Overcoming exhaustion: Building a conceptual foundation for nursing research

This study aimed to establish the concept of overcoming exhaustion, providing a reference basis for nursing management and conducting related nursing research.

Liehr and Smith's three-phase, nine-step concept-building process was used to create the concept of overcoming exhaustion. The nine steps were as follows: 1) write a practice story; 2) name the emerging concept; 3) select a theoretical lens; 4) link concept to literature; 5) gather a concept story; 6) identify final core qualities; 7) formulate concept definition; 8) create a concept model; and 9) specify the concept building synthesis.

The concept of overcoming exhaustion was identified based on the elements of a practice story, the life experiences of nurses who struggle with the demands of caring for their patients, their families, and themselves. The theory of self-transcendence was then recognized as the theoretical lens from which to ground the concept. The core qualities, despair and moments of calmness, were derived from the literature and confirmed through a concept story. A definition of the concept integrating the core qualities was formed: overcoming exhaustion involves realizing moments of calmness amidst despair. A model was created to demonstrate the relationship between core qualities, despair, and moments of calmness.

The concept of overcoming exhaustion was developed and, through the concept-building process, was defined as realizing moments of calmness amidst despair. By identifying the complexities of overcoming exhaustion, this work lays the foundation for a future research program to develop understanding and interventions that support nurse well-being in the context of ongoing personal and professional demands.