Primary nursing in the intensive care unit

Background: Primary nursing (Process Responsible Nursing; PRN) is a nursing organization model, practiced in intensive care units (ICUs), but implementation is challenging. This paper focuses on the qualitative process analysis of the development and implementation of PRN in an ICU at a German university hospital. Aims: Aim was to record the perception of changes in nursing practice due to the introduction of PRN and obtain information on implementation and further optimization perceived by nurses. Method: A qualitative process analysis was done. Data collection took place at three defined times (immediately before implementation and 6 and 12 months after) and each included a focus group interview (FG) and a 5-day ICU ward process analysis (WA) in the form of participant observation. The analysis of FG and WA was carried out according to Kuckartz's content-structuring qualitative content analysis. Findings: The main categories communication, care planning and integration of patients and relatives in care and 13 subcategories with a cross-sectional category could be identified. Positive effects of PRN were found, particularly concerning relatives. The optimization potential included handover, visit appointments, the documentation system and adjustments to the visiting times. Conclusion: The qualitative analysis was able to show changes during the introduction of PRN, e.g. in communication and care planning, but also challenges like visit appointments or the documentation system in nursing practice.