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Psychosocial Needs of Burns Nurses: A Descriptive Phenomenological Inquiry
Citation
Kornhaber, RA and Wilson, A, Psychosocial Needs of Burns Nurses: A Descriptive Phenomenological Inquiry, Journal of Burn Care & Research, 32, (2) pp. 286-293. ISSN 1559-047X (2011) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 American Burns Association
DOI: doi:10.1097/BCR.0b013e31820aaf37
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the psychosocial needs of nurses who care for patients with severe burn injuries. Burns nurses work in an emotionally challenging and confronting environment, for which they are in need of emotional and clinical support. Exposure to such high levels of stress in this occupational environment has implications for nurses' health and psychosocial well-being. Seven burns nurses were recruited in 2009 from a severe burn injury unit in New South Wales, Australia. A qualitative phenomenological methodology was used to construct themes depicting nurses' experiences. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling, and data were collected through in-depth individual semistructured interviews using open-ended questions. Data were analyzed with Colaizzi's phenomenological method of data analysis. The psychosocial needs of burns nurses were identified and organized into five categories: peer nursing support, informal support, lack of support, multidisciplinary team collaboration, and professional support. The findings clearly demonstrate that support and unity within the workplace are fundamental factors for the psychosocial well-being of nurses caring for patients who have sustained a severe burn injury. Support for nurses in the form of regular professional or collegial debriefing sessions and utilization of employee assistance programs could ease the impact of the stressful environment in which they operate, and could influence staff retention. However, a supportive workplace culture is necessary to encourage nurses to access these services.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | 'lived experience'; phenomenology; burns; nursing; psychosocial |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Nursing |
Research Field: | Acute care |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Provision of health and support services |
Objective Field: | Nursing |
UTAS Author: | Kornhaber, RA (Dr Rachel Kornhaber) |
ID Code: | 94802 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 5 |
Deposited By: | Health Sciences B |
Deposited On: | 2014-09-17 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-02 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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