European bedside nurses' perspective on the fundamentals of care framework and its application in clinical practice : a multi-site focus group interview study

Background. A changing nursing workforce and an increase in demands for care together with more complex care, raise arguments that leading and guiding nursing practice is more challenging than ever. Therefore, nurses need to have a shared agenda and a common language to show the importance of nursing care and the consequences of not addressing this in an appropriate way. In response to this the Fundamentals of Care framework was developed to also contribute to the delivery of person-centred care in an integrated way. However, to gain acceptance and applicability we need to ensure the framework's relevance to clinical practice from bedside nurses' perspectives. Objective. To describe bedside nurses' perspectives on the Fundamentals of Care framework and how it can be applied in clinical practice. Design. A descriptive qualitative design informed by the Fundamentals of Care framework. Setting(s). The study was undertaken at seven hospitals in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands during 2019. Participants. A total sample of 53 registered nurses working at the bedside participated. Participants had a wide variety of clinical experience and represented a range of different nursing practice areas. Methods. Twelve focus group interviews were used to collect data and analysed with a deductive content analysis approach. Results. Bedside nurses perceived that the Fundamentals of Care framework was adequate, easy to understand and recognised as representative for the core of nursing care. The definition for fundamental care covered many aspects of nursing care, but was also perceived as too general and too idealistic in relation to the registered nurses' work. The participants recognised the elements within the framework, but appeared not to be using this to articulate their practice. Three main categories emerged for implications for clinical practice; guiding reflection on one's work; ensuring person-centred fundamental care and reinforcing nursing leadership. Conclusions. The Fundamentals of Care framework is perceived by bedside nurses as a modern framework describing the core of nursing. The framework was recognised as having clinical relevance and provides nurses with a common language to articulate the complexity of nursing practice. This knowledge is crucial for nurses both in clinical practice and in leadership roles to be able to speak up for the need to integrate all dimensions of care to achieve person-centred fundamental care. Various activities for reflection, person-centred care and leadership to apply the framework in clinical practice were presented, together with minor suggestions for development of the framework

Effects of multidisciplinary teamwork on lead times and patient flow in the emergency department: A longitudinal interventional cohort study

BACKGROUND Long waiting times for emergency care are claimed to be caused by overcrowded emergency departments and non-effective working routines. Teamwork has been suggested as a promising solution to these issues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of teamwork in a Swedish emergency department on lead times and patient flow. METHODS The study was set in an emergency department of a university hospital where teamwork, a multi-professional team responsible for the whole care process for a group of patients, was introduced. The study has a longitudinal non-randomized intervention study design. Data were collected for five two-week periods during a period of 1.5 years. The first part of the data collection used an ABAB design whereby standard procedure (A) was altered weekly with teamwork (B). Then, three follow-ups were conducted. At last follow-up, teamwork was permanently implemented. The outcome measures were: number of patients handled within teamwork time, time to physician, total visit time and number of patients handled within the 4-hour target. RESULTS A total of 1,838 patient visits were studied. The effect on lead times was only evident at the last follow-up. Findings showed that the number of patients handled within teamwork time was almost equal between the different study periods. At the last follow-up, the median time to physician was significantly decreased by 11 minutes (p = 0.0005) compared to the control phase and the total visit time was significantly shorter at last follow-up compared to control phase (p = <0.0001; 39 minutes shorter on average). Finally, the 4-hour target was met in 71% in the last follow-up compared to 59% in the control phase (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS Teamwork seems to contribute to the quality improvement of emergency care in terms of small but significant decreases in lead times. However, although efficient work processes such as teamwork are necessary to ensure safe patient care, it is likely not sufficient for bringing about larger decreases in lead times or for meeting the 4-hour target in the emergency department.Åsa Muntlin Athlin, Ulrica von Thiele Schwarz and Nasim Farrohkni

Identifying and Improving Quality of Care at an Emergency Department : Patient and healthcare professional perspectives

Background: Patients in the emergency department are not always satisfied with the care received and the nursing care in the emergency department is sometimes described as instrumental and non-holistic. Structured quality improvement work and evidence-based practice are needed. Aim: The overall aim was to emphasize general patients in the emergency department to enhance the knowledge on how they perceive the quality of care and how the care could be improved through collaboration with the healthcare professionals. Methods: Four studies, with quantitative and qualitative designs, were conducted in a Swedish emergency department. Two hundred patients answered a questionnaire, after which 22 healthcare professionals comprising five focus groups were interviewed, and finally 200 patients were included in an intervention study. Results: The following five areas for improvement were identified: “information, respect and empathy”, “pain relief”, “nutrition”, “waiting time” and “general atmosphere”. Of these areas, the healthcare professionals prioritized “information, respect and empathy”, “waiting time” and “pain relief” to be highlighted in the quality improvement work. Although goals and suggestions for changes were stated, barriers to quality improvement at different levels in the health care were detected. The results of the intervention study showed that structured nursing assessment of the patients’ abdominal status and nurse-initiated intravenous opioid analgesic could increase frequency of analgesic and reduce time to analgesic in the emergency department. Patients perceived lower pain intensity and improved quality of care in pain management. Conclusions: An uncomplicated nursing intervention, related to pain management, based on the results from a patient questionnaire and interviews with healthcare professionals, can improve the care process and pain management in the emergency department, as well as patients’ perceptions of the quality of care in pain management. To succeed with continuous quality improvement work, barriers to change should be addressed

