| Learning Objective #1: list four ways that staff nurses can interact with a nurse family member in order to provide for high quality patient care. | |||
| Learning Objective #2: identify specific components of phenomenal, adequate and unsafe patient care as delineated by the nurse in the family. |
Method: Using a grounded theory design, interviews were audiotaped, and transcribed verbatim without names. Participants were asked to tell us about the roles of staff nurses caring for their loved one. Rigor was documented through credibility, auditability, and confirmability testing.
Results: Data was collected from 10 RNs. While the study began with a focus on the role of the staff nurse, saturation of data demonstrated rich, detailed descriptions of the role of the FN as the watchful gatekeeper. Three selective codes emerged: sorting out the environment, making a judgment call, and taking action. Sorting out the environment included: identifying who was who, assessing the quality of care, being considered an expert by the family, and maintaining family relationships. The FN judged the quality of care as phenomenal, adequate, or unsafe. With phenomenal care, the FN expressed trust and was patiently observant. With adequate care, the FN remained vigilant and provided supplemental care. When safety was jeopardized, the FN felt anger/protective and intervened to prevent a potentially poor outcome. “Walking a fine line” was identified as the basic social process. The FN attempted to maintain a balance between being the mother, daughter, or sister and being the expert nurse, while striving to maintain a positive relationship with staff nurses as well as other family members.Conclusions: Data suggest that the FN plays a dynamic role in the care of a hospitalized loved one, and that staff nurses should engage the FN to collaboratively ensure high quality care.
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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)