Sample for Semi-structured interviews with RNs The qualitative component of the study firstly aimed to understand the perception among RNs regarding the activities and interventions considered important by them for the care of children in A&E Departments. The sample was drawn from RNs enrolled in the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of a HEI for post-qualification courses. The HEI has over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff and is the main provider of nurse and medical staff education to the local NHS Trusts. All RNs undertaking the post-registration A&E nursing module and autonomous practice in emergency care module were invited to participate in the study. Registered nurses were purposively selected (Parahoo 2014) until data saturation was achieved as suggested by Xxxxx (1991) and Bowling (2014). Data saturation refers to the point by which no new data becomes available during the interview with participants and is considered the gold standard by which the size of a purposive sample is determined (Guest et al 2006). This sampling approach ensured that the views of RNs who had experience in caring for children in A&E were recruited to the study. Whilst acknowledging that there are no guidelines for determining nonprobability sample sizes (Guest et al 2006), a target sample of 20 participants was proposed at the start of the study. However, data saturation was achieved after transcribing the interview recordings from 18 RNs. The recruitment of RNs included firstly the distribution of a participant information sheet (Appendix 14) to all students completing the emergency care and autonomous practitioner module at the local HEI. Any RN with post registration experience in emergency nursing, willing to participate in a semi- structured interview were permitted to participate in the study. Recruitment involved visiting the students and informing them of the study with permission from the module leader. Students were then advised to email the researcher or inform the module leader if they were interested in participating in the study. Following expressions of interest, a suitable time was arranged for the interview to be undertaken that caused minimal disruption to the study. To assist with the recruitment process care was taken to ensure that nursing and university personnel were familiar with the study. This included devising a plan to identify an effective strategy for gaining access to RNs with minimal disruption to their coursework.
