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Shifts in demographic profiles and in the understanding of how to best deliver health care have seen nurses increasingly caring for non-acute client groups outside traditional clinical settings. Evidence suggests that this does not always sit well with nurses, or with nurses in training. This study sought to investigate the influences on student nurse perceptions of the worth of working with various client groups. Thematic analysis of a focus group discussion led to the identification of several themes suggesting that unhelpful opinions are present in some students on entry to the programme; however, programme-related influences also contribute towards unhelpful attitudes. To create a more positive framing of working within such specialisms will require significant focus across nursing, nurse education and society in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of safe injections sites is a skill practised routinely by nurses, which, as with all nursing practice, is informed by empirical evidence. Despite this, discussion as to whether the dorsogluteal site should be eradicated from nursing practice in favour of the ventrogluteal site shows no sign of abating. Review of commonly cited evidence in this debate aimed to identify the validity of excluding the dorsogluteal site in favour of the ventrogluteal site by investigating the empirical evidence, which routinely informs this decision. Empirical evidence suggests a case to exclude the dorsogluteal site for children under age 10 for fear of damaging the sciatic nerve, but not so for adults. Recommendations are made for conclusive research into the viability of the dorsogluteal site and an authoritative decision based on empirical evidence, not hearsay, with regard to its continuance or eradication from nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injectable long-acting antipsychotics are a well-established and common treatment for schizophrenia and other mental health problems. While these medicines have traditionally been injected into the dorsogluteal muscle, the primacy of this site has been challenged over recent years, both through the emergence of the deltoid muscle as a less intrusive alternative, and through a groundswell of opinion raising concerns over the safety of injecting into the gluteal muscle. As these concerns have included calls for the dorsogluteal site to no longer be considered suitable for the administration of injections, there is a need to clarify the basis of such claims and the appropriateness of continued use of this area. Review of relevant literature allowed exploration of the evidence used in supporting these claims and identified that UK licencing agreements for these medicines fails to support such wholesale change and that there are considerable inconsistencies in the evidence presented. Recommendations are made for further study in this area and for measured change to practice if required, particularly around use of the deltoid site and for review of the licencing agreements for these medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in healthcare provision have exposed preregistration student nurses to a wider scope of client groups and education settings than previous generations of student nurses. Student placements now involve non-NHS care provision. Evidence suggests that students perceive certain client groups and education settings to be less pertinent to their professional development and less attractive with regard to future employment. This article presents the results of the first part of a mixed-methods approach study, investigating the above assertions. The students in this study appeared to regard caring for patients who have long-term/chronic conditions receiving care in non-NHS, non-acute settings, as a less attractive prospect in terms of professional development, than short-term, acute, NHS-based care provision, i.e. medical, surgical and critical care areas. Students associated non-NHS areas with non-nursing tasks and the opportunity to practise basic nursing care, while the NHS was associated with high-level skills and access to preferred client groups. Nurse educators should challenge this imbalance throughout their student nurse education programme design and delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood sexual abuse remains a taboo subject and requires sensitive handling by committed and caring services (Scottish Executive, 2004). By introducing a training programme, Safe to Say, the Scottish Association of Mental Health aims to improve the confidence and competence of healthcare workers when faced with the sensitive disclosure of childhood abuse. This article aims to explore the effects of childhood sexual abuse and the attitudes of health professionals when faced with adult survivors disclosing such abuse. Despite Government strategies, there still appears to be a lack of suitable services for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, even though health professionals have an essential role in supporting disclosure and promoting recovery (Read et al, 2005). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the incidence of dementia increases with age and people are generally living longer, the number of people requiring care will continue to rise. There are approximately 820 000 people in the UK with dementia and more than 500 000 carers who are not part of the health and social care workforce. These unpaid carers provide support to people with dementia, often sacrificing their own work commitments, social and family life. As part of the 'Partnerships in recovery' module studied in the third year of the pre-registration mental health nursing programme at the University of the West of Scotland, the first author (DR) chose to use a pycho-education intervention to benefit the needs of a carer and client with vascular dementia. Providing support and education increases the likelihood of both carer and client engaging in a life that is meaningful and hopeful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the UK, health-related policy and legislation have supported a shift towards a more pluralistic provision of health care in order to meet the challenges associated with the shifting demographics in society (Scottish Executive Health Department, 2009). The management of long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma, is recognized as a priority (Department of Health, 2009), with recognition that these long-term disorders share many similarities with serious mental health problems (Loggernberg, 2008), and suggestions that interventions already applied within the mental health setting are transferable across heathcare settings (Fleming et al, 2010). The application of one such intervention is discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of non-traditional clinical placements within a pre-registration nurse training course led to some concerns regarding the relevance and appropriateness of such experience within a nursing programme. These concerns gave rise to a literature review to explore student nurses' attitudes to clinical placements within non-traditional areas. Non-traditional placement areas enable contact with vulnerable populations, including older adults, people experiencing mental illness and those with intellectual or physical disabilities. Positive practice placement experience is associated with the successful development of clinical skills, strongly influences future career choice and is suggested to have a significant impact on the attitudes the student has towards the client group and specialism. There may need to be a shift in emphasis within nurse education, away from the traditional medical model, towards a more holistic understanding of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]