SKILLS FOR NURSES HEALTHCARE EVENTWEDNESDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2012

The Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow

ISSN 1756-5979 Issue 28- 2012

Suicide Potential and Associated Risks: The “S.P.A.R.” Aide Memoire

SKILLS FOR NURSES HEALTHCARE EVENTWEDNESDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2012

The Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow

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Published by:Global Media & Exhibitions Ltd.

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Managing Director: Jim BrownDistribution Manager: Jim Brown

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2 The EOCJob vacancies from the EOC

4 News

6 RecruitmentLocal and National vacancies

8 Skills4Nurses EventDetails of our forthcoming recruitment event to be held in Glasgow on 3rd October.

10 Suicide Potential and Associated RisksAuthors: Mr. Stephen J. Hamilton and Mr. David J. Martin.

Stephen Hamilton (RMN, BSc (Hons), PGCHET, PG Dip, MSc) is a Mental Health Nurse and Part-Time Lecturer of the University of Ulster; David Martin (RMN, BSc (Hons), Dip in Trauma Management, Adv Dip Specialist Practice, PG Cert) is a Mental Health Nurse and Team Leader.

13 Overseas RecruitmentVacancies available abroad

Global Media and Exhibitions Ltd does not make any representation as to the accuracy or suitability of any advertisements contained in this publication and does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of those advertisements and the offerings made by the third parties. Goods or services advertised are not endorsements or recommendations by Global Media and Exhibitions Ltd (unless stated).Your access to or use of them is at your own risk.

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Robert Gordon University (RGU) inAberdeen has retained The Timesnewspaper ranking of top modernuniversity in the UK. The Times‘Good University Guide’ supplement, published yesterdayrecently also placed the universityas top in Scotland for graduate level employment, a ranking which it has maintained forthe last decade.

The guide highlights the importanceof all universities providing courseslinked to careers, something thatRGU prides itself on – developingpertinent degree content in collaboration with industry thatrelates to real life working environments.

Professor Ferdinand vonProndzynski, Principal andVice-Chancellor of Robert GordonUniversity, said: “We are delightedto have been awarded the positionof top modern university in the UKfor a consecutive year. This is testament to the commitment andprofessionalism of all staff and theuniversity’s dedication of placingstudents and their graduateprospects at the top of our agenda.

“We are pleased to be acknowledged as top in Scotlandfor graduate level employment,demonstrating that our studentsgraduate with an industry-recognised qualification as well as a high skill set."

The Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit at the Southern GeneralHospital, one of only two specialistunits in Scotland, has receivednational recognition for its work toimprove the quality of mental healthcare for new mothers.

The Unit has been awarded RoyalCollege of Psychiatrist PerinatalQuality Network Accreditation following a review by external auditors.

Clinical nurse manager ClareHaughey said: "This is particularlydifficult to achieve because you are reviewed by your peers. What it means for our patients is the reassurance that we are providing

a high quality, best practice service."

The Unit had to pass demanding criteria to achieve this nationalrecognition. The process involvescompiling extensive records as proofof the work of the unit which then go before the Royal College panel.While, peer reviews ask carers andfamily members of patients forfeedback about the service andspeak to patients.

The SGH facility has 24 staff delivering in-patient services plus a team of five working in the community.

Clare continued: "The standards are very high. The reviewers look

at the care we provide, our staffinglevels, environment, mixture ofdisciplines in the service, and if arewe meeting the standards of bestpractice for mother and baby unitsthroughout the UK.

"Accreditation lasts for three yearsafter which the unit must bereviewed again as well as undergoing a yearly review from theRoyal College of PsychiatristPerinatal Quality Network.

"Apart from maintaining standards there is always room forimprovement, hence we welcome allfeedback and suggestions fromusers, carers and referrers to ourservice."

to highlight your news articles in future editions of SKILLS 4 NURSES

email: shona@gmexpos.com

RGU named top modern university in the UK in TheTimes University Guide 2013

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Check out our website

WWW.SKILLS4NURSES.COM

Where we will be advising subscribers that they will be kept up to date with jobs for their grade or type of work

Also find out more about our forthcoming recruitment events.

