Supporting children's nurses through Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation

In April 2016 the Nursing and Midwifery Council introduced revalidation for all nurses and midwives. It was designed to demonstrate a registrant's ability to practise safely and effectively throughout their career and thereby improve patient and public protection. Children's nurses should be aware of their renewal (revalidation) date to prepare their portfolio in good time. The portfolio must include evidence of 450 hours of practice, 35 hours of continuing professional development, five examples of feedback on practice and five written reflective accounts. Revalidation was tested in 19 pilot sites across the UK including Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) - the overall experience of the children's nurses from ABUHB who participated in the pilot was positive. Children's nurses have been supported in revalidation through learning from shared examples of portfolio entries. Advice from ABUHB pilot participants to children's nurses includes getting organised, recording information regularly in their portfolio and the reassurance that revalidation is not difficult.

How to submit your revalidation application

Rationale and key points This is the final in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation process. This article focuses on submitting a revalidation application to the NMC. » Nurses and midwives must demonstrate that they have: completed 450 hours of practice, or 900 hours if revalidating as both a nurse and midwife; undertaken 35 hours of continuing professional development, 20 hours of which must be participatory; recorded five examples of feedback on their practice; written five reflective accounts; had a reflective discussion with an NMC registrant; and sought confirmation that they have met these requirements. » Nurses and midwives who fail to submit their revalidation application by the stated date will put the renewal of their registration at risk. Reflective activity 'How to' revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can submit your revalidation application. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. The professional accountability associated with declaring that you have met the revalidation requirements. 2. How you could use this article to educate your colleagues. Subscribers can upload their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio .

How to obtain confirmation for revalidation

Rationale and key points This is the seventh in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation process. This article focuses on obtaining confirmation for revalidation. » Revalidation is a mandatory process for nurses and midwives, enabling them to demonstrate their ability to practise safely and effectively. » Confirmation provides assurance that nurses and midwives have met the requirements of revalidation. » Confirmation does not involve making judgements about whether a nurse or midwife is fit to practise. Reflective activity 'How to' revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can obtain confirmation for revalidation. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. The information that nurses and midwives are required to collect to meet the revalidation requirements. 2. How you could use this article to educate your colleagues. Subscribers can upload their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio.

How to engage in a reflective discussion for revalidation

Rationale and key points This is the sixth in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revalidation process. This article focuses on the requirement for nurses and midwives to engage in a reflective discussion with an NMC registrant. The purpose of the reflective discussion is to encourage a culture of sharing information to support professional development and improve practice. » The reflective discussion must be undertaken with an NMC registrant. » The reflective discussion should cover the five written reflective accounts required to renew registration. Reflective activity 'How to' revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can engage in a reflective discussion. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. How engaging in a reflective discussion with an NMC registrant helps you to view a situation from another person's perspective. 2. How you could use this article to educate your colleagues. Subscribers can upload their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio.

How to write a reflective account for revalidation

Rationale and key points This is the fifth in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revalidation process. This article focuses on preparing five written reflective accounts for revalidation. » Reflective practice encourages nurses and midwives to use their learning to identify areas for improvement. » Reflective practice encourages nurses and midwives to relate their learning to the NMC code of professional standards of practice and behaviour. Reflective activity 'How to' revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can record and evidence CPD for revalidation. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. How recording and evidencing CPD will demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience you have gained in practice. 2. How you could use this article to educate your colleagues. Subscribers can update their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio.

How to record and evidence practice-related feedback for revalidation

Rationale and key points This is the fourth in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation process. This article focuses on recording 5 examples of practice-related feedback for revalidation. » Feedback encourages individuals to assess and improve their practice. » Feedback aids communication and interpersonal skills. Reflective activity 'How to' revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can record and evidence practice-related feedback for revalidation. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. How your practice will change as a result of obtaining feedback from patients and colleagues. 2. How you could use this article to educate your colleagues. Subscribers can upload their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio .

