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This article provides an overview of the wound healing process, outlining the four distinct phases of the healing cascade: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. The different types of closure method are described and, specifically, the various types of surgical suture that can be used for wound closure, as well as the strengths and limitations of each. The article explains aspects of patient care that need to be considered such as obtaining informed consent, and the importance of nurses maintaining appropriate clinical skills. It concludes with a step-by-step outline of best practice on how to remove sutures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary catheterisation is a crucial procedure in healthcare, requiring a thorough understanding of the anatomical and physiological differences between males and females to ensure safe and effective care. This guide explores the anatomy of the urinary system, detailing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, and highlights key differences in catheterisation techniques for men and women. Emphasising evidence-based practices, it discusses recent advancements, such as antimicrobial catheters, and underscores the importance of comprehensive training and competency assessments for healthcare providers. Additionally, the guide advocates for patient-centred approaches, multidisciplinary collaboration, and adherence to updated policies to reduce complications such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). By integrating these critical evaluations and best practices, health professionals can enhance patient outcomes and maintain high standards of care in urinary catheterisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a study that evaluated an innovative 6-week summer returners' programme, part of the Health Education England RePAIR project, designed to support nursing students who have interrupted their studies. Held from May to July 2022, the programme addressed diverse needs through academic guidance, mental health and resilience workshops, creative arts, professional identity development, and practical nursing skills training. The programme ran alongside support from the programme team, student engagement services, and ongoing communication via phone and email. Despite non-mandatory sessions leading to varying attendance, the combined efforts facilitated the return of 67 out of 135 interrupted students. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: anticipation and fear, making contact and reaching out, preparing for return, and psychological wellbeing. The programme's effectiveness underscores the necessity of tailored support strategies to enhance retention and wellbeing. This innovative approach highlights the importance of personalised support in aiding nursing students' return to education and addressing nursing workforce shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of hard-to-heal wounds remains a significant challenge for healthcare systems, with substantial economic burdens. Maggot debridement therapy, using sterile larvae of Lucilia sericata, effectively debrides necrotic tissue and promotes healing, yet its use is limited. This narrative review examines the influences on the use of this form of debridement by registered nurses, focusing on knowledge and attitudes, treatment-related pain, and practical issues. Findings indicate that wound specialist nurses are more knowledgeable and supportive of maggot debridement therapy compared with non-wound specialists, underscoring the need for targeted educational interventions. Pain management is critical, with mixed reports on pain levels, highlighting the necessity for tailored pain-relief strategies. Practical challenges include procurement difficulties and cost, suggesting a need for streamlined processes and clear clinical guidelines. Addressing these barriers through education, research, and improved logistics could enhance the acceptance and use of maggot debridement therapy, improving patient outcomes in wound management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing students often face anxiety and cognitive overload, leading to high attrition rates; meanwhile, traditional pastoral interventions have proved insufficient. A novel, digitally enhanced learning environment named The Wellbeing in Student Education (WISE) Room, was introduced as an alternative at a UK university. Aims: This study investigated the impact of The WISE Room, a 4m × 4m digital platform containing touch-interactive walls, co-created with students and academic staff, designed to promote insight through immersive experiences beyond traditional learning settings. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted, collecting data from nursing students, healthcare staff and academic faculty. Data were collected at three stages, each corresponding with the iterative development of The WISE Room, including an evaluation of the intervention. Results: Feedback from 240 participants was positive. In Phase 2 of the study, 93% of the 79 students and 21 staff who visited the room and completed a survey were satisfied with the room's suitability in three key areas: emotional wellbeing, academic readiness, and placement preparedness. Conclusion: The WISE Room has proved effective in supporting nursing students' wellbeing, and educational and placement preparation requirements. Its multisensory, digital and experiential nature is beneficial for students throughout their learner journey. Additional trials and content development will be required to enhance the learning and teaching experience further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the adaptation of nursing education in the UK during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the use of virtual simulated placements to supplement traditional clinical experiences. Topics include the benefits of virtual placements such as providing a safe environment for skill development, enhancing student learning outcomes through interactive simulations, and addressing challenges in securing sufficient clinical placements.

The article presents the discussion on significant increase in the number of applications to all university courses by individuals disclosing a mental health condition. Topics include indicating a more competitive landscape and perhaps a higher calibre of applicants; and distribution of acceptances across different types of institutions varied, with lower tariff providers.

The article supports the Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH) Standards 2023 as a framework for integrating simulation in healthcare education. Benefits offered by the ASPiH Standards for nursing students include quality assurance of simulated practice learnings, practical real-world scenarios recreated in a controlled setting, hands-on experience in managing patient care scenarios, interprofessional education, and handling of ethical dilemmas and emotional situations.

Several diseases and operations may necessitate the need for the formation of a stoma. Patients who are affected may be concerned about the effect of the stoma on their ability to carry out activities of daily living, as well as how it will affect their quality of life. Nurses who may be involved in the care of patients with a stoma should have an understanding of the reasons for stoma formation, and the types of stoma and appliances available, to enable them educate and support patients, and to allay any concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Michelle Mitchell, Graduate Tutor for Adult Nursing, Northumbria University, michelle3.mitchell@northumbria.ac.uk and Barry Hill, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Northumbria University, describe the different catheterisation needs of men and women and the procedures to follow [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the author discusses updates in the nursing profession in United Kingdom (UK), particularly the decline in enrollment applications based on the 2023 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) data. Also cited are how the drop could cause severe pressure to the healthcare sector and adversely affect the quality of patient care and the King's Fund data showing high vacancy rates across the sector.

The author comments on the unique professional identity of nurses shaped by their educational preparation, their experiences, and their relationship with the wider team and patients. She talks about the importance of professional identity in nursing practice, the role of educational preparation in shaping a nurse's professional identity, and possible effect of their experiences during clinical placements and interactions with patients and their families on a nurse's professional identity.

This research is founded on an innovative pedagogical project as part of a higher education lecturer teaching qualification. This project involved redesigning the module ‘advanced history taking and physical examination with clinical reasoning’, a continuing professional development at a higher education institution. The author undertook an exploration of the literature, considering evidence on teaching styles and the way in which students learn and gain knowledge. The module was redesigned, impelemented and then evaluated by the student participants. Key themes in the evaluation centred on the experiential learning style and experiential teaching style. There are numerous internal and external factors that affect teaching, and student learning. Experiential learning has provided a successful teaching pedagogy when applied to clinical skill acquisition, and has positively benefited the module delivery and pass rate, suggesting it has embedded ‘deep learning’. Student feedback was positive, and the redesigned module has had a positive impact on student engagement and the teacher–student interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barry HIll, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at Northumbria University (barry.hill@northumbria.ac.uk), and Michelle Mitchell, Graduate Tutor for Adult Nursing at Northumbria University, discuss the reasons for urinary catheterisation, the different types of catheter and the potential problems patients need to be aware of [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revised Nursing and Midwifery Council education curriculum, which came into force in January, has the potential to revolutionise nursing, says Barry Hill, Senior Lecturer, Northumbria University (barry.hill@northumbria.ac.uk) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]