Nurses’ Perspectives on How Operational Leaders Influence Function-Focused Care for Hospitalized Older People
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Aims. To explore nurses’ perspectives on how leaders influence function-focused care (FFC), defined as care that preserves and restores older people’s functional abilities.
Background. Hospitalized older people are at risk of functional decline. Although leaders have the potential to influence FFC, few studies explored nurses’ perspectives on how leaders influence FFC.
Methods. Thirteen focus groups were held with 57 acute care nurses. Semi-structured questions prompted discussion on nurses’ perspectives, needs and strategies to meet their needs. Data were thematically analyzed.
Results. Three themes were identified: 1) the emphasis in hospitals is on moving older people quickly through the system, not supporting their functioning; 2) leaders are generally seen as too disconnected from practice to design system efficiency initiatives that support older people’s functioning and nurses’ provisioning of FFC; and 3) leadership strategies to better support nurses in providing FFC to older people in the context of system efficiency.
Conclusions. Leaders should connect with practice to devise age-sensitive efficiency initiatives that support FFC. Nurses need support from leaders in four areas to provide FFC to older people in the current hospital context.
Implications. Findings provide direction on how leaders can facilitate FFC in the current healthcare environment emphasizing system efficiency.