Improving visiting nurses’ post-hospital medication management

Abstract

Purpose Employing a participatory approach, the purpose of this paper is to identify possible areas for improvement in visiting nurses’ post-hospital medication management and to facilitate suggestions for changes in future practices. Design/methodology/approach Based on a previous study on visiting nurses’ post-hospital medication management, two workshops were conducted in a visiting nurse department in a Danish municipality. Findings The visiting nurses emphasised knowledge of patients’ basic needs and prioritised their performance of context-specific nursing assessments, with a preventive focus as a prerequisite for improved patient safety in post-hospital medication management. Research limitations/implications The participatory approach can increase the acceptability and feasibility of changes regarding future practices and thereby reduce the gap between official documents and daily practice. Although the local development of suggestions for changes in practices does not provide general knowledge, a subsequent detailed description of the changes in practices can promote transferability to other healthcare settings after local adjustments are made. Practical implications Flexible home healthcare, with stable relationships enabling the continuous assessment of the patient’s needs and symptoms, along with subsequent adjustments being made in care and medical treatment, might enhance patient safety in post-hospital medication management. Originality/value This paper adds to the knowledge of the need for integrated care in medication management in patients’ homes. It argues for primary healthcare professionals as “experts in complexity” and suggests a reconsideration of the purchaser-provider division of care to patients with unstable health conditions and complex care needs during the first days following hospital discharge.