Nurses' clinical engagement: a study from an acute-care setting in Norway

This study investigates the nature of nurses' clinical engagements and courses of action in acute-care settings in Norway. A qualitative descriptive design with a convenience sample of 6 registered nurses was used. Data were collected via participant observation, in-depth interviews during 3 full shifts for each nurse, and nursing documents about the patients. Data analyses used the method suggested by Atkinson (1992) that coalesces analyses of parts with wholes. Findings revealed that nurses' clinical engagements are multidimensional and consist of 3 sorts of activities: (a) nurses' movements and encounters with patients, (b) the process of knowing patients, and (c) clinical actions addressing patients' specific needs/requests. These activities constituted most nursing work when the nurses were providing care for hospitalized patients.