Nurses' conceptualizations of managing emergencies in nursing homes

Abstract

Emergencies can negatively affect the morbidity and mortality of nursing home residents. As nurses employed at nursing homes play a key role in such situations, their conceptualizations of emergency management should be considered to improve care. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify nurses' conceptualizations of managing emergencies in nursing homes. A qualitative research design was conducted using interviews with 20 nurses working in five different nursing homes in the Republic of Korea between September 2019 and August 2020. The data were analyzed using phenomenography. This study identified two main perspectives used by nurses in nursing homes to manage emergencies, depending on the resident's condition: emergency care and daily preventive care. Nurses' conceptualizations of care provided in emergencies were organized under the frames of assessment and intervention, whereas routine care carried out during daily life activities fell under the frame of prevention. This study's findings, which elucidate nurses' complex practical and experiential knowledge, provide insights for the development of emergency management training.