So go online now and subscribe tobe kept in touch or email:info@gmexpos.com

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Midwifery education at Robert Gordon University (RGU)has been recognised in a prestigious national awardsprogramme for midwives and allied health professionalsworking in the field of maternity care.

A team of academic staff from RGU’s School of Nursingand Midwifery achieved first place in the Excellence inSupervision of Midwives Award category of the BritishJournal of Midwifery (BJM) Practice Awards 2012 whichtook place earlier this month.

Lynn Grove, who leads a number of RGU’s midwifery programmes, received the award on the night on behalfof the School’s midwifery development team whodesigned the Preparation of Supervisor of Midwivescourse.

The award was conferred in recognition of the team’sinnovative approach to the design of the course whichprepares midwives to undertake the statutory role ofsupervisor of midwives.

The course’s blended learning approach, which incorporates both in-person and online teaching, supports the more remote and rural areas where travelling to a university may have large financial costs. It meets the needs of any health board requiring thistraining and enables most of the learning to take placewithout the student having to leave their place of work for long periods of time.

Lynn commented: “It feels fantastic to have won thisaward. The course development team have worked hardto develop the programme and it is great to have itacknowledged in this way. It has given our midwiferyteam a real boost and feeling of success. Our specialthanks go to the Local Supervising Authority MidwiferyOfficer, Mary Vance, and all of the course developmentteam for their contribution to the programme.”

Now in its ninth year, the Midwifery Practice Awards were held at the Grange City Hotel in central London onThursday 3 May alongside the BJM's two-day nationalconference.

As in previous years, the awards attracted a very highstandard of entries in six major categories includingLifetime Achievement Award, Student Midwife of theYear and Team of the Year.

Charity Hospital Ship Honours UKNurses on International Nurses Day

Mercy Ships, the international charity that provides free medicalcare and humanitarian aid to some of the world’s poorest people, recently celebrated International Nurses Day.

Mercy Ships runs the world’s largest charity hospital ship, theAfrica Mercy, which is staffed by more than 400 volunteers atany one time. In the last 30 years nurses from all over the UKhave volunteered with Mercy Ships to bring hope and healing to thousands of patients in third world countries.

One such nurse is Ana Glover (32) a paediatric nurse fromNeath, South Wales who is currently volunteering for a year with Mercy Ships in Togo. Togo is one of the world’s poorestcountries where one in 10 children die before their fifth birthday.

Ana said: “Being a nurse on the Africa Mercy is very different to being a one at home. I’m seeing conditions which would notbe presented in the UK. Also it’s great to see so many differentnurses from different nationalities come together and worktogether for the first time. Putting the patient first at all times is a fantastic experience. It really is an inspirational charity”.

International Nurses Day is an opportunity to celebrate nursingand the contribution nurses make, improving the lives of individ-uals and their families, the health and wellbeing of whole com-munities and the wider population across the world. It is heldon the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale who iswidely recognised as an important founder of modern nursing.

For more information on Mercy Ships please visit www.mercyships.org.uk or call 01438 727800.

Midwifery programmerecognised atnational awards

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Our benefits package for contract staff includes:

• Salary up to £34,000 (approx.€40,800) +£1,000 (approx.€1,200) relocation payment*

• First months accommodation fully subsidised*• Non-standard hours supplements• iPad• Private Health Benefits Scheme• Blackberry mobile phone• Mileage Claim reimbursement• Pension

Why work for MediHome?

• Opportunities to provide one to one dedicated acute patient care

• Flexible working patterns• No night shifts• Weekend only working available• Friendly and supportive autonomous working

environment

The leading provider of acute hospital at home nursing and physiotherapy services to NHS and private patients in England.

