BackgroundReducing avoidable hospitialisation of aged care facility (ACF) residents can improve the resident experience and their health outcomes. Consequently many variations of hospital avoidance (HA) programs continue to evolve. Nurse practitioners (NP) with expertise in aged care have the potential to make a unique contribution to hospital avoidance programs. However, little attention has been dedicated to service evaluation of this model and the quality of care provided. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of an aged care NP model of care situated within a HA service in a regional area of Australia.MethodsDonabedian’s structure, process and outcome framework was applied to evaluate the quality of the NP model of care. The Australian Nurse Practitioner Study standardised interview schedules for evaluating NP models of care guided the semi-structured interviews of nine health professionals (including ACF nurses, medical doctors and allied health professionals), four ACF residents and their families and two NPs. Theory driven coding consistent with the Donabedian framework guided analysis of interview data and presentation of findings.ResultsStructural dimensions identified included the ‘in-reach’ nature of the HA service, distance, limitations of professional regulation and the residential care model. These dimensions influenced the process of referring the resident to the NP, the NPs timely response and interactions with other professionals. The processes where the NPs take time connecting with residents, initiating collaborative care plans, up-skilling aged care staff and function as intra and interprofessional boundary spanners all contributed to quality outcomes. Quality outcomes in this study were about timely intervention, HA, timely return home, partnering with residents and family (knowing what they want) and resident and health professional satisfaction.ConclusionsThis study provides valuable insights into the contribution of the NP model of care within an aged care, HA service and how staff manipulated the process dimensions to improve referral to the NPs. NP service in this study was dynamic, flexible and responsive to both patient and organisational demands.
Aim and Objective
To delineate contemporary practice of registered nurses working in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Background
Despite the implementation of strategies to address challenges reported by rural and remote nurses, concern remains over safety and quality of care, the well‐being of nurses and retention of the nursing workforce. Twenty years on, geographically dispersed nurses still experience scarce human and material resources.
Design
A multiple case study design was implemented.
Methods
Nurses were recruited from 240 sites. The study comprised three phases of data collection. First, a content analysis of 42 documents relating to the context of nursing, specifically rural and remote nursing; second, a content analysis of an online questionnaire (n = 75); and third, a thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews (n = 20). COREQ reporting guidelines were used.
Results
Each phase of data collection informed subsequent data collection and analysis within the study. Following triangulation of data from each phase of the study, the major themes reported are “a medley of preparation for rural and remote work”; “being held accountable”; “alone, with or without someone”; and “spiralling well‐being.”
Conclusions
Regardless of strategies, challenges of nursing in rural and remote areas persist. Issues of isolation, stress, burnout and a lack of organisational commitment to employees affect the retention of rural and remote nurses. While useful, professional development courses and graduate certificates are yet to make an impact on reducing these issues.
Relevance to clinical practice
Registered nurses argue for more experience rather than more education to facilitate transition into this nursing area. The finding that experience is perceived as more valuable than education suggests the need for innovative ways to gain experience to practice in rural and remote nursing. Lack of organisational commitment requires attention to promote the well‐being of nurses and patient safety.
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