Supporting students to return to study following course interruption (SuTuRe).

BACKGROUND: The pre-registration BSc Nursing course in the UK is renowned for being challenging due to its requirement for 2300 hours each for theoretical and practice-based learning. It is therefore inevitable that some students may need to interrupt their study at some point during the course. In many cases, these students do not return and leave the course, which has an impact on the future nursing workforce. AIMS: To examine the reasons why pre-registration student nurses interrupt their studies and consider ways to enable them to return successfully and complete the course. METHODS: The research project was based in one higher education institution (HEI) in the North West region of England. Interrupted students due to return to study in semester 1 of the 2022/23 academic year (n=95) were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. FINDINGS: Health, including mental health was the dominant factor leading to the interruption of study for the students. CONCLUSION: This research has led the HEI to introduce an improved support package for students. Alongside other recommendations it is hoped the changes will reduce attrition and lead to an improved interruption/return-to-study experience.

Care of the critically ill patient with a tracheostomy.

Tracheostomy insertion and management is increasingly common in critical care units and general wards. Therefore, it is important that nurses are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the individual needs of patients with a tracheostomy safely and competently. This article aims to enhance nurses' understanding of the potential challenges that patients with a tracheostomy may experience, and to guide nurses in providing effective care and support to these patients. It outlines the care that should be provided for patients with a tracheostomy who are critically ill, including methods of humidification and endotracheal suctioning. This article also discusses the effects that a tracheostomy may have on a patient's communication and psychological well-being, and explains the actions that nurses should take in an emergency and if complications occur.

End-of-life care guidelines and care plans in the intensive care unit.

The aim of this literature review was to examine end-of-life (EoL) care practice in the intensive care unit (ICU). By exploring the literature, it is hoped to suggest how national guidance can be integrated into the ICU setting. Delivering high-quality, patient-centred EoL care is high priority on the UK health agenda. The highly technological environment within the ICU can create barriers to recognising death and initiating EoL care planning. Despite recommendations in the literature for the integration of standardised guidance, implementation, compliance and evaluation are yet to be widely reported. This literature review highlights the need for ICU health professionals to embrace EoL guideline recommendations. Development of robust processes is vital to inform future practice.