District nurses' knowledge development in wound management: ongoing learning without organizational support.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe district nurses' (DNs') experiences of their knowledge development in wound management when treating patients with different types of wounds at healthcare centers.


BACKGROUND
In primary healthcare, DNs are mainly responsible for wound management. Previous research has focused on DNs' level of expertise regarding wound management, mostly based on quantitative studies. An unanswered question concerns DNs' knowledge development in wound management. The present study therefore intends to broaden understanding and to provide deeper knowledge in regard to the DNs' experiences of their knowledge development when treating patients with wounds.


METHODS
A qualitative descriptive design was used. Subjects were a purposeful sample of 16 DNs from eight healthcare centers in a metropolitan area in Stockholm, Sweden. The study was conducted with qualitative interviews and qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
The content analysis resulted in three categories and 11 sub-categories. The first category, 'ongoing learning by experience,' was based on experiences of learning alongside clinical practice. The second category 'searching for information,' consisted of various channels for obtaining information. The third category, 'lacking organizational support,' consisted of experiences related to the DNs' work organization, which hindered their development in wound care knowledge.


CONCLUSIONS
The DNs experienced that they were in a constant state of learning and obtained their wound care knowledge to a great extent through practical work, from their colleagues as well as from various companies. A lack of organizational structures and support from staff management made it difficult for DNs to develop their knowledge and skills in wound management, which can lead to inadequate wound management.
Department of Neurobiology,Karolinska Institute,Care Sciences and Society,Division of Nursing,Stockholm,Sweden.
Anne
A
Friman
Department of Neurobiology,Karolinska Institute,Care Sciences and Society,Division of Nursing,Stockholm,Sweden.
Anna Carin
AC
Wahlberg
Department of Neurobiology,Karolinska Institute,Care Sciences and Society,Division of Nursing,Stockholm,Sweden.
Anne-Cathrine
AC
Mattiasson
Department of Neurobiology,Karolinska Institute,Care Sciences and Society,Division of Nursing,Stockholm,Sweden.
Britt
B
Ebbeskog
D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing*