Framing personal risk in public health nursing

The purpose of this qualitative study was to conduct a thematic analysis of unanalyzed semistructured interview segments from data that emerged during an earlier exploratory descriptive study on organizational factors and work hazards. The sample consisted of 56 transcribed interviews with staff and managerial public health nurses (PHNs) infive health units of the Province of Alberta before health care restructuring. The frame work that resulted from this secondary analysis describes the ideologies (values, beliefs, concepts, and attitudes) of female PHNs related to their workplace environmental risks. Four categories of the overarching theme, framing personal risk in work environments, emerged: becoming aware, recognizing influences, comparing with others, and knowing rights andfreedoms. Two subthemes also emerged: framing for no action and framing for action. When framing for no action, PHNs were either unconcerned or wanted to avoid trouble. When framing for action, PHNs found humor; took responsibility, used voice, collected support, and struggled for action.