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Tuesday, November 3, 2009: 10:35 AM
Learning Objective 1: define the process of a life transition as described in Life Transition Theory.
Learning Objective 2: provide 3 examples that illustrate how middle-aged women engage in Life Transition processes in the first three months following a myocardial infarction.
Background/Purpose: Life Transition Theory (LTT) identifies the processes a person uses to reduce uncertainty following a critical event. Nurses can use LTT to assess what strategies patients are using to cope with life changes. Because old coping strategies often do not work during a life transition experience, the nurse can assist patients in implementing new skills and strategies supporting a successful transition. The applicability of LTT to women following myocardial infarction (MI) has not been tested. As part of a pilot study designed to help women manage fatigue following MI, women were interviewed to explore their recovery experiences and assess the utility of LTT in defining this experience.
Method: Ten women (age 48 to 59) were interviewed at 1, 6 and 12 weeks after their MI. Interviews, using open-ended questions, were conducted at the women’s home and audio-taped. Interviews were transcribed verbatim without identifying information. LTT was used to guide the analysis.
Result: Women’s stories centered on the need to maintain their view of self as active, productive women. Women sorted out the cause of their MI recognizing the role of traditional risk factors, but highlighting stress. In the first interview, women verbalized importance of lifestyle changes and expected to be back to normal at three months. At three months, women changed their diets, stopped smoking, but were struggling to manage stress and find time for exercise.
Conclusion: Understanding life transitions can give nurses a framework to counsel women. Maintaining a productive self-image was a defining feature of women’s experiences. Women’s need for productivity existed in conflict with their goals of self-care. Nurses can explore this conflict with women, provide options for reframing self-care as productive activity, and teach strategies to integrate stress management and exercise into daily life activities.
Method: Ten women (age 48 to 59) were interviewed at 1, 6 and 12 weeks after their MI. Interviews, using open-ended questions, were conducted at the women’s home and audio-taped. Interviews were transcribed verbatim without identifying information. LTT was used to guide the analysis.
Result: Women’s stories centered on the need to maintain their view of self as active, productive women. Women sorted out the cause of their MI recognizing the role of traditional risk factors, but highlighting stress. In the first interview, women verbalized importance of lifestyle changes and expected to be back to normal at three months. At three months, women changed their diets, stopped smoking, but were struggling to manage stress and find time for exercise.
Conclusion: Understanding life transitions can give nurses a framework to counsel women. Maintaining a productive self-image was a defining feature of women’s experiences. Women’s need for productivity existed in conflict with their goals of self-care. Nurses can explore this conflict with women, provide options for reframing self-care as productive activity, and teach strategies to integrate stress management and exercise into daily life activities.