Understanding disgust in nursing: abjection, self, and the other

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Nurses frequently experience disgust and repulsion in clinical settings.
• These reactions are often related to patient conditions like illness, disability, or bodily fluids.
• The academic literature often overlooks the 'unclean' aspects of nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of abjection in understanding nurses' visceral reactions.
• To analyze how abjection theory can explain disgust and repulsion in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical approach using the concept of abjection.
• Analysis of nurses' experiences with 'abject' patient elements.

Main Results:

• The concept of abjection provides a valuable framework for understanding nurses' disgust.
• Abjection helps explain reactions to patients with 'unclean' or threatening characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Abjection theory offers critical insights into the emotional labor of nursing.
• Acknowledging and analyzing abjection can improve support for nurses facing challenging situations.