Natalizumab for the treatment of highly active MS: risks and benefits

Natalizumab is a DMT that is used in highly active RRMS, which has a high efficacy of 70% for reducing relapses and sustaining disease progression. It is given by intravenous infusion every 4 weeks,...

Managing depression in the primary care setting

Depression is characterised by persistent low mood and/or loss of pleasure in most activities and a range of associated emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioural symptoms (NICE, 2015). The DSM-5...

Home oxygen therapy in patients with COPD: safety issues for nurse prescribers

‘… responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed and diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical management required, including prescribing.’.

Accountability and prescribing

Prescribers can be called to account for their actions by (Figure 1):.

Practical prescribing: management of anaemia: answers

To the nearest whole milligram, how many moles of elemental iron are there in each 200 mg ferrous sulfate tablet?.

We must educate and vaccinate

DIAZEPAM

In 1957 the first #benzodiazepine (BZD) chlordiazepoxide was discovered by accident (chance modification of tricyclic-like compounds) as having sedative and anti-convulsant properties. It was marketed...

Mental health prescribing

Australian researchers carried out a systematic qualitative synthesis of 12 samples (Cleary et al, 2017). Using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) for qualitative studies, all were deemed...

Calculation skills in chronic pain management

Ben, aged 52, has type 2 diabetes mellitus and has been commenced on gabapentin capsules for neuropathic pain. The British National Formulary (Joint Formulary Committee, 2019) states that he should be...

Protecting those at risk of anaphylaxis

The Anaphylaxis Campaign is a national registered charity, now celebrating its 25th year. Its overall aim is to protect people at risk from this unpredictable condition..

Preventing complications and managing symptoms of CKD

CKD is used as a general term used when someone has signs of abnormal kidney function – either a reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or an increase...

Reducing drug errors by engaging student nurses in medication management simulation

The historical roots of simulation for the practice of skills, problem solving and judgment are evident in work carried out by Rosen (2008). McCaughey and Traynor (2010) have demonstrated that...