WEBWISE
Reviews
NHS Litigation Authority
The NHS Litigation Authority is a
special health authority – a not for
profit arm of the NHS. It provides
indemnity cover for legal claims
against the NHS, assists with risk
management, shares lessons from
claims and provides a range of legal
and professional services.
Established in 1995, it is tasked
with resolving disputes fairly, sharing
learning about risks and standards,
and helping improve safety for
patients and staff.
Its user-friendly website provides
help and advice. The signposting is
clear and the language simple.
There is a section on resolving
claims and information on how the
organisation is able to support the NHS
in England to reduce harm by learning
from claims and building on a culture of
safety and learning.
Best practice guidance and ways
of sharing knowledge and ideas
are highlighted. Collaboration is
encouraged via webinars, local events
and targeted networks and forums.
The news directory highlights
current activity, notably the ‘Saying
sorry’ campaign, learning from
maternity claims and a patient
safety alert on placement devices
for nasogastric tube insertion. An
information for patients section details
how negligence claims are handled and
outlines alternatives to legal action.
The site is an excellent resource with
a wealth of information on everything
from dispute resolution and handling
equal pay claims to human rights and
age discrimination.
Garry McGurk is a freelance
journalist
www.nhsla.com
See www.nursing-standard.co.uk
for previous website reviews
32 february 12 :: vol 28 no 24 :: 2014
TV :: radio :: books :: websites :: apps
Night Shift Nursing – She shares useful tips and offers
Savvy Solutions for practical tools for easing the mind and
a Healthy Lifestyle body’s reaction to working nights and
★★★★★ the rotating shift patterns of earlies
and lates. She argues that we need to
The RCN has called for make smarter choices, from choosing
better support for nurses who work energising fitness routines and
night shifts after a study revealed nutritious food to reconstructing sleep
that shift work damages DNA and patterns and balancing relationships.
can contribute to long-term health There is a particularly useful section
problems (News January 29). for employers on creating healthy work
Katherine Pakieser-Reed’s book is environments for staff working nights.
therefore timely and topical. As director I recommend this book to everyone
for nursing professional practice and working in healthcare, not just working
research at the University of Chicago nights. All can benefit from the advice
Medical Center, Dr Pakieser-Reed on fatigue and sleep, general tips for
has worked many night shifts in her healthy living, healthy eating, work/life
30-year career as a nurse. balance and staying visible at work.
Katherine Pakieser-Reed | Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
192pp | $29.95/£18.72 | ISBN: 978 1 9375 5467 5
Reviewed by Bridget Ryan, a bank nurse in Birmingham
Ethics for Nurses – rights, dignity and accountability and
Theory and Practice ‘duty of care’. It also addresses ethical
★★★★ research and dignified death.
The authors take readers on a
Registered nurses signposted journey, pointing out key
Pam Cranmer and features of interest and guiding them
Jean Nhemachena through a range of subjects and issues.
explain how ethics underpin care, Ethics is given a practical dimension.
making the subject accessible for It is not presented as something that
nursing students as they prepare is separate or removed from nursing.
to qualify, as well as experienced Theoretical concepts are discussed
practitioners looking to expand their in ways that allow their practical
knowledge of ethical care and improve dimension to be considered and
their nursing practice. explored. Throughout the book,
The starting point is that all nurses ethical theory is integrated into
need to have a basic understanding of nursing practice.
ethics and ethical nursing practice. The This is a useful introduction to
book looks at the background to ethical ethics. It helps to encourage reflection,
care, discussing what nurses must embedding ethics into clinical practice
do, the consequences of their actions, and sparking discussion on a range
respect and autonomy, fairness in care, of key issues at the heart of nursing.
Pam Cranmer and Jean Nhemachena | Open University Press | 232pp | £19.99
ISBN: 978 0 3352 4165 1
Reviewed by Marc Cornock, senior lecturer in law, school of law, the Open University
Key Excellent ★★★★★ Very good ★★★★ Good ★★★ Average ★★ Poor ★
NURSING STANDARD