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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]

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]