Practices and experiences of nursing staff delivering acute care for people with dementia in surgical-medical wards in Chile: qualitative study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore practices and experiences of nursing staff involved with care delivery to people with dementia in surgical-medical wards at public hospitals in Chile. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 30 registered nurses and nursing technicians in two hospitals. Reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken. Results: Nursing care took place in a context of multidimensional precarity, where multiple factors interacted to shape the type of care delivered to people with dementia. The intersection between negative views toward aging and dementia, with a risk-aversion culture, resulted in a widespread application of agency-limiting practices. Nursing staff were largely untrained and overly reliant on families and other professionals, resulting in an approach to dementia care based on individual levels of stress, tolerance, and moral standards. Discussion: Multiple factors hinder the delivery of quality nursing care for people with dementia in Chile and require urgent attention.