title: Effective nursing care of children and young people outside hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the preparation required to ensure a workforce of nurses who can provide high quality out-of-hospital services for children and young people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using mixed methods, questionnaires were sent to young people and community children's nursing teams, interviews were conducted with academic staff and clinical nurses, and focus groups were undertaken with pre-registration children's nursing students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses' communication skills and clinical abilities were most important to young people. There is a range of opinions about optimum out-of-hospital clinical experience. Pre- and post-qualification education and recruitment in this area, therefore, need attention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Out-of-hospital care presents problems, but is developing rapidly. Adequate, updated training, supervision and resources are needed.
authors.affiliation: Children's nursing for the University of Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.affiliation: Health Education, North Central and East London.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.affiliation: Children's nursing, University of Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.affiliation: Children's nursing, University of Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Community children's nursing, University of Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whiting
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017144:Focus Groups; D064650:Home Health Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010290:Parents; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Child health; community children’s nursing; out-of-hospital care; paediatrics; workforce planning