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The article highlights the theme of International Nurses Day 2024, which emphasizes the economic power of care and the crucial contributions nurses make to global healthcare. Topics discussed include the need for increased investment in nursing, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing profession, and the importance of implementing policy actions to support and retain nurses.

An editorial is presented improving the quality and reporting of meta-analyses in nursing research. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous methodology, including adhering to reporting guidelines, assessing statistical issues, considering heterogeneity, and evaluating publication bias. It mentions the aims to guide authors in conducting high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses, contributing to evidence-based nursing care.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has traditionally been the domain of doctors and pharmacists but there is a growing recognition that successful stewardship incorporates a multidisciplinary approach that includes nursing staff. This literature review explores nurses' perceptions of their role in antimicrobial stewardship within the hospital environment and provides new insights to inform future practice. Methodology: An integrative literature review was undertaken. Five academic databases were searched, which identified six relevant studies. Whittemore and Knafl's method for conducting an integrative review was followed. ENTREQ guidelines have been adhered to. Findings: Two themes were identified: nurses' working in partnership with other professionals and engagement in education. Discussion: Antimicrobial stewardship illustrates the role of the nurse within the wider multidisciplinary team regarding wider patient safety issues and the need for education to enhance this role. Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses have a clear role to play in antimicrobial stewardship but need to be fully cognisant of the issues involved. Further clarity on how nurses should enact this role in their complex working environments is required. It is essential that both student and qualified nurses are able to speak up in order to maximise patient safety, fulfil their professional duty and promote the overall effectiveness of AMS if they witness poor antibiotic management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Informed consent prior to nursing care procedures is an established principle which acknowledges the right of the patient to authorise what is done to him or her; consent prior to nursing care should not be assumed. Nursing care procedures have the potential to be unwanted by the patient and hence require an appropriate form of authorisation that takes into consideration the relationship between the nurse and patient and the ongoing nature of care delivery. Research question: How do nurses obtain consent from patients prior to nursing care?. Design: Critical incident technique and the collection of critical happenings. Participants: 17 participants who were all qualified nurses took part in in-depth interviews Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained from the university ethics committee. Findings: Information giving is a key component prior to nursing care procedures. Nurses provide information to patients as a routine aspect of care delivery, and do so even when the patient is unable to communicate themselves. Whilst some participants described how information giving might be rushed or overlooked at times, it is clearly an established part of nursing care and is provided to ensure the patient knows what to expect when care is delivered. What is less clear is the extent to which information is given in order to seek the consent – rather than merely inform the patient – about nursing care. Conclusion: Implied consent is often an appropriate way in which consent is obtained prior to nursing care procedures. It takes into account the ongoing care provision and the relationship that exists between the nurse and patient. However implied consent should not be assumed. Nurses need to ensure that information is given not only to inform the patient about a procedure but to enable the patient to give his or her consent and to find an alternative way forward if the patient withholds their consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature reviews generally analyse and synthesis the evidence (or lack thereof) in a particular topic area and they are an increasingly popular form of scholarly activity. The scoping review is a popular literature review approach that has been adopted across the social and health sciences over the last fifteen years. With this upsurge in use, differences of opinion about how to analyse and report scoping reviews has also grown. Drawing on work carrying out a scoping review on oral health and child maltreatment, we put forward a structured approach to analysis and reporting of such reviews: the PAGER (Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research recommendations) framework. In this article, we reflect on the strengths and limitations of the framework, drawing on examples, laying out the methodological processes, and making suggestions as to how it might improve reporting. The article makes a contribution to efforts that seek to improve the reporting and utility of scoping reviews in health and social research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses in primary care are often the first point of access for those seeking health care, and it is well known that accessing health services can be difficult for some, especially those on a low income. A charity initiative has been developed in a low-income area in England to help such individuals, wherein volunteers help local residents to access local services and support. This study explores the experiences of service users in order to understand their perceptions and feelings about the service, using an instrumental case study method with semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data were collected