Identifying and Improving Quality of Care at an Emergency Department : Patient and healthcare professional perspectives

Background: Patients in the emergency department are not always satisfied with the care received and the nursing care in the emergency department is sometimes described as instrumental and non-holistic. Structured quality improvement work and evidence-based practice are needed. Aim: The overall aim was to emphasize general patients in the emergency department to enhance the knowledge on how they perceive the quality of care and how the care could be improved through collaboration with the healthcare professionals. Methods: Four studies, with quantitative and qualitative designs, were conducted in a Swedish emergency department. Two hundred patients answered a questionnaire, after which 22 healthcare professionals comprising five focus groups were interviewed, and finally 200 patients were included in an intervention study. Results: The following five areas for improvement were identified: “information, respect and empathy”, “pain relief”, “nutrition”, “waiting time” and “general atmosphere”. Of these areas, the healthcare professionals prioritized “information, respect and empathy”, “waiting time” and “pain relief” to be highlighted in the quality improvement work. Although goals and suggestions for changes were stated, barriers to quality improvement at different levels in the health care were detected. The results of the intervention study showed that structured nursing assessment of the patients’ abdominal status and nurse-initiated intravenous opioid analgesic could increase frequency of analgesic and reduce time to analgesic in the emergency department. Patients perceived lower pain intensity and improved quality of care in pain management. Conclusions: An uncomplicated nursing intervention, related to pain management, based on the results from a patient questionnaire and interviews with healthcare professionals, can improve the care process and pain management in the emergency department, as well as patients’ perceptions of the quality of care in pain management. To succeed with continuous quality improvement work, barriers to change should be addressed

Identifying and Improving Quality of Care at an Emergency Department : Patient and healthcare professional perspectives

Background: Patients in the emergency department are not always satisfied with the care received and the nursing care in the emergency department is sometimes described as instrumental and non-holistic. Structured quality improvement work and evidence-based practice are needed. Aim: The overall aim was to emphasize general patients in the emergency department to enhance the knowledge on how they perceive the quality of care and how the care could be improved through collaboration with the healthcare professionals. Methods: Four studies, with quantitative and qualitative designs, were conducted in a Swedish emergency department. Two hundred patients answered a questionnaire, after which 22 healthcare professionals comprising five focus groups were interviewed, and finally 200 patients were included in an intervention study. Results: The following five areas for improvement were identified: “information, respect and empathy”, “pain relief”, “nutrition”, “waiting time” and “general atmosphere”. Of these areas, the healthcare professionals prioritized “information, respect and empathy”, “waiting time” and “pain relief” to be highlighted in the quality improvement work. Although goals and suggestions for changes were stated, barriers to quality improvement at different levels in the health care were detected. The results of the intervention study showed that structured nursing assessment of the patients’ abdominal status and nurse-initiated intravenous opioid analgesic could increase frequency of analgesic and reduce time to analgesic in the emergency department. Patients perceived lower pain intensity and improved quality of care in pain management. Conclusions: An uncomplicated nursing intervention, related to pain management, based on the results from a patient questionnaire and interviews with healthcare professionals, can improve the care process and pain management in the emergency department, as well as patients’ perceptions of the quality of care in pain management. To succeed with continuous quality improvement work, barriers to change should be addressed

Translation and cultural adaptation of the fundamentals of care framework : Are we there yet?

