Asthma is a chronic disease that has, for a long time, been the domain of primary care nurses, and many have qualifications enabling them to run nurse-led asthma clinics. It is, therefore, essential to fully understand the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and to be able to maximise the points available to the practice, at the same time as providing a comprehensive service to patients. In this article, we review the QOF indicators for asthma, strategies for optimising record keeping and performing asthma reviews.
Scoring Top Marks for Asthma QOF Indicators
Research Made Easy
The Use of Pulse Oximetry in Primary Care
Pulse oximetry is now in common use in all healthcare settings. Until recently regarded as a secondary care device, the pulse oximeter is now routinely used in primary care, both in the general practice surgery and in the community. It can be useful in initial assessment, ongoing monitoring, and in both acute and chronic clinical situations. This article examines the how, when, what and why of pulse oximetry.
Connecting to Europe. An update on the EPCCS and how to register for Catalan CVD CPD this September
Improving outcomes in cardiovascular disease: An Invest to Saveguide for practice based commissioners
Editorial
Feel the fear and do it anyway.’ That could be the message of this special issue of the British Journal of Primary Care Nursing focusing on chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kidneys can be really confusing for practice nurses, with lots of technical sounding tests and numbers. But the good news is that the step-by-step guides and clear articles in this issue will help you get to grips with this important condition and feel empowered to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of your patients.
Editorial
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has moved rapidly up the healthcare agenda over the last few years. It has shifted from being considered as a rather nebulous condition of interest mainly to nephrologists to the front line of chronic disease detection and prevention in primary care as part of integrated management of vascular risk. In fact, the links between cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and diabetes are so close that CKD could also stand for ‘cardiovascular, kidney, diabetes.’
Editorial
This spring is an important time for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease in the UK. The new vascular risk assessment and management programme, now known as the NHS Health Check, starts in April. And it’s the fifth birthday of the British Journal of Primary Care Nursing! So close your eyes and make a wish, and we hope we can play some part in making it come true.
Editorial: Optimising insulin treatment in primary care
Everyone with diabetes deserves the highest standards of personalised diabetes care,no matter where,when or by whom this care is delivered.
Age cut-off for aspirin therapy to prevent cardiovascular disease in patients without diabetes
Editorial
A happy and productive 2009 to all our readers! We hope that as we all face the challenges – and, we hope, joys – that this year will bring, BJPCN can provide the practical and reliable information and advice that you tell us you find so useful.
Editorial
The menopause has moved on from simply being a source of euphemisms for hot flushes as ‘power surges’ or ‘tropical moments’ to being recognised as an important stage in a woman’s life. It also has particular significance in CVD risk, which we address head-on in this issue of BJPCN.