from six service users and transcribed by the researcher for subsequent thematic analysis. The participants' experiences were characterised by reduced social isolation, reduced emotional distress, improved mobility and transport options, improved confidence and control over life, and effective management of memory issues. Various aspects of advocacy and empowerment were also observed. Further, the coping strategies used by the participants while facing the challenges of social isolation and ageing were highlighted. The findings provide important insight into the support needs of populations on low income, the ways in which they access healthcare and how the volunteer service can best support them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This literature review was conducted to describe the range of organisations and informal groups providing peer support to personal budget users in the United Kingdom between the launch of direct payments in 1997 and 2016. Forty-five research reports included relevant evidence. This has been aggregated to show how peer networks supported individual users, as well as to describe their wider role in policy development and implementation. Despite their diversity, the support they provided often had common characteristics. Peer networks fostered collaboration, enhanced communication, built confidence amongst people who were entitled to a personal budget, and applied specialist knowledge that was often derived from the lived experience of network members. None of these characteristics was exclusive to peer networks. However, they may have been more deeply culturally embedded here than in other settings, which perhaps accounts for the positive experiences of support reported in the research literature. It is now more than 20 years since direct payments first enabled UK residents to take the money used to pay for their social services as personal budgets. Early research showed that support provided through peer networks including disabled people's organisations had particular advantages. Despite this, the proportion of support commissioned from peer networks has subsequently reduced. This review of the research literature details the helpful support provided by peer networks at each stage of obtaining and managing a personal budget. The approaches taken by peer networks were often innovative and original, and this article summarises their characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this paper we discuss the emergence of many different methods for doing a literature review. Referring back to the early days, when there were essentially two types of review; a Cochrane systematic review and a narrative review, we identify how the term systematic review is now widely used to describe a variety of review types and how the number of available methods for doing a literature review has increased dramatically. This led us to undertake a review of current practice of those doing a literature review and the terms used to describe them.Method: We undertook a focused mapping review and synthesis. Literature reviews; defined as papers with the terms review or synthesis in the title, published in five nursing journals between January 2017-June 2018 were identified. We recorded the type of review and how these were undertaken.Results: We identified more than 35 terms used to describe a literature review. Some terms reflected established methods for doing a review whilst others could not be traced to established methods and/or the description of method in the paper was limited. We also found inconsistency in how the terms were used.Conclusion: We have identified a proliferation of terms used to describe doing a literature review; although it is not clear how many distinct methods are being used. Our review indicates a move from an era when the term narrative review was used to describe all 'non Cochrane' reviews; to a time of expansion when alternative systematic approaches were developed to enhance rigour of such narrative reviews; to the current situation in which these approaches have proliferated to the extent so that the academic discipline of doing a literature review has become muddled and confusing. We argue that an 'era of consolidation' is needed in which those undertaking reviews are explicit about the method used and ensure that their processes can be traced back to a well described, original primary source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To explore the way in which sexual health care is perceived and experienced by students in clinical practice. Background Student nurses understand the need to learn about sexual health but report a variety of learning needs and experience challenges acquiring skills to deliver such care in part due to varied clinical experience. Furthermore, there is a paucity of data exploring clinical competence of sexual health care among student nurses. Design and methods A literature review of the published literature was conducted following a search of online databases. Articles were selected for analysis according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight articles were critically appraised and thematically analysed. Results The following themes were identified: student nurses report having a positive attitude towards sexual health care; however, many felt uncomfortable about addressing sexual health and are reluctant to initiate a conversation; many student nurses lack knowledge about sexual health; they also lack role models at university and on clinical placement. Student nurse caregiving in relation to sexual health was also noted. Conclusions It is encouraging that student nurses have some knowledge, but their knowledge assessed is narrow. Their attitude is generally positive although many feel uncomfortable discussing issues of sexual health and sexuality. Very few student nurses report delivering sexual health care. There is a lack of positive role models both on clinical placement and at university. Relevance to clinical practice The reasons behind a lack of sexual health care delivery by student nurses should be understood. Student nurses should be