In-depth systematic assessment is perceived to reduce suffering.

Systematic approach and experience enhances medical safety.

Next of kin, an important source of information.

The optimal level of care increases patient safety.

Feedback provides knowledge development.

Pre-hospital emergency nurse (PEN) specialists are faced with patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints (NSC) to the emergency medical service (EMS) on a daily basis. These patients are often elderly and one in three has a serious condition and their acuity is not recognized.

The aim of the current study was to explore PEN specialists’ experiences in caring for patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints.

A qualitative study design with eleven individual interviews of PENs, between 2018 and 2020. Qualitative content analysis was used.

The analyses generated three categories including subcategories. The categories were “Unexplained suffering”. “Systematic approach and experience enhances medical safety”. “Organizational processes can be optimized”. The relation between the categories compiled as ́In-depth systematic assessment is perceived to reduce suffering and increases patient safetý.

The PENs experiences in caring for patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints show that an in-depth systematic assessment may lead to a meaningful caring encounter which enables the identification of the cause of the chief complaint. Experience and a systematic approach were considered as essential to enhance medical safety. This could be strengthened through feedback on the nurse's care provided by care managers and employers. To optimize organizational processes, the development of the opportunity to convey the patient to different levels of care can be an important component.

Emergency medical services

Non-specific chief complaints

Emergency medicine

Nursing

Pre-hospital emergency nurse

Pre-hospital assessment

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.