Developing a collective future: creating a culture specific nurse caring practice model for hospitals

Area of Science:

• Nursing Theory
• Healthcare Management
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Nurses face challenges operationalizing theory-based practice.
• There is a growing interest in caring theories and alternative frames of reference in nursing.
• Reflecting on the meanings and processes of nursing is timely.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss concepts central to developing a practice-based nurse caring model in a community hospital.
• To review the process of nurse-caring model development.
• To operationalize and implement the developed nurse-caring model.

Main Methods:

• Data collection through focus group discussions with staff nurses (RNs and RNAs) and hospital patients.
• Content analysis of transcribed audiotaped interviews for theme and definition development.
• Validation of findings through joint analysis by staff and patients.

Main Results:

• Key concepts identified include individual/collective experience, caregiver-client congruence, and institutions as culture-specific environments.
• The collective development process was initiated through qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Staff response validated assumptions, and concepts appear congruent with nursing values and practice.

Conclusions:

• Collective development of a practice model provides a means for growth and change in nursing practice.
• The developed nurse-caring model is intended for operationalization and implementation.
• The project highlights the importance of integrating theory with practice through collaborative model development.