British Journal of Nursing : BJN

AIM: To provide insights into the optimal use of virtual reality (VR) in nursing education by evaluating pre-registration nursing students' experiences in conducting holistic patient assessments while interacting with artificial intelligence (AI)-led patients. Specifically, this project evaluation compares the use of two different VR scenarios, one employing a menu-based interface and another using AI voice-controlled technology. METHODS: Eleven pre-registration adult nursing students from two UK universities were selected through purposeful sampling to participate in the two VR simulations...

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential in nursing practice to safeguard patient health and reduce healthcare-associated infections. This article explores IPC strategies, including hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, environmental cleaning, safe injection practices, and antimicrobial stewardship. It discusses the implementation challenges and solutions, such as ensuring compliance through education, monitoring and strong leadership. IPC measures are crucial in preventing infections such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia...

BACKGROUND: Clean intermittent self-catheterisation (CISC) with conventional eyelet catheters (CECs) is associated with urine flow-stops, which require the catheter to be repositioned so flow can resume. Flow-stops often occur because bladder mucosa is sucked into the eyelets. AIMS: This investigation aimed to compare the bladder-emptying performance of the micro-hole zone catheter (MHZC) with the CEC. METHODS: This was a multi-centre, randomised, open-label, controlled cross-over study with 82 women comparing the MHZC to the CEC...

Richard Griffith , Senior Lecturer in Health Law at Swansea University, considers the reforms to the death certification process and discusses the statutory examination of all deaths not referred to the coroner by a medical examiner.

John Tingle , Associate Professor, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, provides an update on recent patient safety reports.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Claire Cadwallader , Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool ([email protected]), was the Oncology Nurse of the Year Gold Award winner in the BJN Awards 2024.

Sam Foster , Executive Director of Professional Practice, Nursing and Midwifery Council, considers the soon to be published review of simulated practice learning and the messages for education provision and policy.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

AIMS: This evaluation combines clinical and non-clinical collaborative breast referral triage to gain an understanding relating to the value of triage, by identifying 'suspected cancer' and 'cancer not suspected' populations, improve the patient pathway, and facilitate optimised resource availability. METHOD: An iterative service improvement method was used, with distinct phases of the process outlined to facilitate testing of ideas. The evaluation ran for 13 weeks in 2022...

In the UK, student nurses, nursing associates and midwives are supervised by practice supervisors and practice assessors while completing the placement-based component of their training. Because of increased clinical commitments, staff shortages and rising student numbers, demands for the supervision and assessment of student nurses have increased in recent years and this was exacerbated by COVID-19. The Nursing and Midwifery Council's Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment separated the roles of practice supervisor and assessor, giving rise to opportunities to assess students in a different way...

Final-year student Aghogho Wanogho explains what registered nurses can do to ensure that student nurses gain the most from their clinical placements.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have increased people's awareness of mental health issues. Psychological trauma impacts patients in the acute care setting through physical and mental health presentations. Trauma is a public health issue crossing all socioeconomic groups and is related to social determinants of health. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an evidence-based approach to providing care. TIC is within the scope of nursing practice and improves outcomes for patients. However, there is a lack of standard terms or practices within healthcare...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Specialist stoma care nurses (SSCNs) are highly educated professionals who play a critical role in the care of people living with a stoma. However, they experience some unique challenges. Currently in the UK, stoma care has no national standards, targets or best practice pathway, resulting in significant variation and an undervalued service. As members of an evidence-based profession, SSCNs need to demonstrate their value. Specialist nurses in cancer care and inflammatory bowel disease are supported by nationally, with pathways, targets and standards of care, as well as career and education frameworks...