supported to assess patient need and provide holistic care. Positive role models should be established in clinical and educational environments along with a focus on wider sexual health knowledge and skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore how nurses' use of electronic health records impacts on the quality of nurse–patient interactions and communication. Design: An integrative review. Data sources MEDLINE®, CINAHL®, PscyINFO, PubMed, BNI and Cochrane Library databases were searched for papers published between January 2005 and April 2022. Review methods: Following a comprehensive search, the studies were appraised using a tool appropriate to the study design. Data were extracted from the studies that met the inclusion criteria relating to sample characteristics, methods and the strength of evidence. Included empirical studies had to examine interactions or communication between a nurse and patient while electronic health records were being used in any healthcare setting. Findings were synthesized using a thematic approach. Results: One thousand nine hundred and twenty articles were initially identified but only eight met the inclusion criteria of this review. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes, indicating that EHR: impedes on face‐to‐face communication, promotes task‐orientated and formulaic communication and impacts on types of communication patterns. Conclusion: Research examining nurse–patient interactions and communication when nurses' use electronic health records is limited but evidence suggests that closed nurse–patient communications, reflecting a task‐driven approach, were predominantly used when nurses used electronic health records, although some nurses were able to overcome logistical barriers and communicate more openly. Nurses' use of electronic health records impacts on the flow, nature and quality of communication between a nurse and patient. Impact The move to electronic health records has taken place largely without consideration of the impact that this might have on nurse–patient interaction and communication. There is evidence of impact but also evidence of how this might be mitigated. Nurses must focus future research on examining the impact that these systems have, and to develop strategies and practice that continue to promote the importance of nurse–patient interactions and communication. Patient or Public contribution: Studies examined within this review included patient participants that informed the analysis and interpretation of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Despite concern expressed in recent government documents in the UK about the inappropriate use of sedation when a patient is agitated or confused and cannot consent, there is little nursing literature on the topic. The general legal and ethical principles apply that a patient who is unable to consent should be given care that is in his or her ‘best interests’. Aim: The aim of this paper is to report on qualitative data concerning nurses’ use of sedation which were obtained as part of a larger study to explore the way in which nurses obtain consent prior to nursing care procedures. Method: A purposive sample of 30 qualified nurses in two teaching hospitals in England was obtained. One hundred critical incidents were collected through 30 in-depth interviews as a means of focusing on specific incidents concerning informed consent prior to nursing care procedures in clinical practice. Findings: The administration of sedation to patients who cannot consent was a major theme to emerge. Sedation was sometimes given in the interests of other patients or staff rather than the patient and before alternative strategies had been considered. Nurses were uneasy about the use of sedation in such circumstances, and lacked knowledge as to when it may be appropriate to do so. Conclusions: Nurses need to be familiar with the relevant ethical and legal principles and professional guidance in their own countries for caring for people who cannot consent, and need to be confident in their understanding and application of these principles to ensure that sedation is administered appropriately. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The aim of this project was to identify core topics of health care ethics that could be taught through an inter-professional approach to undergraduate education. Design: Five nominal group technique workshops. Setting and participants: Teaching staff from different professional disciplines in our university (nursing branches, occupational therapy and physiotherapy). Results: Seven core topics of health care ethics that are common across all disciplines were identified. However participants in all workshops identified the need for case studies used in teaching and learning to be specific to the clinical setting encountered by the student. Conclusion: Despite the identification of core topics that apply to all disciplines, caution should be taken when seeking to integrate these into an inter-professional undergraduate programme. There is evidence from other studies that students have difficulty in transferring knowledge from one context to another. In view of this, an inter-professional approach to health care ethics teaching to a group, members of which do not encounter shared clinical ethical problems may be inappropriate. It is suggested that inter-professional learning in undergraduate health care ethics should focus on facilitating learning in the clinical area with students who share similar ethical encounters, in which case the learning will be truly inter-professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to examine the way in which nurses manage patients who are unable to consent to nursing care procedures. This paper reports on a qualitative study using focus groups and critical incidents collected through in-depth interviews to explore the way in which nurses obtain consent prior to nursing care procedures. The finding indicate that nurses are uneasy about administering care to a patient who cannot consent. When complicating factors are present this unease is exacerbated and sometimes the appropriate delivery of care is withheld. