Short summary

There is a lack of knowledge about dermatological nursing. Since nursing must be carried out on an evidence-based basis, a project group has been established across the country to research what dermatological nursing entails. The project examines clinical nurses' experience of dermatological nursing and aims to develop a dermatological practice theory.

Rationale

In collaboration with the Danish Society of Dermatological Nurses and the dermatology departments in Gentofte, Odense, Bispebjerg and Aarhus, a project group has been established across the country, with the focus on developing and researching dermatological nursing There are several reasons for this. In connection with our contribution to a textbook on medical diseases and evidence-based nursing (including dermatological nursing), our literature review showed sparse knowledge about nursing within both medical and surgical dermatology. This probably reflects a general trend within nursing, where before 2010 there was no culture for research in nursing, as nurses may not have been able to see the point of research in their profession. Furthermore, it may also be related to the fact that research in dermatological nursing in Denmark has only been seriously established within the last 3-4 years, based on a recognition that there is a need to connect practical experience with research and to apply the knowledge created by combining subjects with theory or even philosophical knowledge. In contrast, a healthcare system is changing with future demands to provide the right care and treatment to the right patient at the right time and, not least, the demand to be able to argue for the necessary nursing services and care for patients who are generally getting older, have more complex disease processes, and more treatment takes place at home. Many voices have criticized the academicization of the nursing profession, and yet Professor Marit Kirkevold, back in 1996, pointed out how nursing research can develop practice theory that allows for a systematic explanation of what nurses do and why it is important for the patient. One of the central criticisms of nursing theories or academicization has been their limited relevance and practical applicability. One of the reasons for this lack of connection between theory and practice is that nursing theory has historically been developed for teaching purposes rather than clinical practice - that there is therefore a discrepancy between what you learn as a nursing student and how you experience clinical practice. To overcome the still existing gap between theory and practice, we must find a new understanding of what nursing theory actually is. An understanding where we move away from purely academic texts about nursing and instead seek a more inclusive approach to practice, based on knowledge from both patients, nurses and researchers. In other words. If research is to make sense for clinical practice and benefit patients, it is important to integrate research into clinical practice. There is thus a need to involve clinical nurses across the country in the development of more and stronger research within dermatological nursing. The purpose of the project is to investigate clinical nurses' experience of dermatological nursing. The work is based on the following sub-goals: • To describe and interpret characteristics of current clinical nursing practice as experienced and understood by clinical dermatological nurses. • To derive a practice theory that can be included in the future knowledge base for dermatological nurses.

Description of the cohort

More than 100 clinical nurses with experience from dermatological practice participate in our study. Data is collected in two phases. In the first phase, data is collected over 7 months in 4 hospital departments by the nurses participating in 7 joint dialogue meetings/small workshops within the daily meeting structure. At the meetings, they generate knowledge about what nurses actually do in their daily clinical work and why in relation to different patient groups. Data is collected in mind maps, and our analysis of them forms the basis for an interview guide for the 2nd phase of data collection. The analysis is carried out by all project group members with an inductive approach. In the second phase, we hold focus group interviews at the National Course for Dermatological Nurses in 2024. Here, 25 nurses participate in 3 focus group interviews with 6-8 participants in each group. The purpose of the focus groups is to qualify and substantiate the initial analysis findings. Subsequently, an additional focus group interview was conducted, in which 5 nurses participated.

Data and biological material

Data has been conducted via. workshops and focus groups.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Allergy, Skin and Venereal Diseases, Gentofte Hospital.

• Anna Sophie Nicolo Belling Krontoft

Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital

• Britt Nilausen

Clinic for Skin and Venereal Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital

• Kirsten Nørup Gabriel
• Gitte Susanne Rasmussen

Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital

• Nadja Trier Munk
• Lizette Nielsen