Australian rural nurses' experiences of the implementation and impact of HIRAID® emergency nursing framework on...

Evaluation of implementation strategies by end-users provides valuable insights into mechanisms of use and can identify areas for improvement. In February 2021, the HIRAID® emergency nursing framework was implemented in 10 sites across a predominantly rural Australian health district. The aim of this study was to explore the emergency nurses' experiences of implementation and perceived impact on nursing practice.

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews October-December 2021. Emergency nurses were recruited during implementation. Interviews were conducted by telephone, recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were imported to NVivo and an inductive analytic approach was undertaken, guided by Granheim and Lundman's iterative conventional qualitative content analysis method.

Thirteen experienced emergency nurses participated, from eight implementation sites. Four overarching categories were developed. Two related to the impact of HIRAID® on practice, influencing communication and critical thinking. The remaining categories related to organisational and individual factors that can influence implementation, and the educational program design and delivery for staff training.

Despite identified challenges in implementation in a rural context, participants all perceived some benefit to the HIRAID® intervention. The study highlights areas where modifications should be considered from the end-user's perspective for future implementation activities.