Shu-Yueh Chen1, Hui-Chen Hsu2. 1. Hung Kuang University, Taiwan, R.O.C. shuyueh@hk.edu.tw. 2. Chung-Jen Junior College of Nursing, Health Sciences and Management, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Good nurses show concern for patients by caring for them effectively and attentively to foster their well-being. However, nurses cannot be taught didactically to be "good" or any trait that characterizes a good nurse. Nurses' self-awareness of their role traits warrants further study. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed (a) to develop a strategy to elicit nurses' self-exploration of the importance of good nurse traits and (b) to explore any discrepancies between such role traits perceived by nurses as ideally and actually important. RESEARCH DESIGN: For this mixed-method study, we used good nurse trait card play to trigger nurses' reflections based on clinical practice. Nurse participants appraised the ideal and actual importance of each trait using a Q-sort grid. The gap between the perceived ideal and actual importance of each trait was examined quantitatively, while trait-related clinical experiences were analyzed qualitatively. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: Participants were 35 in-service nurses (mean age = 31.6 years (range = 23-49 years); 10.1 years of nursing experience (range = 1.5-20 years)) recruited from a teaching hospital in Taiwan. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the study site. FINDINGS: Good nurse trait card play with a Q-sort grid served as an icebreaker to help nurse participants talk about their experiences as embodied in good quality nursing care. Nurses' perceived role-trait discrepancies were divided into three categories: over-performed, least discrepant, and under-performed. The top over-performed trait was "obedience." DISCUSSION: Patients' most valued traits ("patient," "responsible," "cautious," and "considerate") were perceived by participants as ideally important but were under-performed, perhaps due to experienced nurses' loss of idealism. CONCLUSION: Good nurse trait card play with Q-sort grid elicited nurses' self-dialogue and revealed evidence of the incongruity between nurses' perceived ideal and actual importance of traits. The top over-performed trait, "obedience," deserves more study.
BACKGROUND: Good nurses show concern for patients by caring for them effectively and attentively to foster their well-being. However, nurses cannot be taught didactically to be "good" or any trait that characterizes a good nurse. Nurses' self-awareness of their role traits warrants further study. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed (a) to develop a strategy to elicit nurses' self-exploration of the importance of good nurse traits and (b) to explore any discrepancies between such role traits perceived by nurses as ideally and actually important. RESEARCH DESIGN: For this mixed-method study, we used good nurse trait card play to trigger nurses' reflections based on clinical practice. Nurse participants appraised the ideal and actual importance of each trait using a Q-sort grid. The gap between the perceived ideal and actual importance of each trait was examined quantitatively, while trait-related clinical experiences were analyzed qualitatively. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: Participants were 35 in-service nurses (mean age = 31.6 years (range = 23-49 years); 10.1 years of nursing experience (range = 1.5-20 years)) recruited from a teaching hospital in Taiwan. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the study site. FINDINGS: Good nurse trait card play with a Q-sort grid served as an icebreaker to help nurse participants talk about their experiences as embodied in good quality nursing care. Nurses' perceived role-trait discrepancies were divided into three categories: over-performed, least discrepant, and under-performed. The top over-performed trait was "obedience." DISCUSSION: Patients' most valued traits ("patient," "responsible," "cautious," and "considerate") were perceived by participants as ideally important but were under-performed, perhaps due to experienced nurses' loss of idealism. CONCLUSION: Good nurse trait card play with Q-sort grid elicited nurses' self-dialogue and revealed evidence of the incongruity between nurses' perceived ideal and actual importance of traits. The top over-performed trait, "obedience," deserves more study.
Authors: Muhamad Adib Ibrahim; Karmila Qarima Isa; Hjh-Azizah Haji-Idris; Siti-Hawa Nawi; Yan Choo Teo; Hanif Abdul Rahman; Khadizah H Abdul-Mumin Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2019-10-03