The actual scope of nursing practice in community health services in remote areas

Nurses can help improve access to health services and the quality of the care, provided that they fully engage in their field of practice. Conducted in Quebec in a remote region far from any major urban centers, this study aims to 1) measure the actual scope of nursing practice (ASCOP) in community health services and 2) determine the individual and work-based characteristics that influence it. This study uses a transversal description of work.
Forty-four (44) nurses practicing in different types of community health services were invited to answer an online questionnaire. The results indicate a suboptimal ASCOP. Activities related to improving the quality and safety of care obtained the lowest scores. Activities with the highest scores were the assessment and planning of care, the education of individuals and their families, and updating and using knowledge. While no characteristics influenced the overall ASCOP, significant differences were found for gender, weekly working time, and sub-regions for certain dimensions of the ASCOP. The findings offer some insight into nursing practices in community health services in remote areas. This portrait helps to formulate recommendations adapted to these contexts.