Nursing Qualifications needed in Municipal Emergency Inpatient Units. A qualitative study
Abstract Background: Providing care to older individuals with complex needs and patients with chronic illness is a concern worldwide. In Norway, this situation led to the transfer of responsibility for care and treatment to the districts. Providing emergency care at the municipal level – thereby reducing the need for emergency hospital admissions – is part of the Coordination Reform in Norway. This reform from 2012 warrants a reconsideration of which nursing qualifications are needed in the municipalities.The aim of the study is to explore which professional qualifications nurses need to provide emergency care in municipal emergency inpatient units. A qualitative design with a hermeneutic approach was employed. Interviewing physicians about nursing qualifications may be considered inappropriate. We believe that this is important for developing knowledge that can strengthen interprofessional cooperation in emergency situations. Three focus groups were conducted. Physicians with experience in municipal emergency inpatient units were interviewed.Results: The physicians highlighted broad medical knowledge, clinical judgement, skills in treatment management and communication, a holistic understanding, and continuous learning as relevant professional qualifications for nurses in municipal emergency inpatient units. Taking a holistic approach requires ethical judgement and teamwork. Interpersonal skills and adopting a family perspective were considered important in facilitating care in municipal emergency inpatient units.Conclusions: Nurses have a considerable responsibility to work independently and safely in a setting where both the patient and the patient’s family play important roles. Nurses should adopt a family perspective when managing patients in municipal emergency inpatient units. Nursing education should prepare students to treat patients with complex needs and chronic illnesses. This requires an emphasis on broad medical knowledge, clinical judgement, and skills in communication, treatment management and continuous learning.