Nurses' perceptions of nurse-led healthy lifestyle clinics

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Nineteen Nurse-Led Healthy Lifestyle Clinics (NLHLCs) were implemented and targeted Maori, Pacific and people living in high deprivation areas. The general focus of the clinics was on lifestyle issues and much of the nursing was educative and preventative care. The aim of this project was to assess nurses’ experiences and opinions of their participation in the clinics. METHODS: Nurses participating in the clinics were asked to complete a monthly narrative report over five reporting periods, and these were collated and evaluated for emergent themes. Sixteen nurses were subsequently interviewed and the transcripts analysed to identify major themes and sub-themes. FINDINGS: In total, 167 narrative reports were collected from 53 of the 115 participating nurses. Almost all the nurses either strongly agreed or agreed that they enjoyed working in an NLHLC. This enjoyment was the result of: increased time for in-depth consultations, being able to provide enhanced holistic patient care, developing knowledge, gaining experience, receiving positive patient feedback and the satisfaction of seeing patient improvements. Nurses reported that the opportunity and responsibility of providing holistic nursing care, and the skills and knowledge gained from participating in the project, were extremely valuable. CONCLUSION: NLHLCs provide benefits for both patient and nurse. For the nurse, job satisfaction is increased through positive patient feedback, opportunities for professional development and a greater feeling of empowerment. KEYWORDS: Nurse-led clinic; self perception; lifestyle risk reduction; nursing evaluation research

Nurse‐led clinics in primary health care: A scoping review of contemporary definitions, implementation enablers and barriers and their health impact

“…A total of 36 studies were agreed upon for inclusion in the literature review (Figure 1). Overall, the final group of publications included nine Randomised Control Trials (Bleijenberg et al., 2016; Harrison et al., 2008; Houweling et al., 2011; Imhof et al., 2012; Jacobs et al., 2007; Murchie et al., 2003; Salisbury et al., 2002; Sande et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2005), nine qualitative studies (Clendon & White, 2001; Lindsay, 2001; Marshall et al., 2011; McNeal, 2019; Mills et al., 2012; Minstrell et al., 2015; Nymberg & Drevenhorn, 2016; Pritchard‐Jones et al., 2015; Sullivan et al., 2022), three evaluation studies (Coddington et al., 2011; Dalton et al., 2023; Fernandez, 2007), four cross sectional studies (Fuller et al., 2020; Kor et al., 2022; Krothe & Clendon, 2006; Miles et al., 2003). In addition, four mixed methods studies were included (Frasso et al., 2017; Hammersley et al., 2022; Hegney et al., 2013; Wong & Chung, 2006), along with two cohort studies (Barello et al., 2022; Harvey et al., 2018), two multi‐methods studies (Hegarty et al., 2013), a needs analysis (Clendon & White, 2001), a case study (Callaghan et al., 2012), a secondary analysis (Bleijenberg et al., 2017) and an action research study (Mills & Fitzgerald, 2008).…”

“…Often, what a nurse‐led clinic was, or how it functioned, remained ambiguous. However, among other identified literature, nurse‐led clinics were either more clearly defined (Frasso et al., 2017; Mills & Fitzgerald, 2008; Wong & Chung, 2006) or the key principles or components of what constituted nurse‐led clinics were collectively articulated (Harvey et al., 2018; Houweling et al., 2011; Imhof et al., 2012; Lindsay, 2001; Marshall et al., 2011; Miles et al., 2003; Mills et al., 2012; Nymberg & Drevenhorn, 2016; Sullivan et al., 2022). Within the context of these findings, these key principles are discussed in detail.…”

“…The identified literature highlighted that a partnership between nurse and client must encourage self‐determination that is centred on empowerment, autonomy and the principles of health, wellbeing and behavioural change. The partnership must employ a holistic patient‐centred approach to address the health care needs of individuals and their families (Coddington et al., 2011; Frasso et al., 2017; Harvey et al., 2018; Imhof et al., 2012; Marshall et al., 2011;Miles et al., 2003; Mills et al., 2012; Wong & Chung, 2006). Further, it was suggested that nurse‐led interventions need to move beyond task‐oriented practice to be innovatively based on critical thinking and evidence integrating preventative care and maintaining wellbeing (Clendon & White, 2001; Frasso et al., 2017; Kor et al., 2022; Lindsay, 2001).…”

“…Such buy‐in may encompass local participation, where solutions are co‐designed as the community seek to respond to PHC (Krothe & Clendon, 2006). For success to be better achieved, there needs to be a move away from ‘business as usual’ to better meeting the needs of the community (Dalton et al., 2023; Hegarty et al., 2013; Marshall et al., 2011).…”

Editorial: An eclectic issue

“…10 A further paper discusses nurses' perceptions around their running healthy lifestyle clinics which target Maori, Pacific and people living in high deprivation areas. 11 The views of GP clinical teachers are canvassed on what they consider would assist them in this role. 12 In our Ethics column, Northland GP Stephen Main describes two personal end-of-life expe-EDITORIALs FROM THE EdiTOR riences.…”