Jean Orr

The time commitment of the community nursing services to Project 2000

As part of an English National Board funded research study, the authors sent questionnaires to 2500 individuals with community nursing qualifications. The survey was complemented by a series of interviews with community nurse managers. Data indicated that community nurses were spending very considerable amounts of time with students. The number of placements provided per year varied considerably from one respondent to another, as did the average duration of a placement. Community nurses were providing community experience for a variety of types of nursing students, as well as students of other professions, and the time commitment involved placed them under considerable strain. The authors conclude that there is a need to recognise the time given by community nurses to work with students, and the resource implications of this commitment.

The use of an ethnographic approach to assessment of health need in Northern Ireland

Health assessment, Case study, Ethnography, Methodological limitations This paper discusses approaches to targeting health and social needs. Using Northern Ireland as an example, it suggests that there are important omissions in data-gathering using a quantitative approach and outlines an ethnographic approach to assessment of health needs, using a case study which demonstrates one approach to gathering information at the micro, sub-ward, level. It points up the need for research and policy to become locally focused in its orientation. z