Registered nurses' perceptions of their roles in medical-surgical units: A qualitative study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the perception of nurses about their roles in medical-surgical units.

BACKGROUND: As a result of ever-changing work environments, medical-surgical nurses find it difficult to know and practice according to the full scope of their roles.

DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study.

METHODS: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 21 nurses on three campuses of a large tertiary care hospital located in Quebec, Canada. Thematic analysis was used to construe meaning from the interviews. This research adheres to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines and checklist.

RESULTS: The data analysis resulted in three main themes: (i) confusion in nurses' roles and scope of practice; (ii) challenges in the continuity of care and (iii) factors affecting the roles of nurses in medical-surgical units.

CONCLUSION: Attention must be paid to the care continuum as it represents a critical element for surgical patients' quality and safety of care.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Medical-surgical nurses should understand their roles and the factors that limit their full scope of practice in order to provide and manage complex care situations. Additionally, an interdisciplinary approach is a strategy that may better respond to patients' clinical needs across the surgical journey.