gms | German Medical Science

Background and Purpose: The symposium reports from: CAPAN. CAPAN is a newly established nursing research CAPAcity building program. The context is a hospital that has recently changed status from regional hospital to university hospital. Capacity building is in nature highly contextually anchored and therefore it is necessary to focus on the overall organization as well as the individual nurse/unit/department.

The overall objective for nursing care at the hospital is that person-centred care is transferred, adapted and based on the best documented knowledge that comes different sources. The purpose of CAPAN is to facilitate the generation, dissemination and absorption of a development- and research culture that is constructive, creative, inclusive and visible at all levels.

Model/Framework: The PARIHS framework has inspired the program because it focuses on interactions between evidence, context and facilitation. Further, the approach to nursing practice is inspired by the Person-Centred Nursing Framework. Both frameworks are reflected in the nursing strategy at the hospital.

Methods: A purposeful Program Theory frames the program including a process evaluation within an action research methodology. Qualitative and quantitative methods are included in the data generation processes.

Research Focus: CAPAN includes producing and transferring knowledge to, from, and between nurses, patients and collaborators (researchers and non-researchers) in clinical practice. CAPAN uses transformative and co-productive processes that is positively recognized by all participants.

Working groups with participation across the organization including researchers and non-researchers have been formed in order to create a collaborative inquiry and feed-back process. The degree of implementation of the program components over time and across different clinical settings is documented. This includes focus on contextual factors, development of new action-driven initiatives and rapports on how participants engage in and respond to the program components in CAPAN.

Methodological and Theoretical Focus: An action research tradition influenced by critical theory is the central methodological and theoretical component. CAPAN involves and empowers researchers and non-researchers to collaboratively take action in order to develop and re-construct the current culture of inquiry.

Results: Results from the first program year includes: Establishing a program database, preparation and distribution of a nurse survey to all nurses in the region, development of a reflection too, an educational program for leaders and a collaborative program for researchers/non-researchers and linking international guest professors.

Conclusion: CAPAN has been positively recognized and supported by nurses, patients and other collaborators in clinical practice. Facilitating transformative and co-productive processes that focuses on real organizational issues and quality of care seems to be regarded as relevant and worth prioritizing by nurses across the hospital.

Programme Overview: Three presenters will focus on three different topics focusing on the experiences with CAPAN so far:

1.

The overall principles of establishing a capacity building program in clinical practice.

2.

Concrete examples of initiatives that support clinical relevant research- and development culture across functions and positions

3.

Pitfalls and dealing with the ever-present unforeseen changes in a dynamic and political organization while developing and implementing a new framework.

The symposium will end with a discussion.