Examining the context of community nursing in Ireland and the impact of missed care

Abstract

As populations rise and many global health policies point towards community care, it is important that health care delivery meets demand. In Ireland, a study was undertaken on the level and context of missed care in community nursing. The study used a survey to identify the quantity of, and reasons for, missed care; a reference group to develop possible health economic implications for missed care, and a small sample of semi-structured interviews to consider the macro-environment within which missed care occurred. This paper presents the findings of the health economics and qualitative data, and the study's implications for community nursing.

Factors influencing missed nursing care in public hospitals in Australia: An exploratory mixed methods study

“…MNC, also known as an error of omission, is an unintentional phenomenon, which may occur due to intensified patient demands at the bedside or due to considerable contesting pressures on the nurses to perform several priorities within a limited amount of time . In recent years, considerable attention and efforts have been directed throughout the world toward assessing MNC in various health care contexts . This is not surprising as MNC is considered as a key indicator of nursing care quality and patient safety .…”

“…7 In recent years, considerable attention and efforts have been directed throughout the world toward assessing MNC in various health care contexts. 5,[9][10][11][12][13] This is not surprising as MNC is considered as a key indicator of nursing care quality 14 and patient safety. 6,15 Thus, assessing and finding solutions to this important health care delivery problem is central to the improvement of overall quality health care and enhancing patients' outcomes in health care institutions.…”

Struggles with infrastructures of information concerning hospital-to-home transitions

“…Accordingly, health systems undergo reorganisation, with a specific focus on short in-patient stay, specialised treatment and very early discharge. However, several studies stress that homecare nurses are facing many challenges due to the increased demand of supporting patients with more complex medical conditions and health needs (Martinsen et al, 2018;Phelan et al, 2018).…”

“…Deficits in communication and a lack of coordination in the discharge process can cause serious breakdowns in the continuity of care. This may potentially harm the patient and increase the risk of poor medical outcomes (Laugaland et al, 2012;Olsen et al, 2013;Phelan et al, 2018). A review from Ireland indicated a high prevalence of missed care and inadequate systems in the offering of homecare (Phelan et al, 2018).…”

Nordic homecare nursing from the perspective of homecare nurses—a meta-ethnography

“…Recently, a review indicated a high proportion of missed care in homecare nursing and described inadequate systems (Phelan et al, 2018). This finding is of concern, as most care in the future will be provided in patients' own homes because of changing demographic and political demands, which have called for a shift in care delivery from secondary to primary care.…”