TRIGGERS FOR JOB CHANGE WITHIN NURSING: PERCEIVED CONGRUENCE BETWEEN SELF-IMAGE AS A NURSE AND NURSING PRACTICE (HOME HEALTH NURSES).
Contributors: University of California, Santa Barbara.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 196
Subjects: Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain insight into self-image perceptions that allow nurses to remain in active nursing practice. The research intended to gain insight into the context of nursing practice and the factors that affect congruence between the nurse's perceived self-image and her perception of her practice as a nurse.

Field research methodology was utilized to interview a convenience sample of home health nurses. A total of seventy job change situations were analyzed through a series of qualitative descriptions which provided a detailed and comprehensive account of the nurse's perception of herself in her nursing job situation and what factors affected the perception of congruence between her nurse self-image and the practice of nursing in her job situation.

The findings demonstrate a developmental progression of focus associated with experience. The focus affected her perception of nurse self-image and her practice of nursing in her job situation.

The focus in the early years of experience is on learning and achieving as a nurse. Job changes are made as a way of learning more or to have a sense of challenge in her nursing job.

The focus in the mid years of experience is to utilize the attained skills. Job changes occur when the nurse perceives that her skills or her value as a nurse are not recognized in the job situation.

The focus in the later years of experience shifts to the nurse/patient relationship. The nurse begins to realize what effect her practice of nursing has on the patient. Job changes occur when the nurse perceives that her practice of nursing is not beneficial to the patient which does not match her self-image as helping patients.

Employment potential was another factor for remaining in nursing. Jobs in nursing accomodated other roles such as motherhood, wife, and/or student during the course of the nurse's life time.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-02, Section: A, page: 0431.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA, 1992.

School code: 0035.