Abstract
This study aimed to clarify how physicians who actively provide home-based end-of-life care perceive the competencies of Certified Nurse Specialists in Home Care Nursing (CNSHCNs). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven physicians from Home Care Support Clinics and Hospitals collaborating with CNSHCNs of home-visit nursing offices, and the data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. The results are as follows: 1) limited awareness of CNSHCN certification was observed, whereas four competencies were highly valued: 2) advanced practical skills in home-based palliative care, 3) the ability to provide immediate and tailored guidance based on staff members’ individual levels, 4) systematic educational competencies for improving the quality of home-visit nursing, 5) excellent management capabilities, and physicians also expressed recognition of 6) the high overall care level of home-visit nursing staff in organizations where CNSHCNs were employed. These findings suggest that physicians perceived both the individual competencies of CNSHCNs and their contribution to organizational quality enhancement as interrelated. Overall, the results indicate that CNSHCNs are recognized by physicians as professionals who play multifaceted roles in supporting home-based end-of-life care.
