Community nurses' perspectives on a novel blended training approach: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Community Health Nursing
• Geriatric Care

Background:

• Transitioning to community nursing presents unique challenges not always covered in standard training.
• The Ageing-in-Place Community Care Team (AIP-CCT) Community Nurse Basic Training programme was developed to bridge this gap.
• The program aims to equip nurses for patient-centered care in the community for progressive or life-limiting conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the inaugural AIP-CCT Community Nurse Basic Training programme.
• To understand the impact of the training on nurses' knowledge, skills, and clinical practice.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to learning within the community nursing context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 participants.
• Interviews occurred three months post-completion of the training programme.
• The study explored the programme's effects on practice and learning.

Main Results:

• Participant perceptions of the training were mixed; content was relevant, improving practice.
• Junior nurses reported increased confidence and favorable attitudes; experienced nurses desired more module depth.
• The training addressed some skill gaps but struggled with community-specific challenges like patient expectation management.

Conclusions:

• The study offers insights for developing effective community nurse training programmes.
• Training reinforced skills, addressed knowledge gaps, and introduced new care approaches.
• Recommendations were discussed for programme enhancement to improve training outcomes for all nurses.