Keywords

Nursing workforce, stress, coping, adaptation, focused ethnography

Abstract

Little is known about how nurses learn and use coping and adaptation skills in the workplace. Quantitative studies have identified the factors, nature, and outcomes of nursing stress. However, qualitative studies describing the human experience associated with workplace stress are lacking. The phenomenon of interest for this study using focused ethnographic method is the self-described experience of coping and adaptation associated with workplace stress of registered nurses working 12-hour shifts employed in acute care hospital facilities in east central and central Florida. Three aspects of the phenomena were examined: the self-described experiences of stress, the manner in which coping skills are acquired, and the manner in which adaptation strategies are developed by experienced bedside nursing working 12-hour shifts in acute care hospital facilities. The purposive sample included nine female bedside nurses with five or more years’ experience, working 12 hour shifts in acute care hospital facilities on bedside units, with patient ratios of 4:1 or greater. Data were collected using semi-structured, digitally recorded interviews at mutually convenient locations. The qualitative data were analyzed using inductive, constant, comparative process of coding, sorting, generalizing, and memoing to guide exploration and identify emergent themes and patterns. The predominant theme of stress emerged as the overwhelming sense of duty to the patient. Additional themes of coping and adaptation were noted. Recommendations for research, education, practice and policy are offered to support a healthy and sustainable nursing workforce.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2012

Semester

Fall

Advisor

Bushy, Angeline

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Nursing

Department

Nursing

Degree Program

Nursing

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0004525

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004525

Language

English

Release Date

December 2012

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Nursing, Nursing -- Dissertations, Academic

Included in

Nursing Commons

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