How to record and evidence continuing professional development for revalidation

Rationale and key points This is the third in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revalidation process. This article focuses on recording and providing evidence of continuing professional development (CPD). Nurses and midwives must have undertaken 35 hours of CPD, of which at least 20 hours must have included participatory learning, relevant to their scope of practice, in the 3-year period since their registration was last renewed or they joined the register. » CPD enables nurses and midwives to ensure their knowledge and skills are up to date. » The participatory component of CPD encourages engagement and communication with others, thus challenging professional isolation. Reflective activity 'How to' revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can record and evidence CPD for revalidation. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. How recording and evidencing CPD will demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience you have gained in practice. 2. How you could use this article to educate your colleagues. Subscribers can update their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio.

How to record and evidence practice hours for revalidation

Rationale and key points This is the second in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) revalidation process. This article focuses on recording and providing evidence that you have practised for a minimum of 450 hours, or 900 hours if revalidating as both a nurse and midwife. » Revalidation is a mandatory process for nurses and midwives, enabling them to demonstrate their ability to practise safely and effectively. » Revalidation encourages nurses and midwives to stay up to date in their professional practice. Reflective activity 'How to' revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can record and evidence practice hours for revalidation. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. Some of the direct, indirect and non-clinical practice activities you have undertaken over the past 3 years. 2. How you could provide evidence to support your practice hours. Subscribers can upload their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio .

How to prepare for revalidation

Rationale and key points This is the first in a series of eight articles providing information about the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revalidation process, which was introduced in April 2016. This article focuses on setting up an online NMC account, preparing for revalidation and understanding revalidation requirements. » Revalidation is a mandatory process for nurses and midwives, enabling them to demonstrate their ability to practise safely and effectively. » Registered nurses and midwives are required to revalidate with the NMC every 3 years. » Revalidation encourages nurses and midwives to stay up to date in their professional practice. Reflective activity How to revalidate articles can help to update your practice and provide information about the revalidation process, including how you can successfully submit your revalidation request to the NMC. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. The strengths of revalidation compared to post-registration education and practice requirements. 2. The revalidation requirements and how these can be met. Subscribers can upload their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio .

Children's nurses' experiences of a revalidation pilot study

All UK nurses and midwives will need to follow the revalidation process to renew their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and demonstrate that they practise safely and effectively. The system is designed to help nurses and midwives develop professionally throughout their careers, as well as ensuring public confidence in the professions. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) in South Wales was one of 19 NMC revalidation pilot sites. This involved nurses and midwives, who were due to complete their self-declaration between January 1 and September 30 2015, testing the revalidation processes. The aim of the article is to describe the experience of three paediatric nurses who participated in the pilot.

Revalidation: implications for senior nurses

Revalidation replaces the current triennial self-declaration system of maintaining nurse registration. It involves a third-party affirmation process designed to improve public and patient confidence that nurses remain up to date by undertaking relevant professional development activities. While revalidation is ultimately the responsibility of individual nurses, senior nurses have an important facilitating role in ensuring that registrants can remain on the register and so continue to practise. This article outlines, from a practical perspective, the senior nurse's role and responsibilities in supporting registrants through each stage of the revalidation process.

Revalidation: a university health board's learning from pilot partner engagement

This article aims to share organisational experiences and learning from the largest Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revalidation pilot partner. The purpose of revalidation is to improve public and patient protection through career-long professional updating. Pilot participation enabled Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) to contribute significantly to system and process testing, underpinning revalidation across a range of nursing and midwifery settings. An action plan was developed providing a structured approach to the revalidation pilot, detailed actions were identified and progress against actions mapped and reported. While revalidation is the individual registrant's responsibility, there is an organisational obligation to create a supportive enabling environment. A strategic plan incorporating revalidation into organisational objectives and structured leadership roles assisted registrants to successfully meet the NMC's requirements. With 813 registrants completing the pilot process, ABUHB has an enhanced understanding of the revalidation process and an appreciation of its impact on associated professional issues. This level of learning has increased readiness for revalidation commencement for all UK nurses and midwives.

