Global Priorities for Home Care Research, Education, Practice, and Management

Purpose: This study describes global priorities for the future of home care nursing research, education, practice, and management. Attendees at the inaugural International Home Care Nurses Organization (IHCNO) Conference identified the need for a global agenda around the future of home care nursing. The inaugural meeting of the IHCNO was held July 2013 at Case Western Reserve’s School of Nursing (the site of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Clinical Training in Home Care Nursing). 

Methods: This study used a descriptive, qualitative design. A brief on-line survey was distributed through professional networks of IHCNO members. The survey included 4 open-ended questions regarding priorities for research, education, practice, and management in the specialty and setting of home care nursing. Demographic questions included country of reference, and years of home care experience. This study was approved by the IRB at Case Western Reserve. Research team members identified themes for each research question separately, and themes were later compared and contrasted across questions. 

Results: Completed surveys were received from 50 nurses representing 15 countries and the United States Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Respondents had an average of 28 years of nursing experience, and 17 years of home care experience. Cross cutting themes reflect a global interest in the development of nursing knowledge around best practices for home care nursing, the development of basic and advanced educational competencies and curricula for home care nurses, and improving strategies for patient and family engagement, support, and education. Other cross-cutting themes include optimization of nursing leadership and management practices within home care, focused on recruitment and retention of highly qualified nurses, as well as dealing with regulatory issues and financial constraints.

Conclusion: While differences in national health care systems and nursing education were associated some of the variation in responses across countries, there was also congruence of priority areas identified within and across the focus areas of home care research, education, practice, and management. We invite attendees to join us in the next steps of building a community of practice and scholarship around home care nursing.