72307 - “Are you curious about studying further?” Undergraduate nurses' attitudes towards specialist training in surgical care

Introduction The supply of skills is a major challenge for the Swedish healthcare system, with a shortage of specialist nurses and experienced staff. The lack of competence poses a threat to patient safety. Even though efforts are being made to encourage nurses to specialize, not enough are doing so. The aim of this study is to investigate undergraduate nurses' attitudes towards specialist training in surgical care. Method A focus group study with a total of 16 participants employed at surgical wards at a university hospital. A qualitative content analysis supported by Graneheim and Lundman (2004) was conducted. Result Four main categories emerged, “Knowledge of the education”, “organizational conditions”, “personal conditions” and “the role of the specialist nurse”. Nurses believe that specialist training in surgical care leads to a diffuse professional role. When the specialist nurse receives more administrative tasks, she disappears from the care close to the patient, which is seen as an obstacle to wanting specialist training. Using research and writing a student thesis was also seen as obstacles. Having nurses with post graduate education in the ward was considered to bring security to both nursing staff and patients. Discussion The specialist nurse can have an important role in helping to spread knowledge and new research to the unit. If the nurse specialist gets to work closer to the patient, more would be interested in specializing. Hospital management have an important role in informing about what opportunities for specialist training are available and taking advantage of the interest shown by employees.