Conectar
To investigate clinicians' perspectives on the transition from hospital to home and identify gaps in care for older adults living with frailty during the transfer of care.
Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis of focus groups
Focus groups were conducted with clinicians using purposive sampling. Participants were eligible if they had provided or overseen the clinical care of a patient transferring from hospital to home. Verbatim transcripts were analysed, and themes were identified using NVivo through the development of codes and exploration of core commonalities.
A total of 28 clinicians participated in five focus groups. Participants included nurses (n = 14), allied health (n = 8), medical officers (n = 2), managers and hospital executives (n = 4). Themes were categorised into four domains: (1) system fragmentation and finite resources challenge healthcare navigation for everyone; (2) the interplay of cultural and societal considerations in the context of ageing; (3) fragile cycle of care for older patients who frequent hospitalisation; and (4) effective communication and expertise being critical for quality care.
Despite decades of research, the transition from hospital to home for older adults living with frailty remains a persistent challenge. This study identified significant and continued unmet needs in navigating a complex health system, underscoring the evidence-practice gap in transitional care services. Results have informed the development and implementation of a feasibility study (TRANSFER-II), currently underway, that tests the feasibility of a nurse-coordinated model of transitional care support for older adults.
Transfers from hospital to home, frequent readmissions and transitions in care are common for older adults living with frailty. Understanding the enablers and barriers in transitional care for this vulnerable population can enhance the quality of care, improve communication and inform the development of more effective transitional care models. The findings underline the critical role nurses play in addressing systemic gaps and improving continuity of care for older adults across diverse health systems.
Transitional care is complex, and older populations are more at risk of returning to hospital. Findings highlight the significant unmet needs in navigating a complex health system and revealed the fragile cycle of care for older adults who frequent hospital. Reiterating the importance of effective communication and clinical expertise in delivering safe patient-centred nursing care.
This qualitative study was reported in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist.
Patients and carers contributed to the design of this qualitative study through consultation with a consumer advisory group, where potential transitional care interventions were discussed. These discussions highlighted a need to further explore transitional care unmet needs, informing the development of this focus group study.
Although the majority of doctorally prepared nurses work in academia, a percentage choose clinical work. Knowledge about the contribution of doctorally prepared clinical nurses (DPCNs) is growing, but further exploration is required. This research explored the value that DPCNs provide to nursing practice and healthcare.
Using an interpretive descriptive approach, individual interviews were conducted with 18 DPCNs. Data was collected between 2021 and 2022. Reflexive thematic analysis informed the data analysis.
Five key mechanisms drive DPCNs' value: being a knowledge expert; an enhanced approach to practice; increased credibility/prestige of the doctorate; valuable conversations; and new opportunities and collaborations. Challenges to value contribution were also highlighted, including identity issues; negative external perceptions; fragmented mentorship; no post-doctoral pathway; and little recognition from nursing leaders.
Doctorally prepared clinical nurses bring significant value to nursing and healthcare through distinct mechanisms that should be nurtured and strengthened.
Doctorally prepared clinical nurses add important value to healthcare. However, these nurses are under-utilised and require support to enhance their value contribution.
Identifying the mechanisms driving value provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge, support and enhance the value provided by DPCNs. The research will be impactful for nurses considering doctoral study, nursing leaders and healthcare managers.
This research is reported following SRQR guidelines.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.
The aim of this research was to describe factors that influence Intensive Care Unit liaison nurses' decision to stand down a medical emergency team call response. The decision to end a medical emergency team response for a deteriorating patient is referred to as the medical emergency team call stand-down decision. Intensive Care Unit liaison nurses, also known internationally as critical care outreach nurses, make medical emergency team call stand-down decisions in complex and challenging clinical environments. However, the factors influencing these decisions are not well described in the literature.
Exploratory descriptive qualitative study.
Seven Intensive Care Unit liaison nurses who attended medical emergency team calls in a large acute metropolitan tertiary referral public hospital, with a mature three-tiered rapid response system, were observed and interviewed. Observations of 50 medical emergency team call responses and 50 post medical emergency team call interviews were conducted between March 2022 and August 2022. Findings were analysed using inductive content analysis.
Intensive Care Unit liaison nurse decisions to stand down MET call responses were influenced by three intrinsic factors: (1) propositional knowledge, (2) experiential knowledge, (3) situational knowledge and information processing styles. Intensive Care Unit liaison nurses utilised these intrinsic factors to support their decision to terminate medical emergency team call response.
This study explored the intrinsic influences on individual Intensive Care Unit liaison nurses in deciding to end a medical emergency team call. By highlighting these individual influences on decision-making, the findings may be used to support medical emergency team responders educational needs and identification of potential heuristics and biases inherent in clinical decision-making which contribute to adverse events.
No patient or public contribution.
By understanding the influences on an individual's clinical decision-making, strategies can be put in place for educational development and support for experiential learning. The study highlights areas of potential bias and heuristic use that may lead to sub-optimal clinical decisions and increased risk for deteriorating patients. Research findings can be applied internationally to a range of rapid response systems and critical care outreach teams that respond to deteriorating patients.
The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines were used for reporting this study.
Nursing care plans within electronic medical record systems have the potential to support nurses in planning and prioritizing patient care; however, there is a gap in the literature related to nurses' experiences of how this may occur. The aims of this mixed-methods study included exploring nurses' documentation adherence, identifying barriers and enablers to care plans documentation, and making recommendations to enhance nurses' use of care plans within electronic medical records. An audit of 142 patients revealed the majority had at least one care plan initiated in the electronic medical record (n = 120, 84.5%), 63 patients had a care plan initiated within 24 hours of admission (n = 63, 44.4%), and only three had care plans documented against in the previous 48 hours (2.11%). Data from six focus groups were developed into two themes (each with two subthemes): “Mind the Gap” and “Making It Work for Us.” Barriers and enablers were identified and mapped to 10 of the 14 domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. There was large variability in nurses' knowledge and understanding related to the need for care plans documentation. Assessment of usability and/or redesign of care plans within electronic medical records must align to nursing workflows to support clinical care delivery. 
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