World AIDS Day 2022

The first cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were reported 41 years ago in 1981. Since then, nurses all over the world have been at the forefront of the fight against the epidemic. They have stepped up to provide skilled care for those infected and affected by the virus. Each year, on 1 December, the … Read more

A mother’s lifelong support by Jill Edwards

A mother’s lifelong support Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a serious, inherited, long term condition. CF primarily affects the lungs and digestive system but as it progresses other organs are affected. CF related diabetes (a different form of diabetes to type 1 & 2), liver disease, CF related arthritis and osteoporosis are complications of CF. People … Read more

Nephrotic mumma: chronic illness and motherhood by Sophie Clifford

Living with an invisible chronic illness isn’t easy: you end up having rehearsed answers to lots of questions about your health, you know what it’s like to live with permanent fatigue, big worries about the future are just things you think about every day, you are incredibly good at collecting water samples in tiny bottles and you are probably on first name terms with a few of the nurses at your local hospital. Earlier this year I decided to add a baby into this craziness and the last 7 months have been the biggest learning curve of my life.

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Dr Jenny Waite-Jones discusses International Disability Day

Given that one in every ten of the world’s children has a disability (1) the International Disability Day offers the opportunity to reflect on how nursing has been transformed from caring for disabled children within institutional settings to its current aim for family nursing. This includes caring for children within their own homes whenever possible. … Read more

Reflections on world breast feeding awareness week 2022

The aim of the World Health Assembly (WHA) is to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50% by 2025. In 2018 a World health Assembly resolution endorsed World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) as an important promotion strategy. Each year WBW delivers a campaign to galvanise action related to breastfeeding.   Sadly, I continue … Read more

IFNA International Nurses Day Photo Social Media Campaign

Each year, International Nurses Day on the 12th of May recognises the contributions of nurses worldwide. These year’s theme was Nursing: A Voice to Lead. Sparked by an idea from IFNA President Veronica Swallow, the IFNA Communications Committee sent out a request for members to share photos on Twitter using #NursesDay or #IND2022 and tag @IFNAorg to … Read more

It’s a matter of social justice – a ‘voice’ to influence policies affecting health

Alison Morton, Executive Director at Institute of Health Visiting Across the globe, nations are focusing their efforts on rebuilding in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its wider impacts. In England, these impacts have been felt acutely by families with babies and young children. We are incredibly proud of the role that health visitors … Read more

Working with families to support their child with a learning disability/autism

Dr Angela Ridley, Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University Chloe Hawkins, Student Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities at Northumbria University Join  #lLDWeek2022  @LD_Northumbria  Many people are unaware of the Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities. This piece gives insight into the role, by discussing how students are prepared to support families who have children with learning disabilities/autism. As well … Read more