How to Apply:Visit our website www.medihome.co.uk or for an informal discussion on any of our posts**contact the Recruitment Team on 01753 208194 or email careers@medihome.co.ukWe can also offer you the opportunity to speak with a member of our team who has successfully relocated with MediHome.

* Conditions apply ** Minimum 2 years post-qualifying experience

Do something different…Hospital at Home Nurse Jobs in London

Come and see us at Stand No.17 at the Skills4Nurses exhibition on 27th April 2012

It is with great pleasure that I can announce to you all the 18th annual 'Nursing & Midwifery' recruitment show, which willtake place at the newly refurbished venue of The Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow on the 3rd October 2012.

I want to reinforce the Skills4Nurses.com commitment in ensuring that all unemployed, returning to work or simply looking for a change, have the opportunity to do just that (finding employment).

To that end we are securing the services of many recruiters fromIreland, UK and overseas. All of whom are making a great effortin coming to Glasgow, hoping to have the opportunity to speak with YOU and in many cases recruit YOU!

Should you come along, I would like to extend to you a warmwelcome. So stop what your doing and make this a date in yourdiary, entry is entirely free.

Our previous events have successfully recruited many thousands of both nurses and midwives, not only for local andprivate Hospitals and Health Boards, but also for the NHS. Wehave also in the past, received many letters of thanks from successful candidates, whom because of attendance at ourSkills4Nurses events, have emigrated all over the world, to exotic places such as Australia, Dubai, Caucus Islands,Bahamas, USA, Canada, New Zealand to name but a few.

My staff have had lots of previous success in bringing toGlasgow, recruiters from within Ireland, the UK and Australia, and this year shall continue this pattern.

They are looking to recruit all grades of healthcare staff. Someof these recruiters are also looking to interview you on the dayof the Expo, so please bring with you;

• Picture ID passport or driving license with paper counterpart and birth certificate.

• Proof of nursing experience. INO registration etc

• Current CV

• Address documents must be originals with the candidates current address e.g bank statement,utility bill, mortgagestatement, benefit book, credit card statement.

Do not be afraid to approach any of the recruiters, they are herebecause they need your skills and expertise and remember,please speak to them all, keep all your irons in the fire (so tospeak). Some of these organisations have come many miles,some from the other side of the world. Be prepared to spend theday at the event, ask questions, such as; what accommodationis on offer, ongoing education & training, travel, salaries etc.

Please tell all your Nursing & Midwifery friends about this event,use your Facebook/Twitter account or email/text them, if youneed any further information, contact my office.

Best wishes to you all and I look forward to welcoming you onWednesday 3rd October.

Warm Regards

Jim Brown

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB OR TO DEVELOP YOUR CAREER?

For more information on our 2012 Expos call Elaine or Jim on 0044 1292 525970 or email jim@gmexpos.com

Skills4Nurses 18th Annual 'Nursing & Midwifery' recruitment show may prove beneficial for you!

The GrandCentral Hotel

Network with other nurses & Midwives fromacross the UK & Ireland

OVERSEASOpportunities

Opportunity to meetand share ideas withother professionals

A UNIQUE EVENT TARGETING NURSING AND MIDWIFERY PROFESSIONALS

www.skills4nurses.com

SKILLS FOR NURSES HEALTHCARE EVENT

WEDNESDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2012The Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow

Recruitment opportunities - under threat of redundancy or looking for a change, please come along and visit ourexhibitors for a chance to work in the sun or a new field.

SCOTLAND’S PREMIER NURSING & MIDWIFERY EVENT

For updates visit: www.skills4nurses.com

DOORS OPEN 10.00am - 5pm

For FREE ENTRY simply turn up on the day and register at the event!

For further details please email:shona@gmexpos.com or call 01292 525970

* To apply for recruitment vacancies on the day please bring along your CV, Passport or Driving License withpaper counterpart and birth certificate along with 2 address documents (must be original) with your currentaddress e.g. bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement, credit card statement etc.

