Critical incident technique utilization in research on holistic nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Qualitative Research
• Holistic Health

Background:

• Holistic nursing emphasizes a commitment to the healing process for self and others.
• Holistic nurse competency involves integrating holistic philosophy into practice.
• The Critical Incident Technique (CIT) is a qualitative data collection method.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of the CIT in understanding holistic nursing practice.
• To examine how experienced holistic nurses achieve competence.
• To investigate holistic nurses' experiences with healing modalities and their perceived benefits.

Main Methods:

• The Critical Incident Technique (CIT) was employed as a secondary data collection tool.
• Two separate studies involving members of the American Holistic Nurses Association were analyzed.
• The CIT facilitated the collection of descriptive data on specific nursing incidents.

Main Results:

• The CIT effectively elicited descriptive data from participants regarding their practice.
• Findings shed light on the developmental pathways to competence in experienced holistic nurses.
• The studies provided insights into the perceived benefits of holistic modalities for nurses and clients.

Conclusions:

• The CIT is a valuable and user-friendly tool for qualitative research in holistic nursing.
• This technique fosters reflection and personal expression, crucial for holistic practice.
• The CIT contributes to a deeper understanding of holistic nursing competence and the impact of healing modalities.