A study of factors affecting pass rates of level 5 written assessments for undergraduate adult nursing students.

Unlabelled: Nursing programmes were flexible during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering simulation to replace clinical hours and adjusting supervision and assessment. However, second-year students in two modules had lower results despite no changes to the material, team or delivery.

Objectives: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, on second-year adult nursing students who submitted written assignments, to analyse recurring patterns that could explain the failure rate.

Whole systems approach.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to ascertain primary care advanced clinical practitioners' (ACP) perceptions and experiences of what factors influence the development and identity of ACP roles, and how development of ACP roles that align with Health Education England's capability framework for advanced clinical practice can be facilitated in primary care.

Design/methodology/approach: The study was located in the North of England. A qualitative approach was used in which 22 staff working in primary care who perceived themselves to be working as ACPs were interviewed.

A collaborative approach to developing student placements in care homes.

If high-quality, person-centred care is to be provided for older people with complex needs, it is essential that nurse education should aim to extend students' knowledge and skills in longterm care, and integrated health and social care. Northumbria University, local care homes and NHS organisations have collaborated to develop integrated, cross-sector practice placements that support this learning for nursing students. While there have been challenges in developing these placements, initial feedback is positive, suggesting the placements promote improved interorganisational working and learning for staff as well as students.

Older people's views and experiences of engagement in standardised patient simulation.

Background: The last two decades have witnessed initiatives aimed at improving the care of older people, including educating nurses so that they are equipped with the skills to care for older people with frailty and complex multimorbidities. It has been suggested that involvement of older service users in nurse education can facilitate the development of nurses' caring skills by promoting understanding of the reality of older people's situations. One method of involving older service users is standardised patient simulation (SPS).

Creative writing and dementia care: 'making it real'.

Background: Health professionals continue to seek ways to promote positive communication and self-worth when supporting people living with dementia. The value of creative writing techniques as part of reflective practice in nursing and caring for older people with dementia needs further exploration.

Aim: To introduce creative writing techniques to health professionals as part of dementia-related reflective practice.