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Aim: To explore factors influencing newly graduated nurses' delivery of direct care in acute care hospital settings. Design: Qualitative study using focused ethnography. Methods: During the period from March to June 2022, a total of ten newly graduated nurses were purposively sampled, and data were collected through 96 h of participant observation as well as ten semi‐structured interviews. This research took place in a large hospital located in Denmark. Data were analysed using LeCompte and Schensul's ethnographic content analysis. Results: Three main structures were developed from the data: 'Contrasting Intentions and Actions for care delivery', 'Organizational Constraints Block Interpersonal Aspects of Nursing Care' and 'Newly Graduated Nurses' Suppressed Need for Support Constitutes Delay in Care Actions'. Conclusion: Newly graduated nurses were committed to delivering high‐quality care but were aware they sometimes provided compromised care. The paradox between a commitment to care and compromised care delivery was borne out of tensions between newly graduated nurses' professional beliefs and nursing values, a desire to integrate patients' needs and preferences, and organizational constraints on everyday practices where newly graduated nurses often worked alone without the support of a more experienced nurse. Critical reflection on cultural, social and political forces that influence direct care delivery might support newly graduated nurses to deliver direct patient care more intentionally. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Establishment of onboarding programs and other support activities for newly graduated nurses to cope with contrasting intentions and actions that must address organizational constraints is essential. These development programs should include how critical reflection competency is supported to address value inconsistencies and emotional distress to ensure high‐quality patient care. Reporting Method: The reporting adhered to the COREQ guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: 'No Patient or Public Contribution'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the role of ward‐based nurse managers in supporting nurses to undertake high‐quality fundamental care. Design: A qualitative study guided by the principles of interpretive description. Reported in accordance with Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Methods: Nurse managers in three urban, publicly funded hospitals in Australia, Denmark and New Zealand, were invited to participate in group interviews to discuss how they support fundamental care in their clinical areas. Six group interviews were conducted between February 2017 and March 2020 involving 31 participants. Results: Six interrelated themes were identified: Difficulty expressing how to support the nurse—patient relationship;Establishing expectations for care delivery without clear strategies for how this can be achieved;Role modelling desired behaviours;Significance of being present to support care quality;The importance of engaging and supporting staff in their work; andRecognizing the challenges of prioritizing care needs. Conclusion: This study indicates that nurse managers are not universally clear in explaining how they support their staff to provide fundamental care. If fundamental care is not clearly understood and communicated in the nursing team, then there are risks that fundamental care will not be prioritized, with potential negative consequences for patient care. Nurse managers may benefit from additional resources and guidance to help them to support fundamental care delivery in their clinical areas. Impact: Previous research exploring fundamental care and missed care highlights the importance of the role of the nurse manager in influencing nursing care. This study demonstrates that though nurse managers have a passion for supporting their staff to deliver fundamental care, clear strategies to achieve this are not always evident. This study suggests that scholarship around leadership to promote and facilitate fundamental care is crucial to improving nursing practice and patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]