The care encounters are the core of nursing
In her doctoral research, Anna Larsson Gerdin explored the care encounters between registered nurses and older persons in home care, concluding that it is like a lottery. The quality of nursing care often depends on the strength of the interaction during these encounters.
"In home care, as an older person, you don’t have the option to choose your home care nurse, it largely depends on where you live. You can draw a winning ticket and have a nurse with whom you develop a strong connection, where you feel well cared for and safe. However, sometimes it can also feel like you’re just a task on the schedule, without truly being heard or understood," Anna Larsson Gerdin says.
"The core of quality nursing lies in fostering a positive care encounter. Person-centred care relies on establishing a strong connection between the patient and the nurse. However, in home care for older persons, there are significant shortcomings in achieving this, as the necessary balance in the care relationship is often missing, leaving older persons feeling subordinate to the nurse,” Anna says.
The Swedish healthcare organisation for older persons has undergone significant changes in recent years, with an increased focus on home care.
The transition to home care poses new challenges for home care nurses and healthcare organisations. It is necessary to ensure that the care provided at home is as effective and accessible as that provided in hospitals or healthcare centres. However, the care encounter at home takes place with limited transparency.
Home care nurses need the right resources
"What are the consequences of the growing demand for home care and the expectation to provide high-quality, personalised care?" The challenge for home care nurses is to navigate a complex care system while adhering to the laws and regulations that govern their practice. At the same time, they must also meet the individual needs and preferences of their patients," Anna says.
"The nurses often work alone in the homes of the older persons and have limited access to collegial support and time for reflection. The question is whether they are given sufficient resources," Anna says.
Many opportunities for continued research
"I see numerous avenues for further research based on the findings from my four studies". "One example is conducting longitudinal studies to observe and document older persons’ experiences of care encounters over time, which would provide insights into how relationships with home care nurses evolve and impact their well-being,” Anna says.
"But also to examine the decision-making process during care encounters in the home, particularly in relation to autonomy and integrity. This could empower older persons, foster greater collaboration with home care nurses, and contribute to more person-centred care." Anna continues.
The research project is linked to the research programme Future Welfare: Healthcare and School
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