Identifying the palliative care role of the nurse working in community hospitals: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
to ascertain registered nurses' and GPs' perceptions of and influences on the nurse's role in providing palliative care in community hospitals.


METHODS
qualitative exploratory/descriptive study.


METHODS
two community hospital sites within Perth and Kinross, Scotland.


METHODS
taped semi-structured interviews with four registered nurses and two GPs. Participants' perceptions were sought on the roles of nursing and medical professionals and of factors facilitating and hindering the provision of palliative care within the community hospital setting.


RESULTS
six key themes were identified through thematic analysis of the information: communication, teamwork and relationships, holistic care, resources, culture, professional role.


CONCLUSIONS
the themes were inter-related and gave valuable insight into the multidimensional nature and significance of the nurse's role in palliative care in the community hospital setting.
Hamilton
Faye
F
Palliative Services, Perth and Kinross, Blair Hospital, Muirhall Road, Perth PH2 7BH, UK. faye.hamilton@tpct.scot.nhs.uk
McDowell
Joan
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006694:Holistic Health; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D010819:Physician's Role; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012606:Scotland; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires