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Monday, 31 October 2011
Learning Objective 1: ...summarize a grounded theory study and findings contributing to the emergence of a middle range theory for global nursing practice in communities of faith.
Learning Objective 2: ...explore application of the practice of nursing through communities of faith within the context of chronic illness, a global health concern.
Chronic illness poses a challenge for traditional global health care models. Individuals and families living with chronic illness desire, not only symptom management, but also whole person approaches that address coping strategies for emotional, physical and spiritual needs. Nursing through communities of faith provides one pathway for global health policy makers to incorporate a desired continuum of caring extending beyond the boundaries of the acute or long-term practice environments. In recent years researchers identified aspects of nursing practice in communities of faith that included tasks, development of programming, perceptions of the practice and documentation. This research extends the seminal description of the practice to reveal the process for professional nursing in the context of a faith community. Four main categories emerged through grounded theory method and analysis. These four categories contribute to a developing middle range theory that enhances the articulation of the specialty practice. A diagrammatic theoretical model will be presented. The categories add clarity to those who are unclear about what faith community nurses actually do and their potential for future impact in global community health, particularly within chronic illness. Additionally, the findings inform the current global healthcare dialogue and provide a theoretical base for guidance in the strategic development of interventions for nurses who practice or desire to practice in communities of faith. The unique specialty practice holds promise to come alongside current models of health care to support individual and families living with chronic illness.