Guidelines set out the best evidence-based practice in clinical or practice areas. These are the five most relevant to primary care nurses in 2014.
Updated support for women's mental health problems
NICE guidance on women's mental health problems before and after pregnancy have been updated after seven years to include updates on medication and the knowledge clinicians have regarding women's mental health.
Draft diabetes guidance
The draft guidelines focus on children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to provide better control of the condition with intensive insulin management. The guidelines state that insulin therapy should be offered alongside dietary advice. Full guidance is expected to be published in August 2015.
Consultation on falls prevention in older people
A consultation was launched in November to set out the key priorities to prevent further injury in patients who have had a fall. The standard includes four statements that are open fro public consultation.
Consider nitric oxide tests for asthma patients
Nurses were advised to consider nitric oxide breath tests which could help to prevent asthma attacks. The advice was backed by nurses who already use the method and believe this test could lead to better diagnosis and treatment along with fewer asthma attacks and hospitalisations.
NICE guidelines for domestic violence
Doctors and nurses should receive training so they can recognise signs of domestic violence and abuse. This was the first major review that took into all the evidence around domestic violence and set out recommendations on prevention and reduction.