#NurChat discusses "Nursing MH & LD pts in a general setting" Tues 10th April 8pm
Often when people are admitted to hospital it is not merely one condition that is apparent. Our patients health is often multifaceted and we are all taught as students that we must care for them in an holistic way encompassing all of their health needs. So what happens when we are faced with nursing someone with learning difficulties or mental health problems within a general setting. Each of these things are specialities of nursing in their own right, so can we care for them appropriately within a general setting? What tools and facilities are there to help us to do this? And what can we do to gain a greater understanding of each others specialities when cross overs occur?
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Below are some links to background reading that you may find useful – please feel free to add your own links via the comments section.
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Post Chat Summary
View our Nursing Times Blog for this discussion
Summary by Teresa Chinn RN
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Chat Transcript (via Storify)
Post Chat Summary
View our Nursing Times Blog for this discussion
This #NurChat was a very busy and lively debate with nurses from mental health, learning disability and general settings. The chat started by asking if participants felt that the current standard of care could be improved ? Some stated that it varies from place to place, some felt that they don’t have the necessary knowledge to care for people with learning disabilities and mental health patients, but it was generally agreed that improvements could be made.
It was then asked if there is enough education in these areas? Both newly qualified and long qualified nurses reported that they had little insight into LD and MH specialities in their training. It was stated that LD nurses spend a lot of time learning about adult nursing but not vica versa.
The role of the hospital liaison nurse was discussed at length. NurChatters stated that these nurses are not available in all hospitals but are a useful resource and support patients, families and staff alike.
NurChat asked what can we do to increase understanding ? The use of hospital passports was discussed and all liked these tools, but the overwhelming consensus was that greater communication between specialities is vital.
It was raised that in NMC fitness to practice cases issues often arise around general nurses not managing MH & LD patients and LD/MH nurses not managing physical issues. It was discussed why this is the case and ideas such as not seeking help and not recognising that they do not have the knowledge were raised.
It was then asked if there should be MH & LD nurses on all wards ? The feeling amongst participants was that this was an overkill and costly solution. The Ward Champions role was discussed as being an alternative and concerns were raised that this shouldn’t be a substitute for the Liaison Nurses it should be an addition. The idea of having people with LD providing training and insight to general nurses was liked and having LD and MH patient experience days.
At the end of the chat #NurChat asked chatters what they would do to improve things in their area? Some stated that they would promote interdisciplinary communication, some that they would promote other specialities and promote a greater respect for MH and LD colleagues. Other NurChatters said they would develop links with other professionals to deliver best quality care and that they would disseminate the information they had learned through this chat.
Quite a few useful links were shared throughout the course of this chat and we have posted them below:
This is a great document for working with people with learning disabilities in hospital http://www.thh.nhs.uk/documents/_Patients/PatientLeaflets/general/Working_Together-HFT.pdf #nurchat
RT @AgencyNurse: Read this, this evening- death by indifference - prior to tonights http://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2008-03/DBIreport.pdf interesting stuff #NurChat
the first national conference is later this month in Nottingham check http://a2anetwork.co.uk/ #nurchat
@NurChat This is also an awesome resource http://www.improvinghealthandlives.org.uk/about/ #nurchat
@ridz761 Hospital passports you say? Check http://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/improvingcommunication/ #nurchat
@AgencyNurse Mencap says yes to Liaison nurses! http://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2010-06/charter.pdf #nurchat
RT @AgencyNurse: Read this, this evening- death by indifference - prior to tonights http://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2008-03/DBIreport.pdf interesting stuff #NurChat
the first national conference is later this month in Nottingham check http://a2anetwork.co.uk/ #nurchat
@NurChat This is also an awesome resource http://www.improvinghealthandlives.org.uk/about/ #nurchat
@ridz761 Hospital passports you say? Check http://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/improvingcommunication/ #nurchat
@AgencyNurse Mencap says yes to Liaison nurses! http://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2010-06/charter.pdf #nurchat
Summary by Teresa Chinn RN
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Chat Transcript (via Storify)
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