Document Detail


Changing nurses' dis-empowering relationship patterns.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15347409     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Nurses' inter- and intra-disciplinary relationships are frequently interpreted as oppressed group behaviours, contributing to their relatively dis-empowered status. In the context of restructuring in health care, this study examined the views of hospital staff nurses about their relationships with nursing colleagues and other health care professionals and their ideas for change. AIM: The aim of this paper is to report a study to add the views of staff nurses to the discourse on restructuring and to make visible the processes that contribute to their marginalization. DESIGN: The study was descriptive and exploratory. Staff nurses from various hospitals in a large Canadian city were selected by theoretical sampling. METHOD: Twenty volunteer staff nurses were interviewed between 1998 and 1999, using broad, open-ended questions and prompts to explore nurses' various relationships in the health care system. This approach allowed for multiple responses and expansions of ideas, without losing focus. The interviews were audio-taped and later transcribed. Thematic analysis was carried out. FINDINGS: Many participants were aware of inter-disciplinary hierarchies, particularly between nurses and physicians. Many also showed insights into their own intra-disciplinary hierarchies and mutual non-supportiveness. Both types of relationships were found to be inextricably linked, sustaining nurses' oppression through dis-empowering discourses. Nurses expressed many ideas about how to promote mutually supportive relationships. CONCLUSION: Change for the better needs to come from within the nursing profession. To develop effective strategies, bedside nurses have to be included in decision-making processes affecting them and their practice, about which they are the experts. Mutual respect, awareness-raising through education, development of caring nursing communities, mentorship and non-hierarchical leadership are key to stopping dis-empowering discourses and practices amongst nurses.
Authors:
Isolde Daiski
Related Documents :
2732789 - Telecourses for nursing staff development.
10485089 - Measuring transitions through stages of exercise: application of latent transition anal...
15234709 - Outcomes of advanced trauma life support training: questioning the role of observer.
19909409 - The australian and new zealand dialysis workforce study in the international context.
7730509 - Mentoring in the career development of hospital staff nurses: models and strategies.
7691909 - A systematic evaluation of a poster presentation.
20704119 - Seeking balance.
21500689 - Achieving dignity for older people with dementia in hospital.
18808629 - Meet the real elders: reminiscence links past and present.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of advanced nursing     Volume:  48     ISSN:  0309-2402     ISO Abbreviation:  J Adv Nurs     Publication Date:  2004 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-09-06     Completed Date:  2005-02-01     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7609811     Medline TA:  J Adv Nurs     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  43-50     Citation Subset:  IM; N    
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. idaiski@yorku.ca
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Attitude of Health Personnel
Canada
Decision Making*
Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
Female
Humans
Interprofessional Relations*
Male
Nurses / psychology*
Physician-Nurse Relations
Power (Psychology)

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Coping strategies used by the relatives of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Next Document:  Meeting the needs of minority ethnic patients.