The meaning of change to individuals within a college of nurse education

Change is an inevitability in all aspects of our lives today, with the prospect of an exponentially increasing rate of change. This study attempts to provide a clearer understanding of the meaning of change to the individual within a college of nurse education. The thoughts and feelings of individuals towards change are often subjective and contradictory in nature. A cultural perspective using a phenomenological approach was therefore adopted. Using the attributes of a 'new paradigm research' enabled a harmony to be achieved between the methodology and the paradoxical elements of change and the individual. The study identified that good change is dependent upon a partnership between manager and managed or teacher and student. It became evident that a true partnership based on open, supportive and trusting relationships was deficient in some areas. Three themes concerning the individual and change evolved as being important: (a) a perception of the individual's need to be self-empowering, self-helping, self-caring, self-motivating; (b) the need for the individual to be resilient to change and reflective in practice; and (c) a perception of change as a learning experience.