The transforming power of research on practice: involving practitioners in analysis

Nurses were invited to participate in the interpretation of transcribed interviews during the data analysis phase of a phenomenological study. They worked with the investigators in learning and using hermeneutic methods to identify and interpret meanings embedded in exemplars. Their expert clinical knowledge of the field of practice added rigor to the analytical process and depth to the understanding achieved. As the analysis progressed, the nurses began to spontaneously describe transformation occurring in their practice. Involving nurses in data analysis has transformative power on practice.