Barriers and Development Strategies for Nursing Practice in Nurse-Led Clinics: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Nurse-led clinics are increasingly important in tertiary healthcare settings.
• Specialty nurses in these clinics encounter unique operational and service delivery challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate barriers faced by specialty nurses in nurse-led clinics.
• To identify strategies for improving service delivery and operational management.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative study using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
• Purposeful sampling of 20 specialty nurses in Fujian Province, China.
• Semistructured in-depth interviews and conventional content analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified barriers and strategies fall into four themes: Work Challenges, Resource Support, Specialty Integration Advantages, and Innovations.
• Key themes include difficulties in work, need for resource optimisation, benefits of integrated specialty care, and potential for development.

Conclusions:

• Nurse-led clinic development necessitates risk protection and strong managerial support.
• Collaboration among healthcare professionals, enriched professional content, and innovative service models are crucial for advancing specialty nursing outpatient practice.