"I love the job…" Thriving in nursing: A qualitative interview study with framework analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Organizational Psychology
• Workplace Well-being

Background:

• Emergency nurses commonly experience burnout, a well-documented issue in critical care settings.
• Despite burnout, many nurses maintain long careers, suggesting other positive experiences like thriving may occur.
• The Model of Thriving at Work identifies key external (autonomy, trust, information sharing) and internal (knowledge, outlook, relationships) factors, characterized by vitality and ongoing learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore emergency nurses' lived experiences of thriving in the workplace.
• To evaluate the applicability of Spreitzer et al.'s Model of Thriving at Work to nurses' experiences.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative interview study was conducted using framework analysis.
• Semi-structured interviews were completed by eleven nurses from a single healthcare site.
• Interviews focused on eliciting both positive and negative workplace experiences.

Main Results:

• Nurses' experiences aligned with the Model of Thriving at Work, encompassing vitality, continuous learning, and both internal and external factors.
• Participants often described thriving indirectly, by stating they were 'not burnt out,' but could identify thriving qualities in colleagues.
• Emotional burden, workload, and ethical considerations were identified as significant contributors to thriving, suggesting potential expansions to the existing model.

Conclusions:

• Thriving is a potential positive outcome for emergency nurses, alongside burnout.
• Both external workplace conditions and internal personal factors are crucial for fostering nurse thriving.
• Healthcare leaders should prioritize creating supportive work environments to enhance thriving among emergency nurses.