The Family and Community Nurses Cultural Model in the Times of the COVID Outbreak: A Focused Ethnographic Study

Michela Barisone, Erica Busca, Erika Bassi (), Enrico De Luca, Emanuele Profenna, Barbara Suardi and Alberto Dal Molin
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Michela Barisone: S.C. Centro Controllo Direzionale, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Ligure (ASL2), Piazza Pertini, 10, 17100 Savona, Italy
Erica Busca: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
Erika Bassi: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
Enrico De Luca: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, St. Luke’s Campus, Exeter EX1 2LT, UK
Emanuele Profenna: Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Strada del Quartiere n. 2/A, 43125 Parma, Italy
Barbara Suardi: S.C. Direction of Health Professions, Azienda Sanitaria di Vercelli, Ospedale Sant’Andrea, Corso Mario Abbiate 21, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
Alberto Dal Molin: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: The ageing population, increasingly frail and chronically ill, and COVID-19 pandemic challenges have highlighted national health systems’ vulnerability and, more strongly/to a greater extent, the pivotal role of the family and community nurse (FCN). However, the recent introduction of FCNs in primary care settings has yet to be explored in Italy. This study aimed to identify the FCNs’ cultural model and its implementation during the COVID-19 outbreak. A focused ethnographic study was performed in a primary care community service in northern Italy. Participants were FCNs (N = 5), patients and caregivers (N = 12). Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field notes, observation of FCNs’ activities and access to documents. Qualitative analysis identified themes concerned with crucial aspects of FCNs’ activities, role implementation, and their relationship with patients and families. This study illuminated how the FCN strategically takes care of and identifies patients’ and community needs. Although the COVID-19 outbreak hindered effective FCN project implementation, this study highlighted that the pandemic provided a chance to better identify cultural, organisational and educational weaknesses that need to be addressed to support the full accomplishment of FCNs’ scope of practice.

Keywords: family and community nurse; cultural model; COVID-19; primary care; qualitative research; ethnographic research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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