RCN Competences for Travel Health Nursing

Travel health nursing: career and competence development RCN guidance was republished in September 2012.  This document has been completely updated from the original publication in 2007.  Highlights include a new section providing an overview of travel medicine services in the UK including financial and prescribing issues, an updated resource section and brand new travel risk assessment and travel risk management forms.  The document is an essential tool for all nurses working in travel health and although written for nurses, much the information is equally applicable to doctors and pharmacists working in this field of practice.  Electronic copy is available at http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/78747/003146.pdf
If you would like a printed copy please e mail me at jane@janechiodini.co.uk providing your name and surgery address.  There is currently a restriction of one per surgery as copies are limited.

A Travel Experience

The third week of October 2012 I travelled to New York City for a long weekend break with my husband, staying in Times Square.  The weather was glorious, temperatures up to 24°C, blue skies, it was perfect weather!  We went to wonderful new attraction – the High Line.  This is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side.  The walk was truly amazing through many of the park features alongside old and new architecturally fascinating buildings en route.  For further information see  http://www.thehighline.org/  A couple of shows in Times Square, breakfast in a diner I first visited in 2003 ( with a group of travel health nurse friends when Barry Manilow came in and sat on the table next to us – we were attending the 8th Conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine) and a little bit of retail therapy made a wonderful break!  Just one week after our return, devastation struck with Hurricane Sandy.  It was hard to take in the images and devastation this weather phenomenon caused.  It made me rethink the ease with which one can reach any corner of the world these days, but how fragile arrangements could be for anyone, anywhere, the impact of the host country for its economy and how important it is to take out good travel insurance.  More on the insurance aspect in a future blog! 

Pumpkin display in Chelsea Market,
Manhattan on our way to the
High Line at 14th Street

Walking the High Line with the
 Empire State Building 
in the background!