FORMING ALLIANCES: TOWARD A GROUNDED THEORY OF THE NURSE CARING FOR THE FAMILY CAREGIVER OF A SCHIZOPHRENIC MEMBER.
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 185
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This qualitative, descriptive study identified and explained the conceptual category of forming alliances that occurred between the psychiatric nurse and the family caregiver with a schizophrenic member during entry into the emergency care setting. Forming alliances was facilitated by the process of Making the Most of the Moment. Three strategies were identified that nurses used to Make the Most of the Moment within the emergency care context: Being in the Moment, Enhancing the Moment, and Extending the Moment. Other behaviors described by both nurse and family informants as important in a successful and satisfactory entry included: a sharing of knowledge, adequate time, and mutual participation in the entry experience.

The social process of forming alliances was developed from the nurse's perspective. Six relational statements or theoretical constructs were developed which provide direction for further nursing research related to forming alliances. Through the collection and analysis of data, forming alliances during entry into the psychiatric emergency care system was a significant issue for both the nurse and the family caregiver. The findings of this study are based upon qualitative evidence collected through: direct observation, interviewing 12 psychiatric nurses and 11 family caregivers with a schizophrenic member, and related literature. Observations occurred during community support groups led by nurse leaders and attended by family caregivers, interviews with nurses and family caregivers in their homes, and within the emergency care context.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-02, Section: B, page: 0742.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1994.

School code: 0254.