Keele Research Repository

Background
Service user and carer experience of their illness trajectory and the health care services they receive are integral to programme delivery and key to the development of an empathetic future nursing workforce.

Methods
This project was developed to provide an insight into patient and carer experiences of their District Nursing Services. Patient stories, known to be an extremely valuable resource, have been gathered from a group previously not accessed for their stories. Stories have been collated, illustrated and will be formed into a ‘book’ which will be utilised to enhance pre- and post-registration health care programme delivery.

Results
To date, 16 stories have been collected from a variety of patients and carers who have had contact, often during extreme circumstances, with their District Nursing Service. Professional notes accompanying the stories are aimed at focusing students on key aspects of the narrative where best practice is highlighted or where improvements to care could have been implemented.