ABSTRACT
As health care is shifting from hospital to community, community health nurses (CHNs) are directly affected. This descriptive qualitative study sought to understand priority issues currently facing CHNs, explore development of a national vision for community health nursing, and develop recommendations to shape the future of the profession moving toward the year 2020. Focus groups and key informant interviews were conducted across Canada. Five key themes were identified: community health nursing in crisis now, a flawed health care system, responding to the public, vision for the future, and CHNs as solution makers. Key recommendations include developing a common definition and vision of community health nursing, collaborating on an aggressive plan to shift to a primary health care system, developing a comprehensive social marketing strategy, refocusing basic baccalaureate education, enhancing the capacity of community health researchers and knowledge in community health nursing, and establishing a community health nursing center of excellence.
Subject(s)
Community Health Nursing , Nursing/trends , Canada , Focus Groups , Interviews as TopicABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To conduct an exploratory process evaluation of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's (MOHLTC) New Graduate Nursing Initiative implemented by one home care agency. METHODS: Qualitative data were gathered online, stored electronically and then analyzed using an Affinity Diagram. RESULTS: Seven groupings of participants' comments were created: advertising and external information dissemination; orientation; internal dissemination; impact of the program; transition to the workforce; pay/benefits; and retention. Participants viewed many aspects of the program favourably but identified the following areas for improvement: comprehensibility of the Health Force Ontario website (advertising and external information); orientation of new graduates (orientation); and communication of information about the initiative to existing staff (internal dissemination). CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study points to both strengths and weaknesses of the New Graduate Nursing Initiative. Further study of the implementation of this policy is recommended.
