Explanatory approach to the grounding of the professional nursing practice

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In the current health care environment, the needs of the population provided the perfect opportunity for nurses to (re)define their practice and professional career. Within this framework, this study aimed thus at identifying the bases that are underlying the practice, as well as the factors that stimulate or jeopardise the quality of care and a practice that is consistent with the desired grounding. Method: Qualitative study with a phenomenological nature carried out in 19 public hospitals in mainland Portugal with the participation of 56 nurses. The tool used for collecting data was a semi-structured interview. Results: Regarding the factors that stimulate or jeopardise the quality of care a prac-tice that is consistent with the desired grounding, we could highlight features that were perfectly integrated in the triad structure, process and result. In relation to "structure", we could point out the following organizational resources, human and material resources, service organization, nursing sustainment practices and organization of nursing care. Concerning "process", we could analyse decision-making process, guiding principles for the professional practice, scientific methodology of health care service, health care documentation process, communication process, collaborative practice and management practice. In what concerns "result", the features were less evident in the participants' speech, and more stressed among clients and nurses. Conclusion: The explanatory approach to the grounding of the professional nursing practice, outlined in a three-dimensional perspective, makes clear the theoretical framework that grounds the practice, as well as the factors in hospital environment, that stimulate or jeopardise the quality of the nursing care

RESUMEN

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