Protecting the self: a descriptive qualitative exploration of how Registered Nurses cope with working in surgical areas
Publication date
2007Author
Mackintosh, CarolynKeyword
United KingdomNurses
Stress
Burnout
Self protection
Role identity
Surgical areas
Emotional barriers
Coping
Registered Nurses
Peer-Reviewed
YesOpen Access status
closedAccess
Metadata
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Aims This paper aims to explore and describe how qualified nurses working with in, in-patient surgical areas cope with the daily experiences they are exposed to. It has long been recognised that many aspects of nursing work can result in high levels of stress, with negative consequences for the individual nurse and patient care. Difficulties in coping with nursing work can also result in burnout, as well as raising concerns about cognitive dissonance, emotional labour and the use of emotional barriers. Why some nurses are more prone to experience these phenomena than others, is unclear. Method A descriptive qualitative approach is taken using a purposive, theoretically congruent sample of 16 qualified registered nurses all of whom participated in a semi-structured interview during 2002. All interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim and then analysed using the four stages outlined by Morse and Field [Morse, J.M., Field, P.A., 1996. Nursing Research: The Application of Qualitative Approaches. Chapman & Hall, London]. Findings Three key themes emerged from analysis; relationships with patients, being a person and the effect of experience. All three interlink to describe a process whereby the individual switches off from the environment around them by adopting a working persona which is different but related to their own personal persona and is beneficially enhanced as a consequence of experience. Conclusion Working as a nurse results in exposure to potentially distressing and stressful events from which it is important to protect the self. Participants in this study achieve protection by the development of a working persona which facilitates switching off and is beneficially enhanced by experience.Version
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Mackintosh C (2007) Protecting the self: a descriptive qualitative exploration of how Registered Nurses cope with working in surgical areas. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 44(6): 982-990.Link to Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.04.009Type
Articleae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.04.009