Preoperative cardiopulmonary fitness is increasingly being recognized as an important factor influencing postoperative recovery outcomes in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore pat...

Katy Skarparis, Lecturer, Adult Nursing, Northumbria University ( katy.skarparis@northumbria.ac.uk ) and Claire Ford, Lecturer, Adult Nursing, Northumbria University describe how to select a suitable site and take a blood sample using vacuum collection tubes

Problem: Little is known about the maternity experiences of women who have been trafficked and further investigation is needed to better inform midwifery practice and to ensure that the voices of women are heard when developing guidance. Background: People who have been trafficked experience a range of health problems that could impact on pregnancy. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of pregnancy and NHS maternity care for women who have been trafficked, as well as increasing understanding of social and health factors that may impact on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A qualitative interview study was conducted. Participants (professionals and service users) were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Seventeen interviews were conducted (5 service users and 12 professionals). Five themes were identified: 'One Size Fits All', 'Loss of Control', 'Social Complexity', 'Bridging Gaps', and 'Emotional Load'. Discussion: Our findings identify that women are expected to fit into a standardised model of maternity care that does not always recognise their complex individual physical, emotional or social needs, or provide them with control. Support workers play a vital role in helping women navigate and make sense of their maternity care. Conclusion: Despite the issues identified, our research highlighted the positive impact of individualised care, particularly when women received continuity of care. A joined-up, trauma-informed approach between midwives and support workers could help improve care for women who have been trafficked.

The undergraduate nursing students’ final year project, commonly called a ‘dissertation’ is an important component of the bachelor’s nursing programme. It can take the form of a literature review and proposal for a research or service improvement project. While crucial for developing research competence and evidence-based practice skills in preparation for their future careers, nursing students often find the dissertation process highly stressful. An online qualitative survey comprising open-ended questions was used to elicit nursing students’ rich, reflective accounts of the dissertation process at a university in the Northeast of England (hereafter referred to as the study site) from those who have recently completed their dissertations. The data obtained from 24 pre-registration nursing students who responded to the survey were thematically analysed. The findings revealed that critical relationships and essential support systems were key mediators of the challenges students faced, particularly a lack of readiness for the dissertation module, but they ultimately achieved transformative outcomes of an effective learning experience. Their navigational challenges can inform curriculum design and practices to better support students in their dissertation journey.

Background: Sexual assault affects approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 18 men in the United Kingdom (UK), yet disclosure to healthcare professionals remains low. Research has focused on prevalence, barriers and outcomes; survivors’ lived experience of the disclosure encounter is under-explored. Nurses’ responses profoundly shape recovery. Aim: To explore adult survivors’ lived experiences of disclosing sexual assault to nurses in the UK. Methods: Nine adults who had disclosed sexual assault to a nurse in a UK healthcare setting were recruited and interviewed. Data were analysed using Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological psychology method. Results: Disclosure emerged as temporally complex and emotionally overwhelming, shaped by survivors’ profound unpreparedness and pervasive uncertainty. Two themes captured this: (1) Unpreparedness, reflecting lack of readiness before, during and after disclosure and an overriding need for validation and (2) Not Knowing, capturing uncertainty across the practical, relational and emotional dimensions of disclosure. Running through both themes was survivors’ fear of not being believed, which shaped the meaning of the encounter. Conclusion: Disclosure is a temporally complex, emotionally overwhelming experience fundamentally shaped by nurses’ responses. Belief, validation and agency emerged as central to survivors’ experiences. These findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed education and survivor-centred approaches in nursing practice.