A qualitative analysis of the role of the Hospital in the Home registered nurse in Australia

A qualitative analysis of the role of the Hospital in the Home registered nurse in Australia

Background
Healthcare and societal expectations change over time, with Hospital in the Home (HITH) registered nurses (RNs) increasing in community profile in Australian nursing domains. With increases in service demand and bed pressure creating an increased need for services outside the hospital environment, understanding of the role of the registered nurse working in HITH is needed.
Aim
This research aims to identify the role and function of the RNs’ experience in their day-to-day work in the HITH setting. Additionally, the research shares a content analysis of the position descriptions of participating HITH RNs to analyse key performance indicator inclusions and barriers in scope of practice for the registered nurse.
Method
Using an interpretive phenomenological approach and Gadamer’s method, 12 HITH RN participants from across Australia were engaged in in-depth interviews. Interviews provided HITH RNs the opportunity to share their experience of the role, and a contributing content analysis of position descriptions followed, providing a synopsis of key areas of commonality and difference.
Findings
Three key areas emerged: professionalism, knowledge, and responsiveness, with an identified mismatch between generalisations in scope of practice in the position descriptions and the shared experience of the HITH RN participants.
Discussion
The research identified shared challenges that exist in the day-to-day role and function of the HITH RN, determining that HITH RNs undertake complex roles, working with generic position descriptions, often absent of core components of autonomous practice, experience, and knowledge. Limitations exist in the scope of practice of the HITH RN resulting in delays in care where advanced practice could be applied.