‘Thinking outside the box’: advanced geriatric nursing in primary health care in Scandinavia

BMC Nursing

Rika Levy-Malmberg¹  Lisbeth Fagerström¹  Erika Boman¹  Ann-Louise Glasberg² 

[1] Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway;Department of Nursing, University of Applied Sciences;

关键词: Advanced practice nursing;    Gerontology;    Geriatric nurse practitioner;    Older persons;    Primary health care;    Qualitative content analysis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12912-019-0350-2

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Older people are frequent users of primary health care (PHC) services. PHC services have been critiqued, mainly regarding limited accessibility and continuity of care. In many countries, investment in nurse practitioners (NPs) has been one strategy to improve PHC services. In the North of Europe, the NP role is still in its infancy. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of introducing geriatric nurse practitioners (GNPs) in PHC in Scandinavia, from multiprofessional and older persons’ perspectives. Methods The study had a qualitative design, including 25 semi-structured interviews with nurses, nurse leaders, physicians, politicians and older persons from several communities in Scandinavia. The material was analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. Results The results highlight current challenges in health services for the older population, i.e. comorbid older patients with complex care needs aging in place, lack of competent staff, and organisational challenges. The results present an envisioned GNP scope of practice in health services for the older population, including bringing advanced competence closer to the patient, an autonomous role including task-shifting, and a linking role. The results also present factors influencing implementation of the GNP role, i.e. GNP competence level, unclear role and scope of practice, and openness to reorganisation. Conclusions The results indicate that it is feasible to implement the GNP role in primary health care in Scandinavia. Notwithstanding, there are factors influencing implementation of the GNP role that should be considered.

【 授权许可】

Unknown