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Exploring the complex realities of nursing work in Kenya and how this shapes role enactment and practice—a qualitative study

Abstract:

Aim: We explore how nurses navigate competing work demands in resource-constrained settings and how this shapes the enactment of nursing roles.

Design: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study.

Methods: Using individual in-depth interviews and small group interviews, we interviewed 47 purposively selected nurses and nurse managers. We also conducted 57 hours of non-participant structured observations of nursing work in three public hospitals.

Results: Three major themes arose: (i) Rationalization of prioritization decisions, where nurses described prioritizing technical nursing tasks over routine bedside care, coming up with their own ‘working standards’ of care and nurses informally delegating tasks to cope with work demands. (ii) Bundling of tasks describes how nurses were sometimes engaged in tasks seen to be out of their scope of work or sometimes being used to fill for other professional shortages. (iii) Pursuit of professional ideals describes how the reality of how nursing was practised was seen to be in contrast with nurses' quest for professionalism.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1002/nop2.1812

Authors


More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0021-305X
More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-7204-2451
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDM
Sub department:
Tropical Medicine
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-7427-0826


Publisher:
Wiley
Journal:
Nursing Open More from this journal
Volume:
10
Issue:
8
Pages:
5670-5681
Publication date:
2023-05-24
Acceptance date:
2023-04-27
DOI:
EISSN:
2054-1058
Pmid:
37221938


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1345657
Local pid:
pubs:1345657
Deposit date:
2023-09-01

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