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: To systematically review and synthesize primary research on experiences and needs of adult informal caregivers of adults at risk of suicide. Design: Systematic review with a data‐based convergent synthesis. Data Sources: MEDLINE, PsychINFO and CINAHL were searched in April 2022 and February 2023. English language research focusing on experiences of adult carers of adults was included. Methods: Articles were screened by title (n = 9077) and abstract (n = 132) with additional articles (n = 6) obtained via citation and hand searching. Thirty‐one included studies were quality assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and study data were systematically extracted prior to thematic synthesis. Results: Five interconnected themes resulted: transitions; living with fear and uncertainty; changing relationships; interface with healthcare professionals and services; what carers need and want. Caring impacts mental, physical and social wellbeing. Relationships are affected in ways which might not be evident when caring for a minor. Repeated suicidal behaviour is particularly challenging with ongoing hypervigilance contributing to burden, burnout and interpersonal strain. Poor carer support exacerbates negative effects; carers need to feel informed, educated, involved and holistically supported. Conclusion: Timely support for carers is essential. Interventions should address emotional responses, relational changes and effective care recipient support. Longitudinal research is required to understand effects of ongoing caring where there are multiple suicide attempts. Implications: Nurses can provide carers with early support and information and longer term psychosocial interventions. If carers are adequately equipped and supported patient safety and wellbeing will be improved. Impact: Findings of this systematic review include relational changes due to carer hypervigilance reducing autonomy and living with the possibility of suicide. Clinician awareness of the potential for relational shifts will help them prepare and support carers. Patient or Public Contribution: There was no patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop and explore the validity of a Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM) for adult inpatient diabetes care. Method: 27 in‐depth interviews were conducted to inform the development of the 42‐item PREM which was cognitively tested with 10 people. A refined 38‐item PREM was piloted with 228 respondents completing a paper (n = 198) or online (n = 30) version. The performance of the PREM was evaluated by exploring (i) uptake/number of responses and (ii) survey validity by investigating whether the PREM data were of adequate quality and delivered useful information. Results: The PREM had low drop‐out or missing data rates suggesting it was appropriately constructed. Analysis of item frequencies and variances, and problem score calculations concluded that questions provided sufficient score differentiation. Conclusions: This new PREM allows for experiences of inpatient diabetes care to be measured, understood and reported on to help identify priority areas for improving care quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To help with your plans to complete focus group discussions in countries with different linguistics • To enable you to manage data from countries with different linguistics in three main areas: translation, analysis and presentation • To assist you in the process of translation and analysis of qualitative data from countries with different linguistics Background: The use of focus groups to collect data has increased in nursing research and provides rich, in-depth understanding of a phenomenon that can inform clinical practice. Guidance has been developed on facilitating focus groups. However, there is little guidance about how to translate, analyse or present focus group data from countries with linguistic differences. Aim: To explore contemporary examples of translating, analysing and presenting focus group data from countries with linguistic differences and to provide an in-depth example of decision-making in a study involving focus group data from two countries. Discussion: The study highlights the need for a clear rationale and transparency in the reporting of the translation, analysis and presentation of data. Detailed and transparent reporting needs to include not only translation, but also when this occurred and if the data were amalgamated. Conclusion: There is a need for evidence-based guidance concerning how to report the translation, transcription and analysis of focus group data from countries with linguistic differences. Implications for practice: The authors provide recommendations concerning information that researchers should provide about translation when publishing studies, and argue for the use of a bilingual lead researcher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a chronic, untreatable condition represented by two illnesses, Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis. Despite high incidence in well-developed industrialised countries, and the significant impact of symptoms on patient's quality of life, little is known about living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Aim To explore the patients' experiences of living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Design A qualitative systematic review. Data sources CINAHL, Medline, British Nursing Index and PsycINFO were searched using the following keywords: Inflammatory Bowel Disease AND experiences. We have limited the search to studies published in English from 2000 to 2017. Review method Thematic synthesis. Results Data from 23 studies, identified that fatigue, incontinence and uncertainty about future, body image, and lack of information from healthcare professionals dominated the experiences of those living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Also, patients living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease were reluctant to disclose their illness due to