Continence Journal

Over the years many of us have engaged in debates about what nursing is; the philosophy that informs what we do and the way this influences how nursing is practised. Our philosophy of care guides decisions about how care should be organised, when it is appropriate to delegate care and whether nurses should take on new roles and responsibilities. While considerable amounts of time and paper have been dedicated to the pursuit of a definitive definition, it has been difficult to pin down. Most nurses would agree that they should provide care that is focused on patients and tailored to their individual needs. Words like trust, empathy, listening and compassion spring to mind.

Yet how do these ideals translate into daily practice as the boundaries of the registered nurses role are changing?

One particular area for concern in continence/urology is the delegation of catheterisation to HCAs. There are excellent examples where delegation has been successful; however, the process of thinking about delegation throws up some interesting debates.

This exclusive supplement, brought to you by Nursing Times examines the HCA/Nurse task debate, as well as providing research and analysis into urine collection in children, vaginal cones in stress incontinence treatment, and reducing admissions for urinary catheterisation and much more.

Nursing Times is the leading weekly magazine for nurses in the United Kingdom. The magazine and its website nursingtimes.net publish original nursing research and a host of clinical articles for nurses at all stages in their career. This includes breaking news, developments in clinical practice as well as professional issues; sharing practice articles and highlighting best practice and innovation across the sector.

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