Distriktssköterskors upplevelser av palliativ hemsjukvård i en landsbygdskommun

Abstract Back ground: Home based care is a meaningful activity giving patients and their families a chance to live their lives as close to normal as possible. Advanced palliative care is today provided at home, although geography does play a role in shaping that care. A rural setting can mean that conditions for such care differ from those in urban areas. Purpose: To describe the experiences of district nurses in palliative home care settings in a rural community. Method: Semi structured interviews with seven district nurses. The interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed in a precise fashion. A method of qualitative analysis of the contents, inspired by Burnard, was used to analyze the material. Results: Palliative care places high demands on the competency and experience of district nurses. The conditions of a rural setting contribute to the structure of such care in so far as its organization and prioritization. The work of the district nurses involved was marked by cooperation and peer support. The fact that the care for patients varied between communities was however, seen as unfair. Conclusion: The study expands the body of knowledge of the experiences of district nurses. It also clarifies the conditions that influence palliative care in a rural community. Hopefully this study will contribute to further development of palliative home care, and enable those affected to receive care on more equal terms.