lack of public awareness and stigma surrounding symptoms. From these, an overarching theme has been identified: Living in isolation and exclusion. Conclusion Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease face a variety of problems, often their priorities and those of healthcare professionals differ greatly. Healthcare professionals have little evidence needed to provide adequate, holistic care to this group. With a rise in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease population in newly industrialised countries it is estimated that the condition is turning into a global disease, potentially making long term care unsustainable. More evidence is needed to understand the concerns of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To, firstly, explore student and academic nurse perceptions of classroom content about the assessment and identification of pressure injuries across skin tone diversity and, secondly, to describe the impact of classroom content on student nurse understanding of pressure injury in people with dark skin tones. Design: Qualitative case study employing focus groups and semi‐structured interviews. Methods: Five higher education institutions in the United Kingdom were purposively chosen. At each of the five‐case sites, one focus group with student nurses and one semi‐structured interview with a nurse academic were conducted between May 2018 and April 2019. The participants' narratives were transcribed verbatim and analysed via thematic analysis. Results: Classroom learning was predominately framed through a white lens with white normativity being strongly reinforced through teaching and learning activities. This reinforcement of white normativity was evidenced through two main themes: (i) dominance of whiteness in the teaching and learning of pressure injuries in undergraduate nurse education and (ii) the impact and implications for student nurses of whiteness as the norm in pressure injury teaching. Conclusion: Nurses responsible for the design and delivery of teaching and learning experiences for nursing students need to ensure meaningful teaching and learning experiences. This learning should assist future nurses to interrogate their complicity in a system of white dominance. Impact: Nurse education delivered today influences and shapes nurses of the future. Nurses are the cornerstone of healthcare and play a significant role in the delivery of equitable healthcare. Nurse academics have a duty of care to inform and highlight health inequities in nursing and ultimately to enhance equity in care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dismantling structural racism challenges nurses to consider the extent to which issues of inclusion, diversity and race are operationalised in day-to-day professional practice. This includes nurse education. To be truly effective, any examination of teaching content in nurse education needs to be investigated through document analysis plus observation in the classroom. However, tools to ensure consistency between these methods of collecting data are limited. Aim: To design a structured tool for collecting data by analysing teaching materials and observing teaching on pressure injuries and people with darker skin tones. Discussion: This novel approach of using a single tool provides a unique opportunity to explore teaching materials and what is actually taught in the classroom. The data collected can assist with comparative analysis, enabling an in-depth view of curriculum content. Conclusion: The nuanced and subtle data gathered using the complementarity of analysis between teaching materials and teaching observations in the exemplar tool presented created a unique data set for examination. Implications for practice: This tool has broad applications for nurse researchers, particularly for examining topics that are often perceived to be sensitive, such as race and skin tone. It can be used for in-depth scrutiny of classroom teaching, to develop and influence curriculum content and team discussions, and in larger studies exploring nurse education content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing research is usually carried out by registered nurses with some experience of practice. However, nurses may find that the role of the nurse researcher is very different from that of the practising clinical nurse and has its own challenges. Aim: To explore the differences between the two roles and offer some guidance to nurses carrying out qualitative research, particularly research into sensitive topics. Discussion: Nurses need to be aware of various issues that could affect their ability to carry out nursing research and be emotionally traumatic. Conclusion: There is a general need for greater awareness about the potential risks of carrying out qualitative research into sensitive topics. Implications for practice: Nurse researchers must consider self-care when planning a research project, assessing their role, personality, background, personal experiences and stress triggers, and ensuring peer and supervisory support, reflection and a healthy lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim The aim of this integrative literature review was to explore the quality of the dying and death experience in the Emergency Department from the perspective of staff and carers. Background Death in the Emergency Department is common. Understanding the quality of the death and dying experience of patients and their family members is crucial to building knowledge and improving care. Design Systematic integrative literature review reported following the PRISMA guidelines. Data sources Pubmed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Magonline (internurse), and the Cochrane library. Articles used were published in English during 1990- 2017. Review method Appraisal and thematic analysis. Results Sixteen articles are included. Eight themes emerged from the literature: care in the Emergency Department is about living not dying, staff perceive that death is a failure, staff feel underprepared to care for the dying patient and family in this environment, there is limited