Consultation workshops with patients and professionals: developing a template of patient-centred professionalism in community nursing

Abstract

The study aimed to clarify the notion of patient-centred professionalism through consultation with the public, stakeholders and professionals in order to develop a thematic template within nursing. The paper also examines innovative methodology informing eight template themes developed qualitatively. Patient-centred professionalism has had little coverage in nursing literature, whilst ‘patient-centredness’ is supporting patients through holistic care according to needs and expectations. The study took place in Wales, UK, between October 2009 and September 2010. Data collection entailed consultation workshops with newly qualifying nurses (13 participants), community nurses (nine participants), nursing stakeholders (six participants) and the public (six participants). Analysis involved summative and thematic approaches. Result were revealed through template themes, identified in rank order of significance: the patient, nursing ethos, community nurse as a person, knowledge and skills, working relationships, service delivery, training and information and environment. The patient comes first for nurses and was the major theme of the analysis. This almost goes without saying for nurses, whilst for patients this is a surprise, as they see themselves as marginalised. The patient in patient-centred professionalism has multiple identities, many of which contradict one another – recipient and object of care, a force of resistance and a focus of negotiation. In conclusion, a clearer understanding of the concept should play a central role in policy development for optimal care, informing education and training, and methodological strengths could be explored further by other researchers, across a wide range of contexts.