Home-based care nurses' lived experiences and perceived competency needs: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this work is to explore home-based care nurses' practice experiences in order to understand their competency and needs. Background: The demand for home-based care is increasing in many countries. Nurses perform a broader range of competencies with a significant degree of independence in home-based care. However, little is known about nurses' day-to-day experiences and their perceived competency and needs. Methods: The study adopted a descriptive phenomenological design. Individual interviews with 17 nurses from four service providers were performed. Colaizzi's analysis method was used for data analysis. Reflective diary approaches were adopted to guide the bracketing process. Results: Following data analysis, four themes emerged: (1) Full spectrum of patient care, (2) autonomy in nursing practice, (3) beliefs in person-centred care and (4) enhancing supportive systems. Conclusion: Findings suggest a need for better understanding of the broader scope of nursing practice in home-based care to improve nurses' transition experience. This includes performing autonomous assessments, making decisions and managing social related matters. Implications for nursing management: It should be a priority to identify a clear scope of practices in home-based nursing care in order for organizations to improve nurses' readiness for and experiences in home-based care. Nursing leaders should also expand practical experience opportunities in home-based care to transitioning nurses with supportive workplace systems.