Open access
Mesothelioma: exploring psychological effects on veterans and their family caregivers
Awareness of cultural factors affecting armed forces veterans will help nurses assess their needs
22 Jun 2023
Angela Tod
Open access
Moral distress in advanced practice nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic
Familiarise yourself with the principles of moral distress, its effects and support available
29 Sep 2022
Development of the nursing associate role in community and primary care settings
The role has been part of the health and social care workforce in England since 2017
13 Apr 2022
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with mesothelioma and their carers
This service evaluation focuses on the effects of the pandemic on patients and their carers
31 Mar 2021
Missed care in community and primary care
Assessing appropriate staffing levels and skill mixes in community nursing is complex
10 Mar 2021
Mesothelioma: exploring gender differences in diagnosis, legal advice and risk
Emphasis on risk of exposure to asbestos in high-risk jobs may have obscured others at risk
14 Dec 2020
Mesothelioma: are nurses being put at risk in the workplace?
The cancer, caused by asbestos, could affect more staff than statistics suggest
02 Nov 2020
Development and regulation of advanced nurse practitioners in the UK and internationally
The NHS in the UK is under increasing pressure as a result of financial and recruitment issues, as well as an ageing population. Nursing has continued to adapt to this challenging time. Over the past few years, the advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) role has been implemented widely in primary and secondary care. However, the ANP role has lacked consistency in scope of practice, training and regulation. This article summarises the development of the ANP role in the UK and internationally, and issues relating to regulation. Globally, ANPs are regulated by one of three different bodies: nationally by central government or a professional body, or locally by employers. In the UK, the role is regulated by local procedures, relying on employers to make decisions about the scope and preparation for practice. Some of the challenges in the UK in relation to ANP regulation are discussed, including variations in scope, organisational constraints and lack of support. These challenges are exacerbated by a lack of role clarity, thereby indicating there is a need to improve regulation of ANPs. The Royal College of Nursing has responded to these challenges by introducing ‘credentialing’, a system for recording qualifications, skills and experience, but the uptake of this process is yet to be evaluated. Therefore, employers and ANPs should be aware of their collective responsibility for ensuring appropriate role regulation.
29 Nov 2017
An evaluation of the Florence Nightingale Foundation scholarships
The Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) is a charity that awards scholarships in leadership, travel and research to nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals to promote excellence in practice. The FNF offers mentoring support to scholars, and provides support with career development and writing articles for publication, in addition to the financial award. The leadership scholarships are bespoke: leadership scholars can access a range of development opportunities that are specially commissioned for them, and select their programme of study and experiences, based on their individual needs. All scholarships provide opportunities to represent the FNF and to meet other scholars at the FNF annual conference. This article provides an overview of the FNF scholarships, based on the findings of two evaluations that demonstrated the value of these scholarships in improving services for patients and carers, as well as enhancing the careers of individual scholars.
18 Jan 2017
An evaluation of the role of support workers in lung cancer
Aim To map the prevalence and type of unregistered roles that have emerged to support lung cancer nurse specialists (LCNSs), and to explore the effect of support worker roles on the work of LCNSs and how this may affect multidisciplinary teams and service delivery. Methods A mixed methods approach was taken using an electronic survey and qualitative telephone interviews. Findings When appropriately planned and resourced, support worker roles can have a significant effect on practice and service delivery, enhance the work of the LCNS and have a positive effect on patient experience. Support workers create opportunities for service improvement initiatives that would not otherwise be feasible. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of planning and training to ensure the success of support worker roles.
09 Feb 2015
Barriers to keeping warm in later life
Aim To identify factors influencing older people’s ability to keep warm and well in winter. Method This qualitative study used in-depth individual interviews with older people ( n =50) and health and social care staff,( n =25), alongside six focus groups with 43 participants and a consultation event. Temperatures were measured in the homes of the older people interviewed. Framework analysis techniques were used. Findings The data indicated a lack of awareness among participants of the importance to a person’s health of keeping warm. A summary of findings related to the themes of awareness, money, mindset and machinery is presented here, with reflections on their relevance to nursing in terms of identifying older people at risk of the negative health effects of cold, their assessment and support. Conclusion The study revealed a number of ways older people are vulnerable to cold at home. Timely interventions from nurses in various sectors could help avoid cold-related harm.
27 Nov 2013
Internet access: the impact on nurses and PAMs
An outline of a research project into the use of the internet on hospital wards and its impact on nurses and professionals allied to medicine.
01 Nov 2000