THE BUSINESS OF CARING: THE PERSPECTIVE OF MEN IN NURSING.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 119
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.; Psychology, Social.
Description: It has been stated that professional nurse caring is the essence of nursing (Leininger, 1978, 1981) and that it should be included in the paradigm of nursing (Hernandez, 1987). However, although caring has been analyzed, investigated, and subsequently defined from the perspective of women in nursing, no previous research has described professional nurse caring from the perspective of men in nursing.

The purpose of this research was to describe professional nurse caring from the perspective of men in nursing. A descriptive design was used to characterize the responses of 12 baccalaureate prepared men with 3 to 16 years experience in the clinical setting. A reliability score of 0.96 was achieved and validity was attained through a panel of three doctoral candidates in nursing and repeat interviews with two of the participants.

Descriptions of professional nurse caring were ascertained through audio tape recorded interviews. The men's descriptions were subjected to content analysis. The overriding theme identified was the business of caring. Three categories with subcategories were identified as follows: supporting physical well-being (enacting skills, maintaining safety, and surveillance); supporting psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being (verbal and nonverbal support of time and being there, touch, listening, eye contact, and facial expressions); and, supporting individuality (advocacy and respect).

The conclusions were that men enter nursing with caring attitudes or feelings toward others that were not learned in nursing school. The attitudes or feelings are reflected in behaviors or actions. Professional experience and professional education are antecedents to professional nurse caring. The men in nursing demonstrated empathy. Fulfilled expectations serve as a feedback loop to reinforce the nurses' attitudes toward others. The men exhibit traditional behaviors of compassion, acceptance, consideration, and kindness as well as contemporary behaviors of independence, assertiveness, self-esteem, and confidence associated with nursing. It is recommended that the model, the business of caring, be tested and that nursing service personnel provide positive reinforcement for the professional nurse caring behaviors enacted by men in nursing. Further recommendations