Volume 7, Number 1

Helen Smith RGN DipHSW ENB N25 ENB 931 ENB N18 Dermatology Sister, Dumfries and Galloway NHS Trusts, Dumfries

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition, causing patches of hair loss on the scalp. The condition can occur quickly, become chronic and reoccur at any time.

Jennie Sutton RGN BSc(Hons) Professional Practice in Healthcare Clinical Governance Facilitator, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

Clinical governance has been around for five years. However, healthcare professionals still perceive it as an add-on to their already hectic workload or as something that is ‘done to them’. The key clinical governance statement has not really helped to demystify this vital process of NHS development, describing it as, ‘A framework through which NHS organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care, by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish’.1

Julie Bowman, Editor

Welcome to 2003. Tony Blair’s New Year message was a personal triumph; no more Mr Chirpy. Wherever the problems lie, patience and policy would surely prove more effective – helped by some spin and polish, plus Clare Short’s banishment from Central Office.

Gail Sibley RGN BSc (Hons) Practice Nurse, Queen's Park Medical Centre, Stockton-on-Tees

In January, I participated in a multiprofessional, round-table discussion that explored the myths and misconceptions concerning lanolin. Attendees agreed that lanolin sensitisation was a myth. The results of the discussion were very positive towards the use of Medilan™ (Croda, UK), a highly purified hypoallergenic form of lanolin (found in E45® Cream [Crookes, UK]), as an emollient.

Yvonne Walton Diploma in Nursing Studies ENB 931 ENB 393 Dermatology Nurse Practitioner, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

After many years of discussion, nurse prescribing is now a reality within our profession and, for many nurses, it is part of their everyday practice. However, deciding which is the most appropriate method to incorporate into practice requires knowledge and understanding regarding the evolution of nurse prescribing and, most importantly, current legislation.

Julie Bowman MBE RGN FETC Health Ed Cert ENB 237 Onc Cert Editor and Nurse Manager, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

Contact irritant dermatitis usually affects the hands or specific body sites, and is more common than allergic contact dermatitis. It occurs when reactions are found in the skin, usually after repeated contact with commonly used substances, such as detergents, solvents and abrasives. An acute episode can occur following a single overwhelming exposure.

Sue Davies-Jones RN DipN Dermatology Staff Nurse; Melody Gill NVQ Level 2 Patch Test Auxiliary Nurse, Queen’s Medical Centre, University Hospital Nottingham

Patch testing is used to investigate skin complaints that may be due to contact with certain substances. This is called allergic contact dermatitis.

Stephen Wright FRCN MBE Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, St Martin’s College, Lancaster and Chairman of the Sacred Space Foundation

Discussing spirituality in nursing can still cause confusion and, until recently, nurses seem to have avoided it due to a misunderstanding of what it is or fears of new-age flakiness or fundamentalism,
judgementalism and intolerance.