Reflecting on COVID

Using time wisely during COVID

I am crying at my desk, writing poetry
Between tasks, remembering my afternoon
Collage of patients’ faces,
Wondering what’s ahead for them. For all of us.
No one would pay me to cry, or write poetry.
They would deem it nonbillable hours.
But it is one of those times
I don’t know what else to do.
We are living in dangerous times.
No one can escape it.
We can only try to
avoid- avoid- avoid
And I feel very small, like a field mouse.
It is all I can do to
Blend in and hope the great
Horned owl will pass me over,
Not realizing his target is close and
Those otherworldly yellow eyes
Will focus somewhere else
And I will sleep
safe- safe- safe
Wrapped in a merciful sky one more night.

A poem written by Marianne A. Broyles, who has been a nurse for 16 years, mostly in the field of inpatient behavioral health. She is also a writer and has published two books of poetry, The Red Window (West End Press, 2008) and Liquid Mercury Girl (Mongrel Empire Press, 2018). She is interested
in how the process of writing benefits mental health and an overall sense of well-being and was able to research this further while working at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital in Nashville, TN, as a recipient of its nurse scholar grant.

Evidence based summaries

Recent research and reports

Should antidepressants be used for major depressive disorder? Jakobsen JC. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2020;25(4):130.
The benefits of antidepressants seem to be minimal and possibly without any importance to the average patient with major depressive disorder. Antidepressants should not be used for adults with major depressive disorder before valid evidence has shown that the potential beneficial effects outweigh the harmful effects.

Clinical pathways as a mobile device. Please log in via Athens to access the whole article. Barrett J. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2020;25(4):131-137.
Overall, this project supports the development of a mobile application based on the design principles used in the clinical pathways. Providers did indeed use the clinical pathways. They found the pathways easy to use and helped provide evidence-based care in clinical practice. While the iPad was useful for some participants, a small sized tablet and phone would be preferred by others. Future work will be undertaken on mobile application development using multiple screen sizes.

Dementia prevention, intervention and care. The Lancet 2020;:doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6. Excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, and air pollution have been added to the list of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia. Together the 12 listed modifiable risk factors account for around 40% of worldwide dementia’s.

Reducing stress

A science based app for meditation and mindfulness

Headspace aims to support people to reduce stress, build resilience and aid better sleep.

Even better… they are offering free access to their app to all NHS staff until the 31st December. Simply sign up here with your NHS email account.

Top tips for telephone triage and video consulting

Resources to support your practice

Total triage is important to reduce avoidable footfall in practices and reduce the risk and spread of infection. How to establish a remote total triage model in GP using online consultations available here.

Support for telephone and video consulting, GP’s, dentists, mental heath patients and cancer patients can be accessed here.

Flexible working for nurses

Guidance highlighting what nurses look for in a flexible role

This guide is aimed at supporting organisations to increase the uptake of flexible working among nurses. It explains:

  • business cases for improving opportunities for nurses to work flexibly
  • the basic principles
  • what it can look like in practice
  • practical tips
  • examples of how trusts have used flexible working to support successful retention of the nursing workforce

For more information or resources linked to this guide click here.

Digital health and care conference

A virtual conference for the digital revolution

The Kings Fund are holding a virtual conference from Monday 2nd November to Thursday 5th November, which will bring together top experts from the NHS and other parts of the digital health system to discuss the lessons learned and next steps after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The conference, along with other topics, will include:

  • the role of leadership in a time of crisis
  • the role of digital solutions
  • how to engage with health care staff and prepare them for the digital work environment

To find out more and see the full programme click here.

This virtual conference will take place over four half-days from Monday 2 November. You can join the short, interactive sessions live or catch up later on demand.

Register before Sunday 20th September for early bird rates.