The public health nursing work environment: review of the research literature

Role function and job satisfaction of community nurses in China: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To evaluate role function and job satisfaction, determine their relationship, and explore the factors influencing job satisfaction among community nurses in China.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study was conducted between March and June 2020 on a cluster random sampling of 302 community nurses from 24 community health centres and stations in Xi'an, China. Self-reported data were collected using the Demographics Questionnaire, Role Function of Community Nurses Questionnaire, and Job Satisfaction of Community Nurses Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to analyse data.

RESULTS

Community nurses' main role function was organiser and manager (M = 2.56, SD = 0.987) and coordinator (M = 2.43, SD = 0.971). The lowest job satisfaction was for salary and benefits (M = 3.12, SD = 0.891) and personal development (M = 3.65, SD = 0.738). A positive correlation was found between the roles of caregiver, educator, navigator, and salary and benefits (p < 0.05) among community nurses. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that monthly income and working experience in nursing explained 61.1% of the variance in job satisfaction.

Exploring the context, role and impact of public health nursing during COVID-19: A multiple case study protocol

AIM

The purpose of this study is to: (a) describe public health nursing roles over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada; (b) describe the contextual factors that influence public health nursing role implementation; and (c) describe nurses' perceived impact of their roles on client outcomes and professional/personal nursing practice.

DESIGN

Descriptive multiple case study.

METHODS

Recruitment of public health nurses (PHNs), working in direct service or administrative leadership positions, in an Ontario public health unit will be conducted through purposive and snowball sampling. Nursing roles will be compared and contrasted across three cases differentiated by geographic setting: urban, urban-rural, northern. In each geographic case, a priori estimates of sample size will include 10 PHNs providing direct care and at least five nurses in an administrative leadership role; with an overall estimated study sample size of 45 individuals. Demographic data will be collected using an online anonymous survey. Individual semi-structured interviews with PHNs, and focus groups with nursing administrators will be conducted via telephone and audio-recorded. Individual interviews and focus groups will be transcribed verbatim. Reflexive thematic analysis will be used to generate emergent themes in each case and cross-case synthesis will be used to compare and contrast patterns across geographic cases.

DISCUSSION

Expected findings will provide an in-depth analysis of the rapidly evolving roles and functions of PHNs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on individuals, families and communities. As well, findings will provide a new understanding about the contextual barriers and facilitators of PHN role implementation in their working environments.

IMPACT

Study findings can support decision-making in relation to funding, resource allocation and supportive work structures and processes at a public health system and/or individual public health organization level.

Public health nurse perceptions of evolving work and how work is managed: A qualitative study

AIM

To explore public health nurse (PHN) perspectives of their evolving work and how public health nurse work is managed in a Canadian health region.

BACKGROUND

Professional and public health organisations describe public health nurse practice roles as population-focused work. Health care management directs public health nurse work to achieve specific goals.

METHODS

In this qualitative study, data were collected during focus groups with 42 public health nurse participants in one health region. Focus group data were analysed for meanings and themes.

RESULTS

Public health nurses perceived increasing immunizations and limited resources for public health nurse work meant that population-focused care for the public was rationed or missing. Participants perceived the health care organisation directed, managed and assigned public health nurse specialist work; however, public health nurses managed their client-focused practice with knowledge, reasoning and support from colleagues.

CONCLUSIONS

Evolving visible public health nurse work was managed by health organisational management directives to increase immunizations and disease control. Public health nurses managed their evolving visible and invisible work supported by their knowledge, practice values and public health nurse colleagues.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing management must lead and communicate the vision supporting better health, better population-focused care and health outcomes to public health nurse and stakeholders, while reviewing resources needed to optimize public health nursing and improve population health.

New nurse transition: success through aligning multiple identities

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of new nurses in Singapore of their experiences of role transition and to examine the implications for managers in terms of employee training, development and retention.

Design/methodology/approach

– This qualitative study was conducted using a constructivist grounded theory approach. In total 26 novice nurses and five preceptors (n=31) from five different hospitals participated in the study. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and reflective journal entries and analysed using the constant comparative method.

Findings

– The findings revealed that novice nurses remained emotionally and physically challenged when experiencing role transition. Two major constructs appear to play an important part in the transition process; learning how to Fit in and aligning personal with professional and organisational identities. The findings highlight factors that facilitate or impede Fitting in and aligning these identities.

Originality/value

– Although the concept of Fitting in and its relation to the attrition of novice nurses has been explored in global studies, that relationship has not yet been theorised as the dynamic alignment of multiple identities. Also, whilst most research around Fitting in, identity and retention has been conducted in western countries, little is known about these issues and their interrelationship in the context of Singapore. The study should inform decision making by healthcare organisations, nurse managers and nursing training institutions with respect to improving the transition experience of novice nurses.