Nurses' Self-Reported Emotional Experiences During Midline Catheter Insertion: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Medical Education
• Psychology

Background:

• Midline catheter insertion is a complex nursing procedure demanding high levels of skill and attention.
• Emotional experiences significantly impact clinical performance but are often overlooked in invasive procedure education.
• Understanding nurses' emotions during midline catheter insertion is crucial for enhancing patient safety and procedural training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the emotional experiences of nurses during midline catheter insertion.
• To investigate how emotions emerge during nurses' accounts of technical actions and patient interactions.
• To identify the relationship between emotional states and procedural phases in midline catheterization.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative exploratory study using video-recorded midline insertions followed by video-supported self-confrontation interviews.
• Data analysis involved directed qualitative content analysis, informed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Plutchik's psycho-evolutionary model.
• Investigator triangulation was employed to ensure analytic rigor in the study.

Main Results:

• Forty-two emotional expressions were identified across all procedural phases among ten participating nurses.
• Negative emotions (fear, apprehension, irritation) were common during needle insertion, linked to uncertainty and perceived risk.
• Positive emotions (interest, pride, relief) were reported post-catheter placement, with vigilance observed during risky moments.

Conclusions:

• Emotions are an integral part of invasive nursing care, influencing performance during procedures like midline catheter insertion.
• Recognizing and understanding nurses' emotional experiences is vital for improving patient safety and procedural outcomes.
• Integrating emotional awareness and regulation strategies into procedural training programs is recommended.