SELF-REGULATION WITHIN THE NURSING PROFESSION.
Contributors: University of Colorado, Boulder.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 287
Subjects: Sociology, General.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This research explored the question of self-regulation in the nursing profession and describes some of the conditions and circumstances under which nursing exercises social control over its members. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with 30 nurse administrators and staff nurses to discover and specify some of the situations under which nurses are self-regulatory. Self-administered questionnaires were used with a pilot group of student and practicing R.N.'s to discover what they believe sanctions should be when a nurse is impaired due to drugs, alcohol, age or illness. An ethnographic study was conducted that describes the origin of a peer self-help group for impaired professionals.

Findings suggest that nurses are self-regulatory and that much of the social control exercised by nurses has been institutionalized under the rubric of "help." Further, most nurses believe that impaired colleagues should be reported to the supervisor and many also believe that help should be provided. Finally, in the establishment of "Help-Up" an Employee Assistance Program is also viewed as a way to "help" professionals. It is significant to note that self-regulation does occur in nursing, that inept practice is recognized and addressed and that means of formal social control are utilized to rectify inept practice or to assign nurses to positions suitable to their skill level.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-11, Section: A, page: 3511.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER, 1988.

School code: 0051.