Nurse in the Municipality

"It's important that the services we offer not only treat injuries - but also prevent them."

Clinical expertise and diverse tasks

As a nurse in the home care sector of a medium-sized, rural municipality, I face the challenge of working independently over long distances, approximately 1.5 hours away from the nearest hospital. Our patients, such as Alfred, Olav, and Astrid, present a range of complex conditions, demanding a broad spectrum of tasks.

My role as a nurse requires extensive clinical knowledge to meet both the patient's basic physiological needs such as nutrition, elimination, and hygiene, and the psychosocial needs such as community, closeness, and conversations about existential issues. It is important that the services we offer not only treat injuries - but also prevent them. The experience of firefighting is not unknown in our everyday lives, but we wish it was possible to work more proactively.

Challenges

Patients may have several services in the same municipality without any formal co-operation between them. A joint plan for a comprehensive patient pathway should be drawn up so that everyone is working towards the same goal. The fact that the various services use disparate IT systems hinder collaboration. Ideally, an interdisciplinary strategy extending beyond municipal services to include specialist healthcare would enhance patient care. How can we achieve this collaborative model?

The need for well-defined patient plans

Amidst resource shortages and staffing vacancies filled by various healthcare professionals, clear patient care plans become even more essential. These plans help in identifying when deviations from the norm require intervention.

I wonder how I should ask the question "What is important to you?". I can find more information about this here (Norwegian). Look especially at points 6 and 9.