Dr Lyn Rabbetts1, Research Professor Ann Harrington1,2, Dr Katrina Breaden1
1Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, 2Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia
Biography:
Dr Lyn Rabbetts completed her PhD in December 2023 that had an emphasis on the RNs experience of the work with community based palliative care. She has a clinical background as a Clinical Nurse in community-based palliative care service for 17 years. She has provided consultative support across a number of small and medium sized rural communities. During this time Lyn reflected on the experience of working in this specialist field in these rural communities. Posing a research question in a phenomenological study enabled her to explore these experiences in-depth.
Abstract:
Background: Research has not explored in-depth the experiences of nurses who live and work in rural communities and provide home-based palliative care.
Aim: To explore the lived experience of Registered Nurses (RNs) providing home-based palliative care in rural communities in one state of Australia.
Method: A phenomenological study guided by a Gadamerian approach was employed using Diekelmann, Allen & Tanner’s (1989) seven-stage process to analyse data.
Results: Community connections and working for a regionally based health care service impacted on how the nurses endeavoured to provide optimal home-based palliative care. The RNs reported they were invited guests in the private space of the families they supported. As such the balance of power differed from working in health care facilities. Further complexity occurred for these RNs as they cared for patients who they were connected to, in their communities. In particular, care for extended and close family members posed some significant challenges.
Conclusion: New understandings of participant RNs lived experiences emerged from data. These RNs found balancing their professional role and personal allegiance to the communities was key in the optimisation of the care for patients who wished to die at home. Furthermore, the use of community networks assisted in the alleviation of some service shortfalls. However, the nurse’s own emotional investment in the care for patients known to them was largely unacknowledged by the health care service. The increase in funding, professional support networks and bereavement resources would be pivotal to these nurses’ wellbeing. The implementation of these suggested strategies would contribute to home-based palliative care in rural communities being maintained and increased. Thus, the pledge from government that every Australian who wished to die at home with the care required would be realised.