Affiliation:
1. College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Caring Futures Institute Flinders University Bedford Park South Australia Australia
2. Adelaide Community Healthcare Alliance Incorporated Adelaide South Australia Australia
3. Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Adelaide South Australia Australia
Abstract
AbstractAimsTo (a) seek examples of nursing caring success stories and (b) identify the common contributors to these successes. By focusing on the successes of nursing care rather than critically examining failures, this research seeks to provide examples of proven and feasible approaches and processes for improving care.DesignThis study used a narrative inquiry design.MethodsData were collected through group interviews. Four interviews were conducted with a total of 20 nurse participants working in inpatient settings in South Australian hospitals. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data.ResultsTwo dominant themes concerning the contributors to caring success were identified. These contributors were (1) the provision of holistic care and (2) the influence of the caring community, which includes family members and other patients. The findings also indicated that the definition of caring success according to nurses is not aligned with organisational performance indicators but is more closely represented by caring values.ConclusionSuccess, according to nurses, is not exclusively defined by patient outcomes but includes the approach to, and process of, care delivery.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareNurses value the caring process while working in an environment that primarily values clinical and systems‐level outcomes. Nurses want patients and their families, allied health professionals and hospital executives to be involved and invested in the process of care.ImpactThis study addressed a gap in the current literature to identify commonalities in nursing success stories, the contributors informing these successes and how these contributors can facilitate improved patient care. Understanding nursing definitions of caring success provides an opportunity to expand upon current accepted industry definitions and perspectives such as key performance indicators.Reporting MethodConsolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist.Patient or Public ContributionNo direct patient or public contribution.