  Aim This paper aims to explore and describe the translation and cultural adaptation of the Fundamentals of Care framework to a Swedish context, and highlight the need for a translated version. Design An exploratory, descriptive approach was adopted. Methods A structured forward-backward translation process and cultural adaptation were used, considering situation and recipient as recommended for such process. Data such as literature and documents were collected during 2019–2021. The authors took systematic steps in collaboration with a strategic sample of experts: professional language service providers, clinicians, educators and a linguist. Results The framework was mainly translated verbatim. A few fundamental care elements were adjusted to the Swedish language, context and clinical practice. Also, this work clarified the relational elements to be coherently seen as nursing actions. Addressing the need for a translated version was illustrated in activities in research, education and clinical practice. Conclusion This paper highlights the importance of translating the Fundamentals of Care framework into a country's native language to gain acceptance and application there. Sharing the framework's translated version impacts nursing science, generating a consistent language in the development and conducting of research for the comparison and transferability or generalizability of findings. Together with a cultural adaptation, the translated framework can support and guide researchers, educators and nursing leaders in articulating fundamental nursing care for enacting change. By disseminating the first Swedish version of the framework we encourage a global discussion and sharing of examples of translation and cultural adaptation by others. Impact The framework's English version has limitations in various context. This paper shows a systematic translation and cultural adaptation process of the framework. We proclaim that this is necessary for nursing leaders and nurses to be able to apply it in guiding nursing practice and leading change

Development and Preliminary Testing of a Framework to Evaluate Patients&apos; Experiences of the Fundamentals of Care: A Secondary Analysis of Three Stroke Survivor Narratives

Aim. To develop and test a framework describing the interrelationship of three key dimensions (physical, psychosocial, and relational) in the provision of the fundamentals of care to patients. Background. There are few conceptual frameworks to help healthcare staff, particularly nurses, know how to provide direct care around fundamental needs such as eating, drinking, and going to the toilet. Design. Deductive development of a conceptual framework and qualitative analysis of secondary interview data. Method. Framework development followed by a secondary in-depth analysis of primary narrative interview data from three stroke survivors. Results. Using the physical, psychosocial and relational dimensions to develop a conceptual framework, it was possible to identify a number of &quot;archetypes&quot; or scenarios that could explain stroke survivors&apos; positive experiences of their care. Factors contributing to suboptimal care were also identified. Conclusions. This way of thinking about how the fundamentals of care are experienced by patients may help to elucidate the complex processes involved around providing high quality fundamentals of care. This analysis illustrates the multiple dimensions at play. However, more systematic investigation is required with further refining and testing with wider healthcare user groups. The framework has potential to be used as a predictive, evaluative, and explanatory tool

Fundamental nursing actions for frail older people in the emergency department : A national cross-sectional survey and a qualitative analysis of practice guidelines

Aims To map how frailty among older people is assessed at Swedish emergency departments and to describe fundamental nursing care actions for these patients. Design Descriptive national survey and a qualitative analysis of text. Methods A majority (82%, n = 54) of the Swedish hospital-based emergency departments for adults were included, representing all six healthcare regions. An online survey was used to collect data, together with submitted local practice guidelines for older people at the emergency departments. Data were collected during February-October 2021. Descriptive and comparative statistics were performed together with a deductive content analysis framed by the Fundamentals of Care framework. Results Sixty-five per cent (35 of 54) of the emergency departments identified frailty, with less than half of them using an established assessment instrument. Twenty-eight (52%) of the emergency departments have practice guidelines containing fundamental nursing actions for the care of frail older people. The majority of nursing actions in the practice guidelines were related to patients' physical care needs (91%), followed by psychosocial care needs (9%). No actions could be identified as relational actions (0%) according to the Fundamentals of Care framework. Conclusion Many Swedish emergency departments identify frail older people, but they use a range of different assessment instruments. While practice guidelines directing fundamental nursing actions for frail older people are often in place, a holistic, person-centred view addressing the patient's physical, psychosocial and relational care needs is missing. Impact The population is growing older, and more people are needing more complex hospital care. Frail older people have an increased risk of negative outcomes. The use of a variety of assessment instruments for frailty may pose a challenge to equal care. To ensure a holistic, person-centred view of frail older people, the Fundamentals of Care framework can be used in developing and reviewing practice guidelines

Flourishing at work : Nurses' motivation through daily communication - An ethnographic approach

Shortage and turnover of registered nurses are worldwide challenges, and work motiva-tion is one factor in retaining staff in the healthcare sector. The aim of this study was toexplore registered nurses' motivation expressed in daily communication, using the basicneeds in self-determination theory as a framework. A secondary analysis of ethno-graphic data, collected through participant observations, informal interviews duringobservations, and individual interviews, was used. A total sample of all registered nursesemployed at a hospital unit in Sweden (n = 10) participated. The data were analyzed the-matically through the lens of the basic needs in self-determination theory: autonomy,competence, and relatedness. Self-regulation of learning, the possibilities to discuss work-related challenges with colleagues, and having registered nurses lead dialogues with phy-sicians were factors connected to autonomy. Having a registered nurse and physiciansolve problems together was a factor connected to competence.Asenseofbelongingand security in a permissive climate between registered nurses was co nnected to relat-edness. This paper has implications for increased awareness of the three basic motiva-tional needs, which could be used in the development of attractive workplace