Pulled in all directions: lecturers' accounts of managing critical care courses

This paper reports on a recent telephone interview conducted with critical care lecturers around the country. Some of the debate is informed by three focus groups held with different stakeholders. The advantages and disadvantage of telephone interview are outlined, and some practical advice included with regard to the use of this research method. The telephone interview was conducted with 84 course lecturers. Views were gathered from course lecturers/pathway leaders for ENB 100, 124, 176/183, 199 and 415. The participants represented a broad geographical spread across England. Lecturers described four key sources of influence coming from: the higher education sector, curriculum change; the purchaser provide commissioning process; and practice demands. All these local factors are set in the context of ENB requirements for validation and anticipation of the UKCC's deliberations on specialist practice.