Understanding Nurses' Experiences of Fragmented Care in Aging Populations: A Meta-Synthesis.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Nursing Science

Background:

• Global population aging presents increasing healthcare demands.
• Fragmented care delivery hinders effective healthcare for older adults with complex needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• Synthesize qualitative research on nurses' experiences with care fragmentation.
• Focus on care provision for aging populations.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive search of two electronic databases.
• Inclusion of 20 English-language articles.
• Thematic synthesis of data from 296 nurse participants.

Main Results:

• Identified four main themes and 10 subthemes.
• Key themes: challenges in accessing/delivering services, communication/coordination issues, need for advancing/recognizing nurses' roles, and importance of patient-centered care.

Conclusions:

• Fragmented systems pose significant challenges for nurses caring for older adults.
• Systemic improvements in communication, coordination, and nurse support are crucial.
• Emphasizes patient-centered care strategies for unique needs of older populations.