To mediate safety : A study about district nurses and their relationto patients

Background One of the main demands on Swedish and global health care in general is to meet the patient’s need for safety. By general health care law this also comprises district nurses’ field of responsibility. Although there are numerous studies describing the concept of safety and its different shapes, no research could be found exploring how safety is, or supposed to be, mediated by district nurses’ in a Swedish context. Research about this is therefore needed. Aim The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how district nurses’ mediate safety to their patients. Method Qualitative data were collected from seven district nurses’ by means of semi structured interviews. Thereafter, a concept analysis was carried out. Results Responses revealed that district nurses’ consider themselves mediate safety through a variety of ways. Five major categories emerged: (1) complaisance’s; (2) competence; (3) patient participation; (4) same caregiver; (5) personal characteristics. Conclusion District nurses’ mediate safety through a combination of general attitudes and concrete acts. Preconditions are bound to each district nurse’s individual ability to give a good complaisance, his/her competence and ability to involve patients in treatment and care. Other, less pronounced, are bound to the district nurse’s ability to create continuity in contact with patients’ and his/her personal characteristics