An Evidence Base For Ophthalmic Nursing Practice

The objective of this book is to provide an evidence base for ophthalmic nursing practice. There are areas of practice where little evidence exists, in those areas, the book aims to provide reasoned guidelines from an informed source, thus negating the need for every ophthalmic practice area to develop diverse often contradictory guidelines. Providing evidence-based care is a key skill for all healthcare professionals. This book considers the evidence base for ophthalmic nursing practice – looking at the ‘why’s’ of what we do and how we know what we know. The RCN Ophthalmic Nursing Forum Steering Committee recognise that best practice in ophthalmic care across the UK should be synthesised along with the evidence to support it, to enable practitioners to develop guidelines and to identify and use the best evidence possible in the care of patients with ophthalmic problems. This book addresses some of these issues. Where there is robust evidence, it is identified, practitioner experience is incorporated and when there is no obvious ‘scientific’ evidence, consensus, expert opinion is included. An Evidence-base for Ophthalmic Nursing Practice explores condition management, including lice infestation, conjunctivitis, recurrent corneal erosion, echymosis, acute glaucoma etc. It considers the evidence for techniques such as padding, taking eye swabs, irrigation, and the use of heat. It also discusses topics such as visual acuity testing, visual standards for driving and other legal aspects of care and policy. This text will be an invaluable accessible reference tool for all nurses working in ophthalmic settings. The first reference of its kind, An Evidence Base for Ophthalmic Nursing Practice alleviates the need for every ophthalmic practice area to develop diverse, often contradictory, guidelines. This book informs guidelines and protocols and provides up to date, evidence based information, covering: condition management (lice infestation, conjunctivitis, recurrent corneal erosion, removing foreign bodies, chalazion, pain management, acute glaucoma); techniques (padding, taking eye swabs, irrigation, administering eye drops, keratometry); and other topics, including papillary dilation, standards for driving, screening, topical anaesthesia and the eye, and prescribing.