“Wow I had no idea”—How job rotation is experienced by nurses caring for elective orthopaedic patients: A qualitative study

Nina Halberg*, Lone Assafi, Gitte Kammersgård, Pia Søe Jensen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Aims and objectives:
To explore gains and impacts of job rotation through the experiences of involved nursing personnel responsible for different parts of care during the elective orthopaedic patient's pathway.

Background:
When patients undergo elective orthopaedic surgery, they encounter
nurses from different wards. So far, job rotation has only been described through the experiences of the job rotating nurses. This study includes all involved nursing personnel and bases the job rotation on the pathway of the elective orthopaedic patient.

Design:
This study has an exploratory-descriptive and qualitative approach and follows the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines.
Method: A total of nine focus groups including 16 informants were conducted before, during and after a 5-month trial period. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results:
The findings show that existing work structures and work content combined with a lack of a common understanding of the job rotation impacted the expectations of the nursing personnel regarding (in)dependence, individual and collegial involvement and investment, as well as the collegial belongingness expressed through terminologies of “home” and “culture.” The personal gains among the job rotating nurses showed increased knowledge, skills and influence. When knowledge was shared and exchanged, the job rotating nurses became “cultural translators” of the care to the elective orthopaedic patient.

Conclusions:
This study shows personal gains among the job rotating nurses through increased knowledge, skills and influence as well as collegial gains by sharing and exchanging knowledge. When this exchange was utilised, the job rotation was evaluated positively, and contrary, when not utilised the job rotation had a negative impact on the work environment.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Clinical Nursing
Volume29
Issue number5-6
Pages (from-to)932-943
Number of pages12
ISSN0962-1067
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • belongingness
  • job rotation
  • orthopaedic nursing
  • patient pathway
  • patient safety
  • thematic analysis
  • transition of care

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