A new interspecific, Gossypium hirsutum x G. barbadense, RIL population: towards a unified consensus linkage map of tetraploid cotton

We report the development of a new interspecific cotton recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 140 lines deriving from an interspecific cross between Gossypium hirsutum (Gh) and G. barbadense (Gb), using the same two parents that have served for the construction of a BC(1) map and for the marker-assisted backcross selection program underway at CIRAD. Two marker systems, microsatellites and AFLPs, were used. An important feature of the RIL population was its marked segregation distortion with a genome-wide bias to Gh alleles (parental genome ratio is 71/29). The RIL map displays an excellent colinearity with the BC(1) map, although it is severely contracted in terms of map size. Existence of 255 loci in common (between 6 and 14 per chromosome) allowed the integration of the two data sets. A consensus BC(1)-RIL map based upon 215 individuals (75 BC1 + 140 RIL) was built. It consisted of 1,745 loci, spanned 3,637 cM, intermediate between the sizes of the two component maps, and constituted a solid framework to cross align cotton maps using common markers. The new RIL population will be further exploited for fiber property QTL mapping and eQTL mapping.

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers reveal low levels of polymorphism between cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars

Since their discovery in the 1980s microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers have been widely used in many species to generate relatively dense genetic maps or framework maps on which to anchor more abundant, but anonymous, markers such as amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). They are typically highly polymorphic, robust, and often portable, particularly among different mapping populations or crosses and often to related species. They have been useful in species where low levels of genetic diversity limit the use of other markers. Cultivated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) has a history of genetic bottlenecks that have considerably reduced its diversity, with the consequence that most molecular marker genetic linkage studies are done with inter-specific crosses. In this study we evaluated the potential for SSR markers to be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding in cotton by quantifying the level of polymorphism detected with a set of commercially available SSR markers between and within a collection of cotton cultivars being used in our breeding programs. Although the majority of these markers are polymorphic between the 2 tetraploid species of cotton, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum, they are not highly polymorphic (~5%) either among or within G. hirsutum cultivars. However, 6 of the 8 cultivars studied were found to be segregating for alleles of these SSR markers. This suggests that where polymorphisms exist, heterozygosity within cultivars is maintained by the breeding strategies adopted by many modern cotton breeders. Although SSRs clearly have utility in genetic studies using inter-specific crosses or in the introgression of wild germplasm, they will be more difficult to use for standard cotton breeding until greater numbers are available. The utility of some markers may be reduced in some breeding populations where heterozygosity remains in the parental material.

Investigation of the chromosomal location of the bacterial blight resistance gene present in an Australian cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivar

An early success of the CSIRO cotton breeding program was the incorporation of resistance to the bacterial blight pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Xcm ) into commercial cultivars. Pedigree records suggest that the source of this resistance was a set of related, so-called immune lines carrying the B2B3B7 and BSm genes. However, resistance to Xcm race 18 segregates as a single dominant locus in at least one Australian cultivar (CS50), so its true identity is unclear. Our study uses mapped restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers to investigate the chromosomal location of Xcm resistance in an Australian cultivar of Gossypium hirsutum (CS50) in an inter-specific cross with a blight-susceptible Gossypium barbadense (Pima S-7). The mapping data suggest that the resistance locus is not on chromosome 20 near either the B2 or B3 genes, but co-segregates with a marker on chromosome 14 known to be linked to the broad-spectrum B12 resistance gene originally from African cotton cultivars. Amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were also used to search for novel markers linked to the Xcm resistance locus to facilitate introgression of this trait into G. barbadense through a program of marker-assisted selection. The overall level of polymorphism between the 2 Gossypium species used in our mapping cross was low, but one additional AFLP marker loosely linked to Xcm race 18 resistance in CS50 was found. The paucity of polymorphic loci may reflect a high degree of gene exchange between these 2 species during the breeding of the modern-day commercial Upland and Pima cultivars.

