touch with colleagues. Social media can be intimidating for healthcare workers, who may worry about what to say (or more pertinently, what not to say), but if used correctly, Twitter can be a useful tool for the modern community nurse. Read our Twitter feature (pp. 12–13), and get started by signing up and following us @jcnreport...

In this issue we’ve covered the usual range of clinical content, including

pain management, continence, wound care, respiratory nursing, nutrition and skin care, and don’t forget to keep your CPD profile up to date by checking out the Learning Zone (pp. 90) before taking the online test — in this issue we examine the fundamentals of treating the skin around a stoma site.

Jason Beckford-BallEditor, JCN

If you would like to comment on any of the articles in JCN, or indeed have ideas of your own for an article, please contact jason@jcn.co.uk

Journal of Community Nursing

Journal of Community Nursing incorporating Journal of District NursingAugust/September 2014

PublisherBinkie Mais binkie@jcn.co.ukEditorJason Beckford-Ball jason@jcn.co.ukBusiness managerAlec O’Dare alec@jcn.co.uk 07535 282827Operations managerStephen Mell stephen@jcn.co.ukEditorial and advertising supportJoanna Issa joanna@jcn.co.ukOffice managerAngela Brookes angela@jcn.co.uk

© Wound Care People Limited 2014 Finials House, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1AF

ISSN 0263 4465

t: +44(0) 1451 870310 e: mail@jcn.co.uk http://www.jcn.co.uk

Journal of Community Nursing is indexed with CINAHL and British Nursing Index (BNI)

Published bi-monthly and distributed free of charge to community and district practitioners based at primary and secondary care locations throughout the United Kingdom. Also available on subscription.

Subscription rates: United Kingdom: £52.76 Overseas airmail: Europe: £96.48; Int’: £120.48; Overseas surface mail (outside Europe): £96.78

All rights reserved. No part of this Journal of Community Nursing may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means electronic or mechanical, photocopied or otherwise without the prior written permission of Wound Care People Limited.

Printed in England by Blackmore Vale Limited

Calling all superheroes...

An article in the previous issue of JCN (Understanding the basics of wound care in the community setting) used a NICE (2014) reference (The Debrisoft monofilament debridement pad for use in acute or chronic wounds) to refer to more than one debridement product. In fact this NICE document, and the advice contained within, refers exclusively to the use of Debrisoft. The online version of the article has been amended.

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6 JCN 2014, Vol 28, No 4

Editorial board

As a senior nurse researcher, I am passionate about the translation of research into practice to ensure that patients receive quality evidence-based care. I am delighted to be a part of the JCN editorial board because the journal helps to bridge the research-practice gap in community care. JCN is a well-recognised and established journal that keeps clinicians abreast of policy, practice and research in community care.Janelle Yorke

I feel our ‘moment’ in primary care has arrived. Why? Well, politicians, professionals and patients are all asking a similar question, ‘Can care be provided closer to home?’ This means the spotlight is now on those of us based in primary care and it is important not to provide poorly organised or inferior care. Consideration needs to be given to both clinical and financial outcomes. I am pleased to be on the editorial board of the JCN. It highlights some really important issues and gives clinicians the confidence to consider the kind of care that can be provided and that their ideas about care closer to home are realistic, achievable and reflect the kind of services that patients want.Jackie Stephen-Haynes

Kate Arkley, clinical nurse specialist in Tissue Viability, Galway, Ireland

Annette Bades, district nursing specialist practitioner and clinical lead cardio-respiratory, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust

Heather Bain, course leader master’s portfolio, Robert Gordon University; Chair, Association of District Nurses

Janice Bianchi, medical education specialist; honorary lecturer, University of Glasgow

Helen Brewah, community matron, Hampshire

Sara Burr, community dermatology nurse specialist, Community Nursing and Therapy, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Rosie Callaghan, tissue viability nurse, Stourport Health Centre

Kate Gerrish, professor, nursing research, Sheffield University

Sally Lee, social worker, North Dorset Local Social Services

Anne Pearson, practice development manager, Queen’s Nursing Institute, London

Mark Radcliffe, senior lecturer, Brighton University

Kate Sanders, practice development facilitator, FoNS

Chetan Shah, principal pharmacist, Community Services, Ealing

Julian Spinks, general practitioner, Kent

Jackie Stephen-Haynes, professor and consultant nurse in tissue viability, Birmingham City University and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Anne Williams, Lymphoedema nurse consultant and researcher, Blantyre, Scotland

Janelle Yorke, senior lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester

JCN allows me to raise important issues. For instance, after negative media coverage following RCN congress in June where it was said that district nurses face extinction, it would appear that there is a glimmer of hope. The QNI have produced a report highlighting the 38% rise in district nurses due to qualify this year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a 25% rise in universities running district nurse programmes (see ‘District nurse student numbers on the up’ pp. 14). Some good news at last.Heather Bain

I am pleased to be on the editorial board of JCN because throughout my 25 years as a GP I have felt that the greatest strength in the NHS has been in the services we provide in the community. Strong links between GPs and their community nursing colleagues are vital for effective working, particularly at a time when GPs are being asked to coordinate care for the most needy patients. We can’t do this without you!Julian Spinks

Journal of Community Nursing

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