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A Critical Discourse Analysis of Emotional Labor, People-Pleasing, and Boundary-Setting in Nursing
Sara K Kaylor1, Abby G Horton, Haley Townsend
1Author Affiliations: The University of Alabama, Capstone College of Nursing, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Abstract:
Nursing has long been shaped by sociocultural and institutional discourses that reinforce emotional labor, people-pleasing behaviors, and boundary-setting challenges. Through a critical discourse analysis, this study examines how historical and structural influences condition nurses to prioritize others at the expense of their well-being. Findings reveal that professional expectations, policy language, and power dynamics perpetuate these norms, leading to burnout and diminished autonomy. Addressing these issues requires systemic reforms that support boundary-setting and self-advocacy. Reframing emotional labor as a recognized form of work, rather than an expectation, is essential to sustaining both nurse well-being and quality patient care.
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