Retrospective collection of exposure data from industry: results from a feasibility study in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom the Health and Safety Executive for some years has stored chemical exposure data in their National Exposure Database. However, it has been difficult to persuade industry and other organizations to contribute to this resource. The aim of this project was to devise a cost-effective method of obtaining occupational exposure data on chemicals from U.K. industry and other sources. Five strategies were used to identify data for three different substances: toluene, acrylonitrile, and ethylene oxide. In total, 810 organizations were contacted and over 45 percent responded. However, only 40 had relevant exposure data. Almost equal numbers of acceptable measurements were identified for toluene and acrylonitrile (2,770 and 2,000 respectively) with lesser ethylene oxide data (800). These measurements were drawn from a wide range of industries and are probably representative of measurements made by U.K. industry, although most of the data were from companies employing more than 100 people. During the second phase of the project, more than 3,000 measurements and associated contextual information were collected (499 for toluene, 1,516 for acrylonitrile, and 17 for ethylene oxide, with a further 1,004 measurements for 1 of 27 substances collected simultaneously with one of the above). The costs of identifying and collecting exposure data ranged from ł7 to ł380 per valid measurement, depending on the source of the data. We suggest that, rather than trying to retrospectively collect data, it is likely to be more cost-effective to enlist a number of occupational hygiene consults and industrial organizations to prospectively provide anonymized exposure measurements for inclusion in the Health and Safety Executives National Exposure Database.

The cytotoxic plant protein, beta-purothionin, forms ion channels in lipid membranes

Thionins are small cysteine-containing, amphipathic plant proteins found in seeds and vegetative tissues of a number of plant genera. Many of them have been shown to be toxic to microorganisms such as fungi, yeast, and bacteria and also to mammalian cells. It has been suggested that thionins are present in seeds to protect them, and the germinating seedling, from attack by phytopathogenic microorganisms, but the mechanism by which they kill cells remains unclear. Using electrophysiological measurements, we have shown that beta-purothionin from wheat flour can form cation-selective ion channels in artificial lipid bilayer membranes and in the plasmalemma of rat hippocampal neurons. We suggest that the generalized toxicity of thionins is due to their ability to generate ion channels in cell membranes, resulting in the dissipation of ion concentration gradients essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.

No association between RFLPs at the porphobilinogen deaminase gene and schizophrenia

An association study of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in the porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) gene and schizophrenia was conducted. RFLPs detected by MspI, PstI, ApaLI and BstNI in intron 1 of the gene were studied in 49 patients and 79 controls. There were no significant differences between the groups in allele frequencies, genotype counts or haplotype distribution.

Regulation of erythroid cell-specific gene expression during erythropoiesis

The aim of our group's work over the past few years has been to investigate the molecular mechanisms regulating erythroid cell-specific gene expression during erythroid cell differentiation. In addition to the alpha-globin gene, we have focussed on two non-globin genes of interest encoding the rabbit red cell-specific lipoxygenase (LOX) and the mouse glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX), an important seleno-enzyme responsible for protection against peroxide-damage. Characterisation of the GSHPX gene showed that the seleno-cysteine residue in the active site of the enzyme is encoded by UGA, which usually functions as a translation-termination codon. This novel finding has important implications regarding mRNA sequence context effects affecting codon recognition. The regulation of the GSHPX and red cell LOX genes has been investigated by functional transfection experiments. The 700 bp upstream of the GSHPX promoter seems to function equally well when linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene and transfected into mouse erythroid or fibroblast cell lines. However, the presence of tissue-specific DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSS) in the 3' flanking region of the GSHPX gene suggests that such sites may be important in its regulation in the various cell types in which it is highly expressed, i.e., erythroid cells, liver and kidney. The transcription unit of the RBC LOX gene has also been defined and 5' and 3' flanking regions are being investigated for erythroid-specific regulatory elements: a region upstream of the LOX gene gives increased expression of a linked CAT gene when transfected into mouse erythroid cell lines compared to non-erythroid cell lines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Organ regulated expression of Parasponia andersonii haemoglobin gene in transgenic tobacco plants