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Suicide Potential and Associated Risks:The “S.P.A.R.” Aide Memoire

Authors: Mr. Stephen J. Hamilton and Mr. David J. Martin.

Stephen Hamilton (RMN, BSc (Hons), PGCHET, PG Dip, MSc) is a Mental Health Nurse and Part-TimeLecturer of the University of Ulster; David Martin (RMN, BSc (Hons), Dip in Trauma Management, Adv DipSpecialist Practice, PG Cert) is a Mental Health Nurse and Team Leader.

The Protect Life Shared Vision SuicidePrevention Document was released in 2006 by theDepartment of Health Social Services and PublicSafety for Northern Ireland in response to theapparent growing number of completed suicides.The Northern Ireland Statistics and ResearchAgency (2011) reveal that in the year 2000 therewere 185 individuals who completed suicide, in2005 a total of 213, with 313 people completingsuicide in 2010. In light of the fact that the 2010figure was the highest ever recorded and withNorthern Ireland currently in a post-conflict situation, the challenges facing us all in relation to suicide potential and the assessment of itsassociated risk factors are further reinforced and magnified. The Aide Memoire put forward inthis piece is therefore intended as a catalyst andguiding mechanism to further facilitate thoroughpatient assessment in relation to suicide riskpotential within the various clinical and communityenvironments of current mental health service provision and beyond.

MEDICAL / PSYCHIATRIC HISTORY

• History of self-harm• Family history of suicide• Previously bereaved by suicide• Previous suicide attempt• Presence of a suicide plan• Presence of a suicide note• Thoughts of completing suicide• Preoccupied with suicide• History of substance misuse• History of illicit drug misuse• History of prescribed drug misuse• History of alcohol misuse• Chronic physical disability /

painful physical condition• Suffering from life-limiting physical illness• Previous history of serious mental illness• Suffering from chronic mental disorder / illness• Formal diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder /

depression• Lack of insight into mental illness• Panic attacks• Moderate / severe anxiety• Concern expressed by others

FORENSIC ASPECTS

• Serving custodial sentence• Serving non-custodial sentence• Previous admission to secure mental

health facility• History of offending / criminal record • History of paramilitary involvement• History of aggression / violence / assault• Impending stressors e.g. court appearance• Criminal record

Non verbal communication constitutes the majority of any human interaction, with the remaining lesser portion relating to the spokenword (Hargie et al, 1994). Indeed, the nonverbalelement is usually more of an accurate indicator of a person’s inner state of mind (Argyle, 1983;Hargie and McCartan, 1986; Dickson et al, 1997). Therefore, when health professionals arecompleting any risk assessment tool, they shouldnot afford 100% of their judgement / assessmentexclusively upon the verbal content of what theinterviewee has stated (Martin and Hamilton,2005). This is not to suggest however that what a patient says should be ignored but rathercouched in the context of the overall interactionaldynamic between professional and patient.

The authors are cognisant that the employmentand utilisation of an Aide Memoire of such lengthhas the potential for mental health practitioners to adopt and embrace a “tick box” attitude andsubsequent approach to suicide risk assessment.If we acknowledge the complex, multi-factorialand multi-dimensional nature of suicide then athorough and very detailed Aide Memoire may behelpful; however, when dealing with a distressedindividual in this context it may prove unwieldyand cumbersome. Mental health practitionerstherefore may be tempted to behave defensivelywhich in itself may actively militate against thorough and accurate assessment. Therefore, the strengths of any Aide Memoire maysimultaneously be its biggest weaknesses andthere is no substitute for training and experiencewhen it comes to patient assessment of this

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nature. It is the authors’ express intention that the “S.P.A.R.” Aide Memoire not be interpretedslavishly or mechanically but rather seen as a fluid and flexible backdrop and catalyst to thesubsequent completion of a suicide risk assessment.

