Feeling confident in burdensome yet enriching care: Community nurses describe the care of patients with hard-to-heal wounds

Abstract

Treating patients with hard-to-heal wounds is a complex task that requires a holistic view. Therefore this study focuses on the nurse’s perspective with the aim on describing how community nurses experience the phenomenon the care of patients with hard-to-heal wounds. The method used was a reflective lifeworld approach. Seven qualitative interviews with community nurses were conducted. The findings show a tension between enriching and burdensome care. In this tension, the nurses try to find energy to reach harmony in their work through reflection, acceptance, and distance. This is further described by the constituents: ‘‘taking responsibility,’’ ‘‘showing respect for the whole person,’’ ‘‘being confident in order to offer confidence,’’ ‘‘seeing time and place as important.’’ The discussion highlights the importance for a nurse to find how to give ideal care in one’s duty but not beyond it. As a consequence the concept ‘‘compliance’’ needs to be challenged in order to promote confidence and mutual trust between nurses and patients. Confidence can be seen as a key, both for nurses and patients, and is dependent on good inter-professional cooperation, competence, and closure.

Key words: Hard-to-heal wounds, nurse, home care, reflective lifeworld research, confidence

(Published: 18 October 2010)

Citation: Int J Qualitative Stud Health Well-being 2010, 5: 5415 - DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v5i3.5415