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The aim of this article was to define the term 'aesthetics' in order to demonstrate that aesthetic physical caring is administered to the intensive care patient. Johns's model of structured reflection (10th version) was used to reflect upon three nursing narratives with intensive care unit nurses and relatives and reveals why physical caring is fundamental for the patient.

Theorizing about how culture influences planned group formation and interaction can be tested through using focus groups as a research method. This article is not about the Omani population, but in higher education, it is useful to depict evaluative research as being cosmopolitan in its approach. Data obtained from eleven focus groups conducted in Oman with nurses assisted the authors of this paper to embrace what it means to respect another culture and enable understanding of that culture. The premise about reflexive methods is to promote the voices of the research team and by reporting a team approach a broader voice can be heard. This paper aims to inform an international audience that taking a traditional perspective when using focus groups can be stereotyped by cultural assumptions. Such stereotypical assumptions did not represent the reality of the design; the study was structured to be culturally sensitive and fit for purpose. Such assumptions can be dismissed if participants are given a choice within the study.

Reflecting on a research project that focussed on male student nurses, this article explores how far the philosophy and procedural steps of Grounded Theory enable a hidden voice to be heard. Developing a theory about the minority voice captures concepts underpinning pedagogic voicing. Males are a minority in nursing and hence project a smaller but representational voice to articulate their views on learning. Data obtained from two types of interviews are used to illustrate the analysis performed through the chosen analytical framework. The general message is not to take any analytical strategy at face value but to comprehend how the process produces a theory grounded from the data. This article discusses whether Grounded Theory is best considered as an analytical strategy and not a method using elements of Charmaz's approach and how the strategic steps preserved the voice of the male nursing student.