SOCIAL / DOMESTIC CIRCUMSTANCES

• Male / Single• Aged 15 – 24 years• Homeless / housing problems• Widowed / lives alone / recently bereaved• Nomadic/ chaotic lifestyle• Victim of domestic violence• Lack of social and / or family support• High carer burden• Unskilled / low skilled worker• Unemployed / temporary employment• Recent job loss / retirement• Financial difficulties / debt / low income• Divorced / recently separated • Relationship difficulties / volatile personal

relationships• Recent relationship break up• Victimised / exploited by others• Member of Social Class 4 / 5• Traumatic life events / experiences• Recent severe stress / stressors• Easy access to lethal means• High risk occupation• Exposure to recent local clusters of

completed suicide / media reports

Each entry of the “S.P.A.R.” Aide Memoire relates to a potential suicide risk factor. It is not conclusive or exhaustive in essence but isintended to act as a reference point for health professionals when assessing suicide risk potential with their respective patient groups. The list itself was compiled by the authors following an extensive and systematic trawl ofavailable empirical and non-empirical evidencepertaining to apparent risk factors for completedsuicide. The inherent multi-dimensionality of suicide is evident in that the “S.P.A.R.” AideMemoire is divided into five distinct sections viz. (1) Medical / Psychiatric History (2) ForensicAspects (3) Social / Domestic Circumstances (4) Feelings Aspects and lastly (5) BehaviouralAspects. These sections are in no particularascending or descending order of importance;they are all of equal importance. Higher risk occupations include farmers, veterinary surgeons, anaesthetists, pharmacists, nurses,dentists as well as army, police and security personnel, with males being four times more likely to complete suicide than women as well as being more likely to succeed through the use of more violent and lethal means (CentralStatistics Office, 2011).

FEELINGS ASPECTS

• Feelings of desperation / frustration • Feelings of anger / seeking revenge• Feelings of guilt• Feelings of worthlessness / purposelessness• Feelings of loneliness / isolation• Feelings of sadness• Feelings of hopelessness / helplessness• Feeling trapped• Feelings of stigma associated with

seeking help• Absence of religious faith / beliefs

BEHAVIOURAL ASPECTS

• Giving away personal possessions • Putting affairs in order• Reckless, impulsive, antisocial and /

or dissocial behaviour• Extreme behaviour changes• Recent social withdrawal / self-neglect • Loss of interest in hobbies• Lack of attention to personal care /

appearance• Reduced libido• Disturbed sleep pattern• Loss of appetite• Poor coping and / or social skills• Poor conflict resolution skills • Verbal cues / expressions of intent• Non-concordant / non-compliant with

prescribed medication• Refusing to engage with mental health services• Recent disengagement with mental health

services• Writing / texting about suicide

Within the increasingly litigious and legally-oriented culture that we operate as health professionals, the emphasis remains very much upon thorough risk assessment and riskmanagement on so many levels, not just within the mental health arena. Northern Ireland in terms of suicide completion is an extremelyunique cohort despite similarities with other parts of the world. McGowan et al (2005) revealed a highly significant inverse correlationbetween the total number of deaths in terrorist-related incidents and completed suicides in the34-year period from 1966 through to 1999. Thisresearch revealed that “the Troubles” appeared to precipitate social cohesion that may have acted in itself as a protective factor against suicide. In other words, when levels of civil unrest were high, suicide rates tended to be much lower and vice versa.

Curran (1988) whilst discussing the work of theimminent French Sociologist Emile Durkheim,highlights that reduced suicide rates in areas ofconflict in the mid 19th century was attributed to war acting as a catalyst which facilitated,

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developed and further nurtured social structureand social / group cohesion; Bosnar et al (2002)further supports this postulation in the context ofthe two World Wars. It is crucial to remember however, that despite threads of commonalityacross the globe in relation to the dynamics of completed suicide, each country contains unique individual cohorts with the subsequentcompletion of any risk assessment tool beingheavily influenced by distinct and idiosyncraticsociological, cultural and environmental factors.

