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Aim: To investigate what registered nurses (RNs) with a PhD working in clinical practice experience in terms of their role, function and work context. Background: Previous studies have shown that RNs with a graduate degree contribute to better and safer care for patients. However, little is known about what further academic schooling of RNs, at PhD level, means for clinical practice. Method: Qualitative design, with semi‐structured interviews and inductive content analysis. Results: The main areas of responsibilities for RNs with a PhD working in clinical practice were related to practice development and implementation of research results. In their work, they experienced barriers to the full use of their competence; the expectations and prerequisites of the organisation were not clearly defined, and they often lacked a mandate to create conditions for quality improvement of nursing care. Conclusions: RNs with a PhD can contribute to evidence‐based practice (EBP), clinical training, as well as the development of clinical research. Their roles and responsibilities need to be clarified, and for this, they need support from managers. Implications for Nursing Management: Nurse managers have the opportunity to partner with RNs with a PhD to support the EBP process and help structure nursing practice in more efficient ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To identify the most common serious adverse events that occurred in nursing homes and their most frequent contributing factors to the improvement of safe nursing care. Background There is a need to improve safe nursing care in nursing homes. Residents are often frail and vulnerable with extensive needs for nursing care. A relatively minor adverse event in nursing care can cause serious injury that could have been preventable. Design This was a retrospective study, with a total sample of data regarding adverse events ( n = 173) in nursing homes, concerning nursing care reported by healthcare providers in Sweden to the Health and Social Care Inspectorate. The reports were analysed with content analysis, and the frequencies of the adverse events, and their contributing factors, were described with descriptive statistics. Results Medication errors, falls, delayed or inappropriate intervention and missed nursing care contributed to the vast majority (89%) of the serious adverse events. A total of 693 possible contributing factors were identified. The most common contributing factors were (i) lack of competence, (ii) incomplete or lack of documentation, (iii) teamwork failure and (iv) inadequate communication. Conclusions The contributing factors frequently interacted yet they varied between different groups of serious adverse events. The resident's safety depends on the availability of staff's competence as well as adequate documentation about the resident's condition. Lack of competence was underestimated by healthcare providers. Relevance to clinical practice Registered nurses and assistant nurses need to have awareness of contributing factors to adverse events in nursing care. A holistic approach to improve patient safety in nursing homes requires competence of the staff, safe environments as well as resident's and relative's participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Title. Elderly peoples’ experience of nursing care after a stroke: from a gender perspective. Aim. This paper is a report of a study conducted to explore, from a gender perspective, older people’s experiences of nursing care after a stroke. Background. Little attention has been given to gender differences in nursing care. The majority of people who have a stroke are older. Improving knowledge of the gender perspectives of older men and women regarding nursing care after stroke is crucial. Method. This was a qualitative study based on interviews with five women and five men between 66 and 75 years of age, who had received nursing care at a ward for stroke rehabilitation. The data were collected in 2006. Qualitative content analysis of the interviews was carried out. Findings. A main theme and five categories, all common to both men and women, were identified. The main theme, to promote recovery of the body, encompassed the categories. There were, however, gender differences in how the nursing care received was experienced. The ways patients experienced nursing care seemed to be linked with their lives as women and men before they had the stroke. Their perceptions are linked with their lives as women and men before they had their stroke. Both men and women will reclaim former abilities but what they perceive to be the goals of nursing care and rehabilitation may differ. Conclusion. Nurses need to increase their awareness and knowledge concerning the similarities and gender differences in the experiences and needs of older people, both men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]