This study assesses the developmental outcomes of children at age 2 years who participated in an intensive home visiting programme called the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home visiting programme (MECSH), using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition
(ASQ-3) tool, and compares these outcomes with those of childrenreceiving a standard health visiting service. The research also examines the significance of the number of home visits, by the Health Visitor (HV), on these developmental outcomes. The intensive
programme provided frequent, support visits by trained health professionals, focusing on enhancing parental skills and child development from birth to age 2 years. A quantitative methodology was employed, involving 97 families engaged in MECSH and 740 families receiving a standard health visiting service who were born in 2018 and measured in 2020. Developmental assessments using the ASQ-3 questionnaire covered 5 key domains in communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills. Data were analysed to compare developmental scores and to assess the impact of the number of home visits on these scores. Key findings indicate that 82% of non- MECSH children and 75% of MECSH children were meeting developmental milestones in all 5 domains. Highlighting that MECSH children were doing less well than the Non-MECSH children. The MECSH cohort scored lower in all domains except gross motor. However, the two groups compared favourably in the communication domain with scores of 88% and 87% respectively. For those children on the MECSH programme they received only 58% of the scheduled visits with a lower percentage in those families who did not complete the programme (53%). However, the frequency of visits did not positively correlate with better developmental outcomes, in all other domains of development, suggesting that more intensive support does not necessarily lead to more substantial benefits, across all areas of development.
An exploration of newly qualified nurses experience of how prepared they felt for transition to professional practice in the first three months post registration (2024)
Practice preparedness of 21st century newly qualified nurses is an ongoing debate. A driver for this debate is recognition about the transition from student nurse to registered nurse being a challenging, complex, and multifaceted phenomenon in the UK and internationally.
Little is known about the lived experiences of newly qualified nurses’ preparedness for professional practice locally, on a small island located within the English Channel. This study attended to this research gap by examining preparedness for professional practice from the viewpoint of newly qualified nurses on the island. A descriptive phenomenological methodology was utilised to describe the essence of lived experiences and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Three core themes – preparedness for professional practice, impact of support, and developing professionalism emerged as the main findings of the study. The newly qualified nurses who participated in this study reported feelings of self-doubt at the beginning of their transition experience, imposter thoughts, and transition shock that is widely recognised in research. They also expressed feeling there were limitations in how prepared they could be for professional practice as a new registrant. A supportive workplace culture and self-care were also reported as resilience factors. These factors could be explored further in future research about newly qualified nurses’ experiences of the preceptorship programme on island. Findings could reveal the components of a supportive workplace culture that promote positive experiences in the first three months of a role as a newly qualified nurse.
Exploration of the Lived Experiences of Rectal Cancer Patients
Aim: To explore the lived experiences of rectal cancer patients following diagnosis, treatment and surgery. Background Patients diagnosed with rectal cancer can have a complex treatment trajectory involving a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Patients can now undergo sphincter saving surgery and avoid a permanent colostomy; however more often than not a temporary defunctioning ileostomy is formed to prevent anastomotic dehiscence. Sample and Setting A purposive sample of seven individuals were
recruited and consented to participate within this study: four females and three males, aged 44 – 71 years old. Five of the participants had a temporary defunctioning ileostomy, one had a temporary colostomy, and one had a permanent colostomy. Data Collection and Analysis Semi-structured interviews were utilised, and transcriptions were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Four major themes emerged from the data analysis: consequences of diagnosis, the effects of treatment, communication and outlook on life. Participants reported the shock of their diagnosis and the major challenges they experienced as a consequence of their stoma. Five out of the seven participants stated they would never have chemotherapy again due to the
severe nature of the side effects of the treatment. Surviving cancer changed their outlook on life and many discussed how it changed their lives for the better. Conclusion This study highlighted the complex trajectory rectal cancer patients endure. Participants reported that stoma formation and living with its unpredictability caused a detrimental effect on their physical and psychological wellbeing more than any other part of the treatment plan. However, the findings highlighted the resilience that colorectal cancer patients possess in order to complete their treatments and survive.
Senecio vulgaris L. subsp. denticulatus (0. F. Muell.) P. D. Sell and S. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. vulgaris on Jersey (Channel Islands)
Evidence obtained from comparative cultivation confirms that Senecio vulgaris subsp. denticlIlatus (Asteraceae) and its presumed derivative var. mlgaris differ consistently in a number of morphological and life history characters. Field studies on Jersey revealed that...
University Education on-Island
This paper describes what university-level education is available in Jersey, analyses data on participation in university-level education and educational standards in the Island, discusses the case for a “University of Jersey” and considers other options for...
Jersey: The development of an island cultural strategy
In 2005 Jersey’s government approved a ‘Cultural Strategy’ document. This paper traces how the Cultural Strategy document was developed and offers an analysis of what its contents mean for Jersey’s cultural identity and cultural organisations. The author looks at the...