How would you feel if one of your hands began to move and perform actions on its own, and you were completely unable to control it? It would surely be a highly distressing and frustrating experience. As bizarre as it sounds, this condition, known as alien hand syndrome, is a very real and disabling, albeit rare, complication of certain neurological pathologies. So, what exactly is this phenomenon and why does it occur?

Terminally ill patients can, at times, provide a challenge to nurses, more so because of physical disability caused by disease progression. However, it was in the last four days of a patient's life that psychological aspects began to challenge my nursing skills in a way that I had never experienced.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes pain, swelling and/or reduced motion. Like other forms of arthritis, it tends to worsen over time. As the condition progresses, everyday tasks that were once simple can become challenging. Initially, a person will experience pain during and after physical activity, but as the condition progresses, pain will be present during minor movements or even while resting.

Prolonged pregnancy is a pregnancy that extends to 42 weeks of gestation or beyond. In Australia, it’s estimated that about 4 per 1,000 babies are born post-term.

Reproduced with permission from The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

It’s human nature to feel down in the dumps on occasion. Depression, however, is a diagnosable medical condition that presents as feelings of intense sadness, negativity and low mood, lasting for a long period of time.

Oral health is central to a person’s quality of life, health and wellbeing. If not properly maintained, it can lead to various adverse health outcomes, ranging from tooth decay to stroke and cardiovascular disease. Sadly, people living with disability are at an increased risk of poor oral health - despite it being largely preventable.

Risk screening can assist in the early detection of potential harm to clients and ensure that care is delivered safely, effectively and appropriately. It’s important to differentiate risk screening from other similar processes, including risk assessment and diagnostic testing.

A person who has suffered a traumatic brain injury might emerge from unconsciousness disoriented, confused and acting unlike themselves. This can be a highly confronting and upsetting experience for their loved ones - so, what does this mean for the patient and their recovery?

Transitioning into residential aged care is a major life event that can be difficult and stressful for an older person and their carers or loved ones, especially if the change has come about due to a medical issue and there is limited time to make a decision. It’s estimated that over 50% of older people living in residential aged care experience depression and/or anxiety, compared to 10% of older people overall. Furthermore, less than half of that 50% enter residential aged care with pre-existing mental illness.