Altruism and the Difficult Patient.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Caring for difficult patients presents challenges for nurses, sometimes leading to negative coping mechanisms like anger or avoidance.
• This can result in nurse frustration and patient feelings of rejection.
• However, some nurses effectively manage these challenging interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of caring for difficult patients on nurses' altruism and use of negative coping strategies.
• To identify effective positive coping strategies and interventions for nurses in these situations.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative narrative analysis.
• Surveys assessed altruism levels, negative coping strategy use, and demographics among registered nurses (RNs).
• Thematic analysis was used to examine participant narratives on providing altruistic care to difficult patients.

Main Results:

• The study included 67 registered nurses (RNs).
• The average altruism score among RNs was 99.7 out of 120.
• A significant inverse relationship was observed between altruism and negative coping strategies (r = -0.577, p < .001).
• Qualitative analysis revealed three key themes: Developing Psychological Hardiness, Bearing Witness, and Fending for Oneself.

Conclusions:

• The findings offer valuable insights into the experiences of RNs managing difficult patient interactions.
• The study highlights the importance of fostering psychological hardiness and supportive strategies to ensure continued altruistic care.