Older patients’ experiences of nurse‐to‐nurse collaboration between hospital and primary health care in the care chain for older people

Abstract

Background Nurse‐to‐nurse collaboration between nurses working in hospital and primary health care in the older people care chain is essential to ensure the continuity of care. The nature of good collaboration in this context is understood usually from the perspective of collaborating nurses. However, there seems to be a lack of research about this collaboration from the older patient's perspective who are at the centre of the collaboration. Aims and objectives To describe older patient's experiences of the collaboration between hospital and primary healthcare nurses delivering care to older people. Design A qualitative approach based on a descriptive phenomenological methodology was used. Methods Individual interviews were conducted using a purposeful sample of older patients (n = 18) who were cared for both in hospital and primary healthcare organisations. A qualitative data analysis method informed by Giorgi was used. Results The essence of the experience of nurse‐to‐nurse collaboration between hospital and primary health care was expressed as follows: the meaning of collaboration; the elements of collaboration valued; the visibility of collaboration; older patient involvement in collaboration; interaction within collaboration; and future expectations of collaboration. Conclusions Although nurse‐to‐nurse collaboration between hospital and primary health care was not often visible to older patients, they highlighted the importance of this collaboration to ensure the continuity of care. The participants would have liked to be part of the collaborating group, at the centre of care, cared for by motivated nurses who had a clear understanding of their patients’ health status. This study emphasises the need for improving collaboration between hospital and primary healthcare nurses by making it more visible and facilitating older patients’ participation. The results demonstrate the need to understand patient perspectives in the development of care and the services provided for older people.

Nurse‐to‐nurse collaboration between nurses caring for older people in hospital and primary health care: A cross‐sectional study

“…The second phase was the construction of items providing the basis of a questionnaire (Waltz et al, 2010). The items for the questionnaire were generated based on collaboration conceptualisation and other relevant literature (D'Amour et al, 2008; Henneman, 1995; Lemetti et al, 2015, 2017, 2019; Petri, 2010). The untested and initial questionnaire contained 92 items in four sections: (a) Context and Situation (22 items), (b) Conditions (20 items), (c) Processes and Interactions (23 items) and (d) Consequences (27 items).…”

“…In context and situation, nurse‐to‐nurse collaboration requires two or more nurses (Lemetti et al, 2017; Morley & Cashell, 2017) and an older person with individual functional capacity and care needs (Lemetti et al, 2017, 2019). Nurses who collaborate well have realistic objectives for the care of the older person (Lemetti et al, 2017) which are agreed between them (Lemetti et al, 2019). In this collaboration, the nurses value and understand their own roles, responsibilities and work environment as well as those in partnership (Emich, 2018; Lemetti et al, 2015, 2017; Moore et al, 2019; Morley & Cashell, 2017).…”

“…Within the dimension of Conditions, nurses understand the meaning of collaboration in their own professional group (Lemetti et al, 2017) and are willing to take opportunities to participate in collaboration (Emich, 2018; Lemetti et al, 2015, 2017; Moore & Prentice, 2015; Morley & Cashell, 2017) with a positive, respectful and supportive attitude to other nurses (Lemetti et al, 2015, 2017). Collaborating nurses demonstrate and develop their knowledge, competence, expertise, respect, trust and equality as equals with their collaborating partner, demonstrating no power imbalance (Emich, 2018; Lemetti et al, 2015, 2017, 2019; Moore & Prentice, 2015; Morley & Cashell, 2017). Thus, the dimension of Processes and Interactions as outlined is shaped by the dimension of conditions in nurse‐to‐nurse collaboration (Lemetti et al, 2017).…”

Proceedings 5th CARPE Conference: Horizon Europe and beyond

“…Third, health professionals often have to take account of social needs when deciding which services to refer older people to (Dempsey & Bekker 2002, Lemetti et al 2017. A further reason why the collaborative approach to care delivery is pertinent for older people is that the population is ageing rapidly and older persons themselves are demanding a better quality of care (Vaarama & Pieper 2006, Lemetti et al 2019).…”

European Integrated Care Horizon 2020: increase societal participation; reduce care demands and costs in Finnish context

“…Third, health professionals often have to take account of social needs when deciding which services to refer older people to (Dempsey & Bekker 2002, Lemetti et al 2017. A further reason why the collaborative approach to care delivery is 2019, Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València pertinent for older people is that the population is ageing rapidly and older persons themselves are demanding a better quality of care (Vaarama & Pieper 2006, Lemetti et al 2019).…”