Teamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiences

Abstract Background In Finnish services for older people, teams (a permanent group with a common task, divided for example by geographical or spatial criteria) have been implemented with the goal of improving the quality of care, individualized care and continuity of care as well as the wellbeing of...

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Main Authors: Henrika Karhulahti-Nordström, Visa Väisänen, Saukkonen Petra, Alastalo Hanna, Timo Sinervo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03418-w
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author Henrika Karhulahti-Nordström
Visa Väisänen
Saukkonen Petra
Alastalo Hanna
Timo Sinervo
author_facet Henrika Karhulahti-Nordström
Visa Väisänen
Saukkonen Petra
Alastalo Hanna
Timo Sinervo
author_sort Henrika Karhulahti-Nordström
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In Finnish services for older people, teams (a permanent group with a common task, divided for example by geographical or spatial criteria) have been implemented with the goal of improving the quality of care, individualized care and continuity of care as well as the wellbeing of nurses. Our aim was to describe nurse managers’ experiences of using teams in home care and assisted living with 24/7 services. Methods The qualitative data used in the study was collected in May 2023 as part of a national survey on care organization for all units (n = 2996) offering care services for older people in Finland. Nurse managers working in home care and nurse managers working in assisted living with 24/7 services were asked to describe the benefits and challenges they have faced with the use of teams. Results Nurse managers highlighted that using teams enabled better planning and evaluation of client care, nurses’ better wellbeing and ability to cope with work demands, and higher quality of care. Perceived challenges were incorporating temporary workforce into teams, the frequent poor collaboration between different teams, and perceived hindrance of professional development. Conclusions Teamwork might be beneficial for promoting wellbeing at work and for reducing the psychosocial burden experienced by nurses as well as increasing both the quality and continuity of care. Maintaining and developing the professional skills of nurses needs to be ensured, and adequate collaboration between the teams is required, especially with the rapid increase in the use of temporary workforce.
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issn 1472-6955
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spelling doaj-art-473817a3e28e4916b60d09c4e87612372025-08-20T03:37:23ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-07-0124111210.1186/s12912-025-03418-wTeamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiencesHenrika Karhulahti-Nordström0Visa Väisänen1Saukkonen Petra2Alastalo Hanna3Timo Sinervo4Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Health and Social Service System Research TeamFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Health and Social Service System Research TeamFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Services Unit, Older People Services TeamFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Services Unit, Older People Services TeamFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Health and Social Service System Research TeamAbstract Background In Finnish services for older people, teams (a permanent group with a common task, divided for example by geographical or spatial criteria) have been implemented with the goal of improving the quality of care, individualized care and continuity of care as well as the wellbeing of nurses. Our aim was to describe nurse managers’ experiences of using teams in home care and assisted living with 24/7 services. Methods The qualitative data used in the study was collected in May 2023 as part of a national survey on care organization for all units (n = 2996) offering care services for older people in Finland. Nurse managers working in home care and nurse managers working in assisted living with 24/7 services were asked to describe the benefits and challenges they have faced with the use of teams. Results Nurse managers highlighted that using teams enabled better planning and evaluation of client care, nurses’ better wellbeing and ability to cope with work demands, and higher quality of care. Perceived challenges were incorporating temporary workforce into teams, the frequent poor collaboration between different teams, and perceived hindrance of professional development. Conclusions Teamwork might be beneficial for promoting wellbeing at work and for reducing the psychosocial burden experienced by nurses as well as increasing both the quality and continuity of care. Maintaining and developing the professional skills of nurses needs to be ensured, and adequate collaboration between the teams is required, especially with the rapid increase in the use of temporary workforce.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03418-wHome careAssisted living with 24/7 services24-hour careTeamsTeamworkWorkforce planning
spellingShingle Henrika Karhulahti-Nordström
Visa Väisänen
Saukkonen Petra
Alastalo Hanna
Timo Sinervo
Teamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiences
BMC Nursing
Home care
Assisted living with 24/7 services
24-hour care
Teams
Teamwork
Workforce planning
title Teamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiences
title_full Teamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiences
title_fullStr Teamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiences
title_full_unstemmed Teamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiences
title_short Teamwork and use of teams in services for older people: a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers’ experiences
title_sort teamwork and use of teams in services for older people a qualitative study of finnish nurse managers experiences
topic Home care
Assisted living with 24/7 services
24-hour care
Teams
Teamwork
Workforce planning
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03418-w
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