Abstract:
Introduction: Hemodialysis is the commonest and successful treatment method of renal
diseases that requires high technology, needles, skills and knowledge of providers. The
procedure runs the risk of associated errors and issues of harm to patients. Nurses play
major role in the delivery of this treatment by providing all pre, inter and post hemodialysis
nursing care. Therefore, nurses need to understand all aspects of such technology, have the
hands-on skills, be highly knowledgeable and have enough expertise to be able to meet
patients‟ needs.
Aim: The aim of the study was to explore factors influencing nurse‟s performance in the
care of hemodialysis patients in selected nephrology units in Rwanda.
Method: A qualitative survey design was used involving twelve registered nurses from
UTHK, UTHB, KFH and KDC Hemodialysis centers. A purposive sampling strategy was
used. Data were collected through face to face interview and were audio recorded. Six
steps of thematic analysis approach namely familiarization with data, generating initial
codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes and producing
the report were followed to analyze collected data.
Results: Two main themes emerged from the study. The first entitled “Facilitating factors
of nurse‟s performance‟‟ had six subthemes namely the continuous professional
developments that nurses received, good interpersonal relationship among staff, personal
factors, good working environment, receiving feedbacks on nurse performance and
effective leadership and management. The second theme was “barriers to the performance
of nurses” made of six subthemes namely the personal related barriers, poor working
conditions, organizational barriers, poor resources, poor collaboration within staff and
patient-related barriers.
Conclusion: The findings obtained from this study revealed a sufficient number of
facilitating factors and barriers to the performance of nurses in hemodialysis settings in
Rwanda. Strategies should be put in place to address to identify barriers to enhance nurse
performance and patients care and sustainability of facilitating factors in nursing practice,
especially in HD units.
