Authors

  1. Cox, Jo Anne RN, MSN, CRNI, OCN
  2. Westbrook, Linda J. Oakes RN, PhD

Abstract

Little research has been published on the education process from the perspective of family caregivers. This article reports the findings from a grounded theory study of caregivers who successfully learned how to deliver home infusion therapy for a family member. The participant sample was drawn from the home infusion service of a metropolitan health maintenance organization in the western United States. The objective of the study was to identify, from the caregiver's point of view, the characteristics of an education process that resulted in the learner's competence with home infusion therapy. The knowledge gained from this study can be used to develop a framework for examining and planning practice guidelines that reflect the expertise of the nurse and the experiences of the learner.