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amendments. Finally a pre-test was conducted with three experienced nurses and their feedback sort. No further amendments were required. Undertaking the pre-testing of the interview guide afforded the researcher the opportunity to ‘practice’ and gain confidence in undertaking the interview and an opportunity to reflect on his style and interview manner. Through the aforementioned process of validation the draft interview guide had ‘morphed’ into an acceptably polished interview guide and was ready for use. 5.7.3 Interviews Prior to commencing the interviews, whether face to face or by telephone, the researcher checked for quietness, comfortableness on the part of the participant to proceed and the minimising of potential interruptions. The interviewee’s availability of allotted time to undertake the interview was again confirmed. There were no interviews which needed to be cancelled and rescheduled nor any which were concluded prematurely as a result of time restraints. Prior to the commencement of an interview the researcher ensured an interviewee’s consent by adopting a three stage process. Firstly, ensuring a participant understood the broad nature of the study with reference to the information sheet (which accompanied the original written consent form). Secondly the researcher had a signed a consent form completed by the interviewee. Thirdly, the researcher asked whether the participant understood everything the researcher had said and whether there were any questions or issues which needed to be clarified or answered. No participant withdrew their consent and all stated they understood they were being recorded. Finally the researcher, at the commencement of the recorded interviewed, verbally confirmed the participant’s consent.