time for safe standards of care, staff stress and distress, staff use of distancing behaviours, the care of the dying role is devolved from medics to nurses at the end of life, and patients and staff perceive that the Emergency Department is not the preferred place of death Conclusion There are areas of concern about end of life care in the Emergency Department. To improve practice and to ensure that a good death occurs, further research is needed. There is a need to understand more about the experience of caregivers when a relative or friend dies in the Emergency Department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To review patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of patient involvement in promoting hand hygiene compliance in the hospital setting. Background: Initiatives continue to emphasise the importance of involving patients in their safety at the point of care. A patient‐centred care approach aimed to empower patients to become active members of the healthcare team. However, understanding the perceptions of patients and healthcare professionals of patient involvement in promoting hand hygiene compliance among healthcare professionals has yet to be fully explored. Design: Integrative literature review. Methods: A five‐stage review process informed by Whittemore and Knafl's methodology was conducted. MEDLINE and CINAHL were searched for papers published between January 2009–July 2017. Data were extracted manually, organised using NVivo 11 and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: From an identified 240 papers, 19 papers were included in this review. Thematic analysis revealed two main themes with three related subthemes. Patients were willing to remind healthcare professionals (especially nurses) to wash their hands, healthcare professionals perception towards patients’ involvement varied from one study to another. However, an overall positive attitude towards patient involvement was related to how patients asked and how healthcare professionals responded to being asked. Conclusion: There is limited evidence regarding patients’ actual intention to ask healthcare professionals to wash their hands, and some evidence that patients are reluctant to do so. Further research is required to understand this area thoroughly, including which situations patients would feel more empowered to speak up. Relevance to clinical practice: Simple messages promoting patient involvement may lead to complex reactions in both patients and healthcare professionals. It is unclear, yet how patients and staff react to such messages in clinical practice. There is a need for a deeper understanding of how they can work together to support harm free care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the experience of readmissions to hospital from the perspective of older adults. Methods: A systematic review with an interpretative approach was conducted. CINAHL, Embase, and Medline were consulted in October 2016. Results: Six studies with data collection between 2004 and 2013 fit the relevant criteria and included a total of 68 older adults. Two overarching themes were developed with relevant subthemes: Experience during initial hospital stay distinguished by exclusion (Feeling powerless; Feeling disregarded; Perception of readiness for discharge); Patients experience uncertainty following discharge (Perception that community-based services are not available or adequate; Perception that hospital is the only safe place; Difficulty in adapting to a "new normal"). Conclusions: A cycle of exclusion exists during the initial hospital stay and beyond. The experience of being readmitted to hospital is challenging, mostly perceived as negative and existential, emotional and psychological well-being is not satisfactorily addressed by healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assistant practitioners have knowledge and skills beyond the level of traditional support workers, and work in many clinical settings. However, some assistant practitioners lack a clearly defined role and may be under-used due to issues around accountability and uncertainty about their purpose. This paper explores the assistant practitioner role from the perspectives of assistant practitioners and registered nurses.Methods: This study aimed to explore the role of the assistant practitioner from the perspectives of assistant practitioners and registered nurses in two NHS hospital trusts in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Six qualitative focus groups were undertaken between February-March 2017. Ethical approval was obtained (FREC 2016/05) and written consent was provided by participants. Data was analysed thematically analysed using the Framework method.Results: Nineteen participants (assistant practitioners, n = 12; registered nurses, n = 7) were recruited using convenience sampling. Emerging themes related to 'fluctuating roles and responsibilities of assistant practitioners', 'role differences between registered nurses and assistant practitioners', 'working relationships', 'supervision' and 'redefining nursing pathways'. The Results and Discussion sections highlight a lack of role clarity and blurring of boundaries between the roles of assistant practitioners and registered nurses, with many tasks undertaken by both. This lack of ownership of 'nurse-specific' roles by registered nurses was evident and clear differences were only encountered with regard to accountability. The development of the Nursing Associate role provides managers with the opportunity to redefine staff banding hierarchies to ensure that clinical staff are aware of their role capabilities and limitations and are practicing safely, whilst promoting career development and progression pathways.Conclusion: Addressing issues around role clarity can benefit professional development, satisfaction, role identity and ownership for registered nurses and assistant practitioners, by recognising the individual and collective value they bring to the clinical team. The findings can help inform the development of the Nursing Associate role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]