Evidence and Practice
Medicines management in children and young people: pharmacokinetics, drug calculations and off-label drug use
After COVID-19: preparing staff for future surges in respiratory illness in children...
Care of an infant born with a cleft palate: a case study
Clinical
After COVID-19: preparing staff for future surges in respiratory illness in children...
Why you should read this article: • To learn about a project that aimed to support teams caring for children and young people to reflect on their experiences and the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic • To recognise the need to ensure staff are adequately prepared to manage any future surges in respiratory illness effectively • To be aware of the potential long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional health and well-being The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was a challenging experience for children and young people’s services, and the workforce. The Valuing All Staff Together programme was a one-year project hosted by the North West Paediatric Critical Care, Surgery in Children, Long Term Ventilation Operational Delivery Network to support teams caring for children and young people to reflect on their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an online survey, focus groups and interviews, it gave staff the opportunity to explore and understand the effects of the pandemic and the subsequent surge in demand, including how these affected services and the emotional health and well-being of staff. This would enable better preparation for future surges in respiratory illness in terms of learning, training and development. This article describes the programme’s aim, method and findings, and the main recommendations for practice.
Care of an infant born with a cleft palate: a case study
Nurses should work in close partnership with the family and the multidisciplinary team
Nasogastric tube safety in children cared for in the community: evidence re-examined
A revised approach is proposed in which nurses can use checks other than nasogastric aspirate pH testing
App for non-mental health nurses to assess needs, risks of children and young people
Overview of project to develop app to assess mental health needs, risks of children and young people
Oral and dental health promotion for children’s nurses
Opportunistic dental advice should be provided to help prevent early onset dental disease
Supporting children, young people and families to self-manage atopic eczema
Learn about strategies nurses can use to help families manage atopic eczema
CPD articles
Medicines management in children and young people: pharmacokinetics, drug calculations...
Why you should read this article: • To enhance your knowledge of pharmacokinetics, drug calculations and off-label drug use in children and young people • To remember that pharmacokinetics vary according to the patient’s age and stage of development • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) Medicines management in children and young people presents specific challenges because children differ from adults in their response to medicines. The way in which medicines work inside the human body, or pharmacokinetics, varies according to age and stage of development. Accurate drug calculations for a child rely on the careful consideration of a series of factors, such as weight and height, pharmacokinetics and drug characteristics. This article focuses on three fundamental aspects: pharmacokinetics, drug calculations, and unlicensed and off-label drug use.
Administration of intravenous fluids and medicines in children and young people
An essential overview of the evidence base for IV fluid and medicine administration
Managing the deteriorating child with suspected group A Streptococcus infection
A case study includes respiratory and haemodynamic support and symptom management
Neurological observations in infants, children and young people: part two
How to undertake neurological assessment, how often to do observations and when to escalate concerns
Neurological observations in infants, children and young people: part one
Understanding the pathophysiology of acquired brain injury and identifying deterioration
Managing type 1 diabetes in children and young people: challenges and solutions
Support from healthcare professionals and school staff should include encouragement to self-manage
Practice question
How can continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support a child’s breathing?
Why CPAP is used, complications, and how it differs from non-invasive ventilation (NIV)
What is ECMO and how can it save the sickest of children?
ECMO can support children with primary respiratory and cardiac failure
How should nurses discuss substance use with children and young people?
Good communication is essential to elicit accurate information and optimise care
What is the nurse’s role in supporting young people’s sexual health?
Young people should have access to education, assessment and treatment for sexual health
How do bone marrow transplants work?
Children undergoing bone marrow transplants need support and follow up
County lines crime: what is a nurse's role in safeguarding children?
Children’s nurses can help prevent young people from being exploited in drug trafficking
A to Z of syndromes
A-Z syndromes: Congenital Zika syndrome
First identified in 2015, there is no vaccine for this virus, which can have devastating effects on the unborn child
A-Z syndromes: Yunis-Varon syndrome
An insight into this rare genetic disorder in which both parents are recessive gene carriers
A-Z of syndromes: X-linked ichthyosis
An insight into this genetic disorder occurring in 1 in 6,000 infant males
A-Z of syndromes: Waardenburg syndrome
Waardenburg syndrome is a genetic disorder that gives people a distinctive appearance
A-Z of syndromes: Usher syndrome
Understanding Usher syndrome which is found in approximately 10,000 people in the UK
A-Z Syndromes: Tay-Sachs disease
An insight into this genetic disorder which carries a poor prognosis and is often fatal