Home care nurses' experience of providing health-care to patients with hard-to-heal wounds.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and describe the experience of nurses working in home care, with responsibility for providing health-care to patients with hard-to-heal wounds.

METHOD

A qualitative method with exploratory and descriptive design was used. Nurses from in three municipalities in Norway were recruited. Data collection was by questionnaire with semi-structured and open-ended questions. Content analysis with an inductive approach was carried out to analyse responses.

RESULTS

A total of 21 nurses took part in the study. Participants' statements resulted in three generic themes within one main overall heading: 'Complex challenges, professional pride and joy'. The three themes included: 'The importance of nursing competence', covering nurses' perception of their own competence and the importance of seeing and treating the patient as a whole. 'The importance of organisation and frameworks' examines opportunities for continuing education, access to necessary equipment, good routines for wound management plans and continuity in patient monitoring. The final theme, 'The importance of cooperation' covers nurses' views on working with patients, resource staff, hospital staff and general practitioners.

CONCLUSION

Nurses in home care are working with complex challenges, but also describe professional pride and joy when treating patients with hard-to-heal wounds. The criteria for success depends on both patients and nurses' knowledge and also organisational aspects and cooperation.