Abstract
This chapter discusses the early stages of a study that was planned in response to a Scottish Office call for research proposals in the field of community nursing. The invitation to tender identified a number of areas of interest, most of which were of significance to policy or service provision. In selecting the area of district nursing skills and skill mix, the authors hoped to be able to make a contribution to a contentious topic that is underresearched and has important implications for patient care and nurse education. The chapter will therefore examine the policy context of skills and explore the meaning of the term ‘skill’. It will go on to identify the challenges of setting up a research study designed to explore the use of district nursing skills and will then outline some early results from the study.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Armstrong-Esther, C.A., Sandilands, M.L. and Miller, D. (1989) Attitudes and behaviours of nurses towards the elderly in an acute care setting. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 14(1):34–41.
Brocklehurst, N. and Butterworth, T. (1996) Establishing good practices in continuing care: a descriptive study of community nursing services for people with HIV infection. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 24(3):488–97.
Bryans, A. and McIntosh, J. (1996) Decision making in community nursing: an analysis of the stages of decision making as they relate to community nursing assessment practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 24(1):24–30.
Burnard, P (1989) Teaching Interpersonal Skills: A Handbook of Experiential Learning for Health Professionals. London: Chapman & Hall.
Cahill, J. (1995) Making the most of an essential resource. Using skill mix for the benefit of staff and patients. Professional Nurse, March:357–9.
Carstairs, V. (1966)Home Nursing. Scottish Health Service Studies No. 2. Edin-burgh: Scottish Home and Health Department.
Coomber, R., Cubbin, J., Davison, N. and Pearson, P. (1992) Nursing Skill Mix Review. Newcastle Community Health. Newcastle: Newcastle Community Health.
Department of Health (1989) Caring for People. Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond. Cm 849. London: HMSO.
Department of Health (1997) The New NHS: Modern, Dependable. Cm 3807. London: Stationery Office.
Department of Health and Social Security (1983) NHS Management Inquiry (Chair: R. Griffiths). London: HMSO.
Gibbs, I., McCaughan, D. and Griffiths, M. (1991) Skill mix in nursing: a selec-tive review of the literature. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 16(2):242–9.
Gilmore, M., Bruce N. and Hunt M (1974) The Work of the Nursing Team in General Practice. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.
Hockey, L. (1972) Use or Abuse?: A Study of the State Enrolled Nurse in the Local Authority Nursing Services. London: Queen’s Institute of District Nursing.
Kahneman, D. (1973) Attention and Effort. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Kanfer, R. and Ackerman, P.L. (1989) Motivation and cognitive abilities: an integrative/aptitude treatment interaction approach to skill acquisition. Journal of Applied Psychology, 74:657–90.
Kelly, T.A. and O’Leary, M.O. (1992) The Nursing Skill Mix in the District Nursing Service. Value for Money Unit, NHS Management Executive. London: HMSO.
Luker, K.A. and Kenrick, M. (1992) An exploratory study of the sources of influence on the clinical decisions of community nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 17(4):457–66.
Marks-Maran, D. and Rose, P. (eds) (1997) Restructuring Nursing: Beyond Art and Science. London: Baillière Tindall.
National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland (1990) Nursing Education: Preparation for Practice 1992. Edinburgh: National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland.
Roberts, J.D., While, A.E. and Fitzpatrick, J.M. (1993) Problem solving in nursing practice: application, process, skill acquisition and measurement. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 18(6):886–91.
Runciman, P. (1990) Competence-based Education and the Assessment and Accreditation of Work Based Learning in the Context of Project 2000 Programmes of Nurse Education. A Literature Review. Edinburgh: National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland.
Russell, C.J. and Kuhnert, K.W. (1992) Integrating skill acquisition and perspective taking capacity in the development of leaders. Leadership Quarterly, 4(4):335–53
Schön, D.A. (1991) The Reflective Practitioner — How Professionals Think in Action. Aldershot: Avebury.
Twinn, S.F. and Lee, D.T.F. (1997) The practice of health education in acute care settings in Hong Kong: an exploratory study of the contribution of registered nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25(1):178–85.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1999 Jean McIntosh, Jean Lugton, Deirdre Moriarty & Orla Carney
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
McIntosh, J., Lugton, J., Moriarty, D., Carney, O. (1999). Exploring district nursing skills through research. In: McIntosh, J. (eds) Research Issues in Community Nursing. Community Health Care Series. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-14850-9_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-14850-9_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-73504-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-14850-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)