Nurse managed patient focused assessment and care: A grounded theory of qualified nurses in acute and critical care settings assessing the mental capacity of adult patients

Aims To explore processes used by qualified nurses in assessing mental capacity of acutely and critically ill hospitalised adult patients. Background Mental capacity is the ability to understand, reason and make decisions. Acute and critical illness may impact upon the decision‐making abilities of hospitalised adult patients but little is known about how qualified nurses across a range of acute settings assess the capacity of such patients in their care. Design A qualitative grounded theory approach informed by the Corbin and Strauss (Basics of Qualitative Research (Third Edition). London, UK: Sage, 2008) methodological pathway. Methods Data were collected through digitally recorded, semi‐structured interviews to explore assessment of capacity processes used by 13 registered nurses employed in acute and critical care environments in a district general hospital in South Wales, UK. Data were analysed using iterative constant comparative processes leading to a core category and grounded theory. The study is presented in accordance with the COREQ checklist. Results Informal, intuitive, holistic nurse‐led processes were used to assess the mental capacity of patients which combined processes for the assessment of their physiological and mental capacity status, recognising the need to support their rights, dignity and autonomy. The assessment of mental capacity was not a lone process but one that contributed to a cyclical process in which multi‐professional assessment was necessary and ongoing, and in which qualified nurses had a co‐ordinating role. This led to the development of the theory, Nurse Managed Patient Focused Assessment and Care. Conclusion This theory provides a framework to explain processes and strategies used by qualified nurses in assessing mental capacity of, and caring for, adult patients with acute and/or critical illness. Relevance to clinical practice This framework may inform related clinical practice and can serve as a basis of an assessment tool in what has been identified as a fundamental role of the qualified nurse.