Confusion and Difficulty Experienced by Nurses Immediately After Transfer from Ward Duties to Working at a Visiting Nursing Station

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to analyze and clarify specific details of confusion and difficulties experienced by nurses immediately after being transferred from a ward to engage in visiting nursing duties. We interviewed five nurses who had worked in a hospital ward for at least 2 years and subsequently performed home-care nursing for approximately 1 year. The interview content was then analyzed. Results indicated that confusion and difficulty experienced immediately after transferring to home-care nursing could be summarized into 12 categories. These included [compromising to conform to family wishes and the family situation], [insecurity to visiting with alone], [necessity to plan for materials and medication that are available in the ward but not on-site], [lack of information regarding treatment plans and medications of the service user], [nursing care provided in ward not applying to current situation], and [the diagnostic criteria differs to that of the hospital]. These results showed that nurses skilled in hospital nursing methods, which primarily focus on treatment, tended to perceive the development of nursing care to suit the individual patient as a compromise, and in situations where nursing practices to date [do not apply], they experienced confusion and difficulty.