title: Engaging rural nurses in the policy development process.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reports into neglect by nursing staff have included recommendations to develop policies indicating the fundamental standards of care (Garling, 2008 ; Francis, 2013 ). An area health service in a rural setting in Australia moved to develop such a policy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This project was designed to engage nursing staff in a rural health service in the development of a minimum nursing standards policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A participatory action research methodology was used to engage with nursing staff. A thematic analysis of focus group meetings was conducted to identify themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Though discussions in focus groups did function to develop the policy, participants also expressed views on issues of nursing within the organisation. Themes were identified as either personal or organisational. Personal features included lack of motivation and burnout in staff. Organisational features were controlled by the organisation and included features such as a lack of time and autonomy to commit to the project.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health , Charles Sturt University , Bathurst , Australia.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: b Nursing Projects and Research, Nursing and Midwifery Directorate, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, NSW Health , Wagga Wagga , Australia.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health , Charles Sturt University , Bathurst , Australia.
authors.forename: Meryn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health , Charles Sturt University , Bathurst , Australia.
authors.forename: Maryanne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*; D011050:Policy Making; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: focus groups; nursing staff; participatory action research; rural health services; standard of care