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Purpose: Although previous research indicates that care transitions differ between rural and urban areas, the knowledge of challenges related to care transitions in rural areas appears limited. This study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of what registered nurses' perceive as the main concerns in care transitions from hospital care to home healthcare in rural areas, and how they handle these during the care transition process. Methods: A Constructivist Grounded Theory method based on individual interviews with 21 registered nurses. Results: The main concern in the transition process was "Care coordination in a complex context". The complexity stemmed from several environmental and organizational factors, creating a messy and fragmented context for registered nurses to navigate. The core category "Actively communicating to reduce patient safety risks" was explained by the three categories-- "Collaborating on expected care needs", "Anticipating obstacles" and "Timing the departure". Conclusions: The study shows a very complex and stressed process that includes several organizations and actors. Reducing risks during the transition process can be facilitated by clear guidelines, tools for communication across organizations and sufficient staffing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to illuminate the essential meanings of carers' lived experience of regulating themselves when caring for patients with mental illnesses in forensic inpatient care. Qualitative analysis was used to analyse data from narrative interviews with open-ended questions conducted with nine carers, which were analysed using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Findings revealed three themes, "preserving oneself as a carer," "building an alliance with the patient" and "maintaining stability in the community." Carers not only regulated emotions related to patients but also the ward to facilitate a caring climate. For carers, encounters with patients meant facing expressions of suffering that evoked unwanted emotions. Regulating one's emotions also meant being emotionally touched and facing one's vulnerability. Regulating oneself was a strategy used by carers to get closer to the patient and establishing a trusting relationship. Regulating oneself meant becoming aware of one's shortcomings, not projecting them onto others, which may impair establishing relationships with patients and fulfilling the aim and caring task of forensic psychiatry. This study stresses the importance of carers being guided to manage their conflicting emotions and vulnerabilities and finding courage and an approach that allows a permissive climate of self-reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forensic nursing, carers must balance caring and limiting actions in encounters with patients. Interpreting suffering in others raises awareness of one's own vulnerability. Hence, the aim of this study was to describe the phenomenon of vulnerability as experienced by carers in forensic inpatient care. Nine participants were recruited at a major forensic hospital, and their narratives were analysed with a reflective lifeworld approach. The findings revealed that vulnerability was both a strength and a burden. Vulnerability comprised becoming aware of one's boundaries, being genuine and protecting oneself. Dealing with vulnerability enables carers to open up to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nurses working in forensic psychiatry often encounter offenders who have a severe mental illness, which may cause ethical challenges and influence nurses' daily work. This study was conducted to illuminate the meaning of nurses' lived experiences of encounters with patients with mental illnesses in forensic inpatient care. Methods: This qualitative study employed narrative interviews with 13 nurses. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim and analysed following a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Results: Four key themes were revealed: "Being frustrated" (subthemes included "Fighting resignation" and "Being disappointed"), "Protecting oneself" (subthemes included "To shy away," "Being on your guard," and "Being disclosed"), "Being open-minded" (subthemes included "Being confirmed," "Developing trust," and "Developing compassion"), and "Striving for control" (subthemes included "Sensing mutual vulnerability" and "Regulating oneself"). Further, working in forensic psychiatry challenged nurses' identity as healthcare professionals because of being in a stressful context. Conclusions: Dealing with aggressive patients with severe mental illnesses threatens nurses' professional identity. Nurses must attempt to empathize with patients' experiences and respond accordingly. Utilizing strategies rooted in compassion such as self-reflection, emotional regulation, and distancing themselves when necessary may enable nurses to more effectively respond to patients' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]