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 Title:     Optimizing the Practice of Registered Nurses in the Context of an Interprofessional Team in Primary Care 

 

Principal Investigators:  

 

Jeanne Besner, HSWRU, Calgary Health Region

Jane Dummond, U of A Faculty of Nursing

 

Funding Source:  this study is funded by CIHR and AHFMR

 

Presentations/Publications/Updates:

            Phase I results summary (November 15, 2007)

 

Objectives:

 

1)         To describe the current role of primary care nurses within three PCNs and identify opportunities for optimizing the RN role;

2)         To enhance the effectiveness of the RN role in the three PCNs through implementation of job redesign strategies.

 

Background:

 

Primary care renewal is a major focus of health reform in Canada and is key to the sustainability of the Canadian health care system. In this project, researchers will seek to understand current nursing roles (Registered Nurses [RNs], Licensed Practical Nurses [LPNs], Clinical Nurse Specialists [CNSs], Nurse Practitioners [NPs]) in selected Primary Care Networks (PCNs) family physician practices. Phase 2 will focus how to optimize the roles of RNs in the PCN, recognizing that changing the role of one provider influences others. Findings will be of interest to a broad audience including providers, managers, policy-makers, government, regulators, educators and the public.

 

Methods:

 

Phase I

§       Descriptive qualitative methods to describe nursing roles in the PCNs

§       Semi-structured interviews

§       Document review of nursing job descriptions

Phase II

§       Embedded case study methods

§       Job redesign intervention in all PCNs

§       Participant observation and contextual data collection

§       Stakeholder interviews to assess outcomes of job redesign

§       Patient questionnaires; patient health utilization data will be collected using PHN

§       Demographic population data, PCN and regional staff data and physician billing data will be collected

§       Some patients will be interviewed to assess job redesign

 

Project Team and Partners: 

 

Co-Investigators:

Nelly Oelke, HSWRU;

Debbie White, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary

Bob McKim, Capital Health Authority

Steve Clelland, David Thompson Health Region

Marlene Smadu, Faculty of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan

Steve Patterson, U of A

 

Research Partners:

University of Calgary

University of AlbertaCalgary Health Region

Capital Health Authority

David Thompson Health Region

Calgary West Central Primary Care Network

Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network

Rocky Mountain House Primary Care Network

Alberta Health and Wellness

 

Time Frame: November 2006- June 2009

 

Contact Information:

Nelly Oelke

Office: (403) 943-1177

Fax: (403) 943-0199

nelly.oelke@albertahealthservices.ca