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Exploring Experiences of the New Graduate Registered Nurse in Caring for the Deteriorating Patient in Rural Areas: A
Elaine C Towner1,2, Jackie Lea3, Leah S East1,3,4
1School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, Australia.
Aim:
To explore the experiences of new graduate registered nurses in caring for the deteriorating patient in rural areas.
Background:
New graduate registered nurses often feel unprepared to care for the deteriorating patient. Whilst literature has recognised new graduate registered nurses working within metropolitan areas feel ill-equipped to care for deteriorating patients, there is a paucity of literature focused on experiences within the rural context.
Design:
Qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach.
Methods:
In-depth interviews were undertaken with 7 participants in rural Eastern Australia with collected data being subject to thematic analysis.
Results:
Three themes were identified that shares the lived experiences of the participants as they transitioned into the rural team: First encounters-Transition to the rural team; Practice support for managing deterioration; and The road to confidence.
Conclusion:
New graduate registered nurses are unprepared to care for the deteriorating patient in rural areas. Practice support and barriers to ongoing education are influential on their experience with findings from this study supporting focused rural healthcare preparation from tertiary education providers, plus structured practice support from senior rural nurses and health facility orientation programs. Preparation should include the use of digital technologies and escalation and management of the deteriorating patient alongside rural policies and procedures to enhance patient safety and support new graduate rural nurses.
Implications For The Profession And/Or Patient Care:
The findings have implications for tertiary undergraduate nursing education and those supporting New Graduate Registered Nurses in their transition to practice in rural areas. Enhancement of new graduate nurses' skills and abilities in recognition and responding to patient deterioration through both technological and personnel support will enhance patient safety within rural health care.
Reporting Method:
Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).
Patient Or Public Contribution:
7 participants were involved in the study.
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