District nurses’ experiences of advanced medical technology in home care: A qualitative interview study

Abstract

The escalation in the number of medical devices in home care increases the demands on district nurses’ knowledge and skills. This qualitative interview study with 13 district nurses from Sweden aimed to describe their experiences of advanced medical technology in home care. The COREQ checklist for qualitative studies was applied. The results showed two categories: district nurses’ experiences of collaborating in teams and district nurses’ experiences of performing safe care. The safe use of advanced medical technology in home care required good collaboration between all the parties involved. This resulted in a certain amount of freedom and increased quality of life for the patients. District nurses needed time, continuity, practical training, and repeated education to be able to provide safe care. Distinct leadership was important at all organizational levels. The results can generate a safe and sustainable work environment for district nurses, almost independent of their technical background.