Joanne Cooper

Illustration shows the making of a podcast: from recording, via listening and editing to the final stage of being available to listen to or download

Under the skin of a nurse researcher – new podcast will open up roles and career paths

The Nurse Researcher podcast hopes to demystify clinical academia and offer practical advice

Engaging nurses to achieve a culture of excellence: a children’s hospital journey towards Pathway to Excellence accreditation

Engaging nurses in achieving a culture of excellence

A description of a children’s hospital journey towards Pathway to Excellence accreditation

Clinical academic nursing

How to build a career that combines clinical and research skills

Clinical academic nursing is relatively new but growing, with a career framework to match

Advanced Nurse Practioner

Experiences of the advanced nurse practitioner role in acute care

The aim of the service evaluation presented in this article was to explore the multidisciplinary team’s (MDT) experiences and perception of the advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) role on an acute health care of the older person ward. A qualitative case study was carried out comprising semi-structured interviews with members of the MDT, exploring their experiences of the ANP role. An overarching theme of ‘Is it a nurse? Is it a doctor? No, it’s an ANP’ emerged from the data, with three subthemes: the missing link; facilitating and leading holistic care; and safe, high quality care. The ANP role is valued by the MDT working with them and provides a unique skill set that has the potential to enhance care of older patients living with frailty. While there are challenges to its introduction, it is a role worth introducing to older people’s wards.

Barriers to diabetic retinopathy screening in South Asian groups

The incidence of diabetes in the UK is six times higher among people of South Asian origin compared with their European counterparts. This qualitative study explored the barriers to, and incentives for, accessing diabetic retinopathy screening by the South Asian population in Nottingham. The findings suggest that lack of understanding is a significant factor in low attendance rates. Health professionals and services should maximise all opportunities to reinforce the benefits, and engagement strategies should be adapted to the characteristics and beliefs of subgroups in this community.

Study of irritable bowel syndrome and co-existing psychological illness

Aim To assess the feasibility of using qualitative methods to explore psychological comorbidities associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Background IBS is a condition that often has a significant effect on quality of life. It has a high prevalence of co-existing psychological illness, which has been associated with more severe and persistent symptoms and an increased need for specialist referral. Only a small number of research studies have explored patients’ perceptions and experiences of IBS, particularly when they are compounded by the presence of psychological comorbidity.

Data sources Semi-structured interview methods were used to explore the patients’ experiences and perceptions of IBS and co-existing psychological illness.

Review methods All interview data were transcribed before conducting a thematic analysis.

Discussion The paper reports the methods used to conduct a small feasibility study and discusses and justifies these methods. Methodological issues and the implications these may have on the conduct of the study are presented and critically discussed.

Conclusion Important issues were identified during the design and conduct of the feasibility study relating to the quality of participant information, participant recruitment and the suitability of the proposed methods.

Implications for research/practice Semi-structured interviews are suitable methods for exploring complex issues such as the psychological comorbidities associated with IBS. Further research should explore the patient perception and experience of concomitant psychological illness, which would help researchers develop effective interventions for patients with IBS.