The purpose of the “S.P.A.R.” Aide Memoire istherefore threefold; firstly, as an educational tool for mental health and non-mental healthtrainees and professionals alike; secondly, as anawareness-enhancing reference point pertainingto possible risk factors for completed suicide, and lastly, as a priming mechanism intended toguide the focus, attention and energy of theassessor during the assessment process.

References

Argyle, M. (1983) The psychology of interpersonal behaviour. London: Penguin Books

Bosnar, A. and Stemberg, V. et al (2002) Increasedsuicide rate before and during the war in SouthWestern Croatia. Archives of Medical Research33, 301 – 304

Central Statistics Office (2011) Women and men inIreland 2010. 1st February 2011. Press Release.Republic of Ireland / Dublin: CSO

Curran, P. (1988) Psychiatric aspects of terroristviolence: Northern Ireland 1969 – 1987. BritishJournal of Psychiatry 153, 470 – 475

Department of Health Social Services and PublicServices for Northern Ireland (2006) Protect life. A shared vision: The Northern Ireland SuicidePrevention Strategy and Action Plan (2006 –2011). Belfast: DHSSPSNI

Dickson, D. et al (1997) Communication skillstraining for health professionals. London:Chapman and Hall

Martin, D. J. and Hamilton, S. J. (2005) How to usenonverbal signs in assessment of suicide risk.Nursing Times 102(2), 36 – 38

Hamilton, S. J. and Martin, D. J. (2007) A framework for effective communication skills.Nursing Times 103(48), 30 – 31

Hargie, O. and McCartan, P. J. (1986) Social skillstraining and psychiatric nursing. 3rd ed. London:Croomhelm Ltd

Hargie, O., Saunders, C. and Dickson, D. (1994) Social skills training in interpersonal communication. 3rd ed. London: Routledge

McGowan, I. W., Hamilton, S. J., Miller, P, W, andKernohan, G.(2005) Contrasting terrorist relateddeaths with suicide trends over 34 years Journalof Mental Health14(4), 399-405

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency(2011) Statistical Bulletin: Deaths in NorthernIreland 2010. 24th March 2011. Press Release.Belfast: NISRA

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GIBRALTAR HEALTH AUTHORITY

£23,251 to £31,044 per annum plus allowances (depending on experience). Relocation Assistance Provided (Passages payable in full & Subsidised Accommodation)

OVERDUE A SABBATICAL? WANT TO WORK SOMEWHERE UNIQUE?

If the answer is ‘Yes’ to the above questions you need to look no further.

Look at the map! The Rock of Gibraltar is situated at the southernmosttip of the Iberian Peninsula. The vibrancy and friendliness of Gibraltaralong with the opportunity to explore North Africa, Spain and Portugalmake Gibraltar a great place to live and work.

REGISTERED GENERAL NURSE - INTENSIVE CARE

We are seeking highly motivated Registered General Nurses, with goodorganisational and interpersonal skills, who are in possession of the relevant qualifications and experience in Intensive Care Nursing.

Our Critical Care Unit within St Bernard’s Hospital is a 10 bedded facility catering for level 1 to level 3 patients in Coronary Care, HDU andCritical Care.

The appointments we are offering are on contract terms for variablelengths.

If you would like to discuss any aspects of the posts, please contact Ms Giselle Tosso, Clinical Nurse Manager on Tel: 00-350-200-72266 ext 2363 or email giselle.tosso@gha.gi

Application Packs are obtainable from the Recruitment Section onTel: 00-350-200-72266 ext:2081 or Fax: 00-350-200-43864 or e-mail: philip.davitt@gha.gi

Closing Date: Friday 13th July 2012

VACANCIES IN INTENSIVE CARE

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