Abstract
Background
There has been an increase in the use of mobile X-ray imaging services (MXIS) in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Nurses, as key healthcare professionals, play a dynamic and critical role in a resident’s health, care and well-being journey that includes imaging. This exploratory study examines RACF nurses’ experiences and perspectives on the effectiveness of MXIS, with a focus on its contribution to continuity of care and resident wellbeing.
Methods
This study employed a qualitative exploratory approach. Thirteen nurses were recruited through purposive sampling technique from five RACFs and one hospital site offering MXIS. The data were collected through in-person, semi-structured interviews that were transcribed verbatim. Initial coding was conducted, followed by a thematic analysis to identify key themes and their corresponding subthemes.
Results
Three key themes were identified: (1) before medical imaging assessment, (2) at the point of medical imaging referral decisions, and (3) medical imaging and outcomes. The RACF–MXIS journey spans from the initial imaging request to post-imaging follow-up. Nurses described navigating a complex, hierarchical referral system involving medical professionals while also participating in flexible, shared decision-making with family members and residents. Although MXIS was widely praised for improving access and enhancing resident outcomes, delays were frequently reported due to limited availability of general practitioners, scope-of-practice restrictions, and resource constraints.
Conclusion
The implementation of MXIS in RACFs is shaped by complex clinical, ethical, and systemic factors, with nurses playing a central role in coordinating resident imaging pathways. Strengthening nursing authority through targeted MXIS training, collaborative frameworks, and equity-focused competencies can enhance responsiveness and resident-centred care. Policy and practice reforms that empower nursing leadership are essential to achieving timely, compassionate, and integrated diagnostic outcomes in aged care.
There has been an increase in the use of mobile X-ray imaging services (MXIS) in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Nurses, as key healthcare professionals, play a dynamic and critical role in a resident’s health, care and well-being journey that includes imaging. This exploratory study examines RACF nurses’ experiences and perspectives on the effectiveness of MXIS, with a focus on its contribution to continuity of care and resident wellbeing.
Methods
This study employed a qualitative exploratory approach. Thirteen nurses were recruited through purposive sampling technique from five RACFs and one hospital site offering MXIS. The data were collected through in-person, semi-structured interviews that were transcribed verbatim. Initial coding was conducted, followed by a thematic analysis to identify key themes and their corresponding subthemes.
Results
Three key themes were identified: (1) before medical imaging assessment, (2) at the point of medical imaging referral decisions, and (3) medical imaging and outcomes. The RACF–MXIS journey spans from the initial imaging request to post-imaging follow-up. Nurses described navigating a complex, hierarchical referral system involving medical professionals while also participating in flexible, shared decision-making with family members and residents. Although MXIS was widely praised for improving access and enhancing resident outcomes, delays were frequently reported due to limited availability of general practitioners, scope-of-practice restrictions, and resource constraints.
Conclusion
The implementation of MXIS in RACFs is shaped by complex clinical, ethical, and systemic factors, with nurses playing a central role in coordinating resident imaging pathways. Strengthening nursing authority through targeted MXIS training, collaborative frameworks, and equity-focused competencies can enhance responsiveness and resident-centred care. Policy and practice reforms that empower nursing leadership are essential to achieving timely, compassionate, and integrated diagnostic outcomes in aged care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 265 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-13 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | BMC Nursing |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2026 |
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