Learning objects? Nurse educators' views on using patients for student learning : ethics and consent.

Introduction: This study explored the views of nursing lecturers concerning the use of patients in nursing education, particularly in light of the development of additional learning opportunities such as clinical simulation.

Methods: Focus group interviews involving 19 educators from one school of nursing in the United Kingdom were held. An interview schedule was developed by the study team from the findings of a focused literature review of the area.

'It terrifies me, the thought of the future': listening to the current concerns of informal carers of people with a learning disability.

The aim of this article is to report findings from a study that asked carers for their views on a wide range of topics. Issues relevant to the current concerns of carers are reported here. A mixed method triangulated design yielded both quantitative and qualitative data.

Current perceptions of respite care: experiences of family and informal carers of people with a learning disability.

Access to regular, high-quality respite care has a beneficial impact on a carer's ability to fulfil their caring role, but provision varies widely. The current study aims to report family and informal carers' perceptions of respite care services offered to them by their local authority. A mixed method, triangulated design, yielded both quantitative and qualitative data.

The learning curve: the advantages and disadvantages in the use of focus groups as a method of data collection.

Focus groups are not simply a discussion between people, but are focused interviews exploring interactions between participants. In this paper, Ian Mansell, Glynis Bennett, Ruth Northway, Donna Mead and Laurie Moseley explore the complexities and practicalities of using focus groups in research, with reference to a study of palliative care services.

Universal precautions: a survey of community nurses' experience and practice.

Background: Universal precautions are a set of guidelines which aim to protect health care workers from blood-borne infections. Community nurses often have to deliver care to people in less than ideal home conditions, their ability to comply with all universal precautions may therefore be compromised.

Aims And Objectives: This paper presents the findings of a questionnaire survey which aimed to explore community nurses' experience and practices of using universal precautions.