Examining family and community nurses' core competencies in continuing education programs offered in primary health care settings: An integrative literature review

Uncovering the influence of community nursing on health promotion in China: A biopower analysis

The importance of community nursing in health promotion is increasingly acknowledged, yet limited research has explored how it shapes this domain through power dynamics. This article examines the role of community nursing in health promotion within China's healthcare context, drawing on Michel Foucault's concept of biopower. Using an interpretive case study approach, the study investigates hypertension management through online semi-structured interviews with 22 community nurses in Shenzhen, a face-to-face group discussion with seven nurses, and four months of non-participant observation at a major community health facility. Thematic analysis reveals that community nursing operates as a biopower mechanism, advancing health promotion at both individual and population levels. Specifically, nurses enforce disciplinary training through patient follow-ups facilitated by the dual referral system, disseminate health knowledge via educational lectures, and engage in policy advocacy and statistical surveillance to regulate patient behaviour. These techniques, which are persuasive, constructive, and evidence-based, exemplify biopower in practice. Building on these findings, this article introduces an interpretive framework grounded in biopower to highlight the critical public health contributions of community nursing in Shenzhen's evolving healthcare landscape. The insights presented offer valuable implications for policy development and the optimisation of primary healthcare across China's diverse regions.

Hindering and Facilitating Factors While Implementing the Family and Community Nursing Model in Italy: Findings from a Qualitative Study

Background/Objectives: Several Italian regions have started to introduce the Family and Community Nurse model. The aim of this study was to describe the facilitating and hindering factors that have influenced the implementation of the model by analyzing regional policies from the perspective of nurses appointed as Family and Community Nurses. Methods: A qualitative study from 2023 to 2024 following the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. Nurses attending a training course were eligible (N = 68) and multi-method data collection was used. Mandatory written project works were requested at the end of the course, and interviews conducted after six months with 14 purposively selected nurses were used. The data were subjected to content analysis. The factors identified were categorized by level (nurse, microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem) and by the domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results: A total of 23 facilitating factors and 20 hindering factors were identified across all levels and four domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Implementation required nurses to shift from a task-oriented to a user-oriented approach to care that emphasizes accountability and citizen needs. Facilitating factors were the availability of advanced competencies, digital skills, familiarity with communities, and effective teamwork supported by leaders. Challenges arose from fragmented systems and unmet community expectations. Strengthening cross-sector collaboration, fostering trust, and engaging third sector resources were critical factors hindering holistic, patient-centred care. Conclusions: The Family and Community Nurses model promotes integrated, patient-centred care through proactive approaches that require advanced competence and interprofessional collaboration. Training, leadership support, and the removal of systemic barriers are critical. Future research should focus on integrating the identified factors into strategies to optimize the implementation of the Family and Community Nurses model.

Educational actions conducted during the pandemic with primary health care professionals: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

to map the educational actions conducted with primary health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

a scoping review conducted in August 2023, which covered databases such as CINAHL, Medline, LILACS, IBECS, BDENF, and Web of Science. In total, 32 publications were analyzed through content analysis.

RESULTS

the primary beneficiaries of the educational actions included 69% physicians, 56% nurses, 25% pharmacists, 13% social workers and dentists, 9% psychologists, community health agents, and laboratory professionals, and 6% nursing technicians, nutritionists, and physical educators. The predominant educational interventions were training sessions (mentioned in 19 publications), followed by Continuing Health Education (10 publications) and Continuing Education (three publications).

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

the educational interventions demonstrated positive impacts on professional practice, particularly the Continuing Health Education actions, which were notable for stimulating critical problem-solving among professionals.

Nurses' attitudes to family importance in nursing care: A two-sited cross-sectional study

AIM

This study aimed to describe nurses' attitudes and beliefs towards the importance of family in nursing care and explore differences in nurses' attitudes and beliefs towards family-centered care between different healthcare institutions, such as community healthcare centers and hospitals.

BACKGROUND

Family significantly affects the well-being and health of individuals. Therefore, nurses should support family engagement in nursing care. In recent years, family nursing research has emphasized the importance of teaching family nursing skills in continued education in healthcare institutions. Research has indicated that nurses who believe that illness concerns the family as a whole are more likely to involve the family in patient care.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional research design was used.

METHOD

Data were collected at one timepoint between March and September 2019 from 425 nurses working at the Primary Health Care Centers of the Capital Area (n=112) and in clinical settings at the University Hospital in Iceland (n=313).

RESULTS

The main findings indicated that nurses working in the women-and-child division at the University Hospital reported significantly more positive attitudes towards family evolvement in patient care than nurses working in the intensive care or surgical units. For nurses working at healthcare centers, a significant difference was also found in the nurses' attitudes towards involving families in patient care. The nurses who were working in home care had significantly more positive attitudes when compared to those working in the infant and young children health promotion units.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater collaboration is required between healthcare providers and families to improve the quality of care and health-related outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance nurses' knowledge about the importance of families during patient care.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

This study aimed to describe nurses' attitudes and beliefs towards family care. Differences were found between nurse's attitudes by units but not by institutions.

Perceptions and needs for a community nursing virtual simulation system for Chinese nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Background

Virtual simulation systems are being increasingly used in the field of nursing education. However, these systems are mostly designed based on the perspective of developers, and the needs of the end users are often neglected. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and needs of Chinese undergraduate nursing students for the development of a community nursing virtual simulation system.

Methods

This was a descriptive qualitative study enrolling 12 undergraduate nursing students at a University in China. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The content analysis method was used for data analysis.

Result

Three themes and 15 sub-themes were extracted from this study: (1) Positive perceptions regarding virtual systems: a) Provides space for trials and errors, b) Not limited by time and space, c) Provides auxiliary tools; (2) Design and use requirements: a) Performance needs, b) Contents design needs, c) Appearance design needs, d) Support Needs; (3) Competency enhancement needs: a) Community nursing practice ability, b) Critical thinking ability, c) Independent thinking ability, d) Ability to deal with emergencies, e)Teamwork skills, f) Self-efficacy, g) Resilience, h)Interpersonal communication skills.

Conclusion

Designers and engineers should consider students' needs, aim to improve students' abilities, improve the diversity, the scientific and rigor of content, and enhance user immersion and interest. The system should be programmed to provide real-time feedback, timely technical and professional support, in order to optimize use experience of nursing students.