Plant haemoglobin genes are known to occur in legume and non-legume families and in both nodulating (e.g., Parasponia andersonii) and non-nodulating species (e.g., Trema tomentosa). Their presence in non-nondulating plants raises the possibility that haemoglobins might serve a function in non-symbiotic tissues distinct from their role in the nitrogen-fixing root nodules induced by micro-organisms. We report here that a P. andersonii haemoglobin promoter can regulate expression of either the P. andersonii haemoglobin gene, or a hybrid construct with the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (cat), in the non-symbiotic plant, Nicotiana tabacum. Expression is predominantly in the roots, implying that haemoglobins might have a function in roots of non-nodulated plants. We have also observed a low level of haemoglobin protein in non-nodulated P. andersonii roots, but not leaves, supporting this assertion. The expression in transgenic plants will allow further characterization of the promoter sequences essential for the organ-specific expression of haemoglobins in non-symbiotic tissues.

cis and trans control of erythroid cell-specific gene expression during erythropoiesis

The overall aim of our group's work is to investigate the molecular mechanisms regulating erythroid cell-specific gene expression during erythroid cell differentiation. We have been successful in cloning two non-globin genes of interest: the first encodes the rabbit red cell-specific lipoxygenase (LOX), which has a role in degrading mitochondrial lipids during maturation of the reticulocyte to the erythrocyte; and the second, mouse glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX), an important seleno-enzyme responsible for protection against peroxide-damage. Characterization of the GSHPX gene revealed that the seleno-cysteine residue in the active site of the enzyme is encoded by UGA, which usually functions as a translation-termination codon. This novel finding has important implications regarding the role of mRNA sequence context effects in codon recognition. In contrast with the beta-globin locus, very little is known about the mechanisms responsible for the erythroid-specific expression of the alpha-globin genes. By a combination of functional transfection assays and studies of the interactions of nuclear sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins with promoter sequences in vitro, we have recently defined two regions upstream of the mouse alpha-globin gene involved in its erythroid-specific expression: one contains a sequence motif (GATAAG) that binds to a species-conserved and erythroid-specific factor both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, GATAAG motifs binding the same factor are found also in the mouse and chicken adult beta-globin gene promoters, the erythroid-specific promoter of the haem pathway enzyme, porphobilinogen (PBG) deaminase and the chicken beta-globin 3' enhancer. We are now commencing purification of this erythroid-specific GATAAG-binding factor, investigating in more detail how it functions in relation to other globin gene control regions and determining whether GATAAG-like regions have a functional role in the erythroid-specific expression of other genes. We have begun to investigate the regulation of the GSHPX and red cell LOX genes. The presence of tissue-specific 3' DNAse I-hypersensitive sites (DHSS) suggests that different 3' flanking regions of the GSHPX gene may be important in its regulation in the various cell types in which it is highly expressed, i.e. erythroid cells, liver and kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Molecular analysis of the alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh1) gene of maize

A cDNA clone of maize Adh1 which contains the entire protein coding region of the gene has been constructed. The protein sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence is in agreement with limited protein sequencing data for the ADH1 enzyme. An 11.5 kb genomic fragment containing the Adh1 gene has been isolated using the cDNA clone as a probe, and the gene region fully sequenced. The gene is interrupted by 9 introns, their junction sequences fitting the animal gene consensus sequence. Within the gene there is a triplication of a segment (104 bp) spanning an intron-exon junction. Presumptive promoter elements have been identified and are similar in nucleotide sequence and location, relative to the start of transcription, to those of other plant and animal genes. No recognizable poly(A+) addition signal is evident. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the cDNA (derived from an Adh1 -F allele) and genomic (derived from an Adh1 -S allele) clones has identified an amino acid difference consistent with the observed difference in electrophoretic mobility of the two enzymes. The maize ADH1 amino acid sequence is 50% homologous to that of horse liver ADH but is only 20% homologous to yeast ADH.