Nurses' perceptions of providing advice via a telephone care line.
The provision of advice over the telephone in the health service has become more common in the Western world and in Sweden this task is allocated to nurses. There are several million calls a year to the medical care telephone helpline. Nurses answer the calls, provide advice and direct the flow of patients to the most appropriate treatment level. The aim of this study was to describe how nurses perceive their job of providing telephone advice to patients. Interviews with 12 nurses were analyzed using a phenomenographic approach. The nurses perceived their work as stimulating, autonomous and challenging. They also felt exposed because extensive knowledge is required and there is a risk of being criticized, as they are in a front-line position. Nurses who are responsive, determined and not anxious about their prestige can carry out the work well, provided they have a good level of self-awareness. Personal qualities and the confidence of superiors make even an exposed position with considerable requirements manageable.
Ström
Mayvor
M
Research and Development Unit, Primary Health Care, Halland, Sweden.
Marklund
Bertil
B
Hildingh
Cathrine
C
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015277:Hotlines / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012308:Risk Management; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration