| Learning Objective #1: Identify common themes in descriptions of highly meaningful clinical experiences by nurses who are diverse in practice and demographic characteristics | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Discuss possible application of these findings to improve nurses’ job satisfaction and retention |
DESIGN: This study was a retrospective qualitative content analysis of 200 nurses’ written narratives of how they made a difference through direct care.
POPULATION, SAMPLE, SETTING, YEARS: All RN’s in the state were eligible for nomination by peers as clinical experts. Nominees submitted narratives describing how they made a difference in a patient situation. Papers selected by blind review were presented at the clinical excellence conference sponsored by the state nurses’ association for 16 years. The narratives studied spanned the past decade.
CONCEPT OR VARIABLE STUDIED: The researchers focused on how nurses perceived that they made a significant difference to a patient or family.
METHOD: This qualitative study was conducted by content analysis for primary and secondary themes and their key elements. The two researchers worked closely together, coding and validating emerging themes.
FINDINGS: Three primary themes were identified: how the nurses got involved, what they did, and how they experienced making a difference. Secondary themes and key elements were also identified. Nurses reported personal affirmation and validation of nursing as their chosen profession through these experiences.
CONCLUSIONS: Although these nurses were diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, age, education, practice settings and roles, common themes emerged with much consistency and great emotion. Sharing their experiences appeared to be cathartic and affirming for the nurses honored as well as informative and inspirational to those with whom the stories were shared.
IMPLICATIONS: Nurses’ job satisfaction and personal affirmation are of major importance to recruitment and retention. Findings have many implications for administrators as well as nursing education and advocacy organizations.
Back to Themes in Nursing Practice
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003