The Charge Nurse’s Role in Integrated Care and Services

Introduction: Recent healthcare reforms, both internationally and in Quebec (Canada), emphasize the need for greater integration of care and services (ICS). The charge nurse (CN) holds a clinical-administrative management role, supporting their manager and demonstrating expertise in five skills: leadership, interpersonal communication, clinical-administrative caring, problem-solving, and knowledge and understanding of the work environment. Given the key importance of this role, it is worth considering whether the CN's mastery of these skills contributes to the implementation of organizational mechanisms—such as governance and the management of care quality and performance—that promote ICS. Presentation objective: To present findings on the CN’s contribution to the implementation of organizational mechanisms that support ICS. Conceptual framework: This research uses the model Facilitators and barriers to the development of the ICS model (FB-DICS) by Longpré (2017) which defines organizational mechanisms through governance and management of quality and performance, categorized into 10 sub-themes and 28 indicators. Approach: A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework (2020). The databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cairn, and grey literature were searched. Articles mentioning at least one of the CN’s five skills, published between 2000 and 2022, and written in English or French were chosen. Articles were analyzed using the sub-themes and indicators of the FB-DICS model. Results: A total of 2,672 records were identified. After removing duplicates and screening them according to the selection criteria, 23 articles were retained. Of these, 18 articles demonstrated a link between CN skills and organizational mechanisms promoting ICS. The analyses revealed three out of the five CN skills—leadership, problem-solving, and knowledge and understanding of the work environment—play a key role in implementing organizational mechanisms that support ICS. The CN's contribution to ICS was also demonstrated in 5 of the 10 sub-themes and in 5 of the 28 indicators. Implications: This study highlights the importance of the CN’s contribution to ICS via organizational mechanisms. Therefore, it is crucial that CNs further develop mastery of these skills to fully execute their role and, in turn, promote ICS

Conceptual framework · Conceptual model · Corporate governance · Health care · Integrated care · Interpersonal communication · Presentation (obstetrics · Quality (philosophy · Work (physics · Interprofessional Education and Collaboration · Nursing Diagnosis and Documentation · Nursing Roles and Practices