Changing to primary nursing in a nursing home in Finland: experiences of residents, their family members and nurses

Changing to primary nursing in a nursing home in Finland: experiences of residents, their family members and nurses Aim. The aim of the study was to find out how nursing home residents, their families and nurses experienced the change to primary nursing in the nursing home. Background. This study was carried out in a nursing home in Finland. Following years of functional nursing, the change to primary nursing had started 18 months prior to data collection. The transition was preceded by staff training, planning for the change to primary nursing and discussions with staff members. Meetings were also arranged with family members to inform them of what was happening and why. Staff implemented the changeover independently with the support of the institution’s management. Methods. The data were gathered in focused interviews. There were five interview themes: change in the nursing home, the position of the resident in the nursing home, the relationship between the resident and nurse, the relationship between family member and nurse, and the role of the nurse as provider of nursing care. Findings. Residents reported no major changes in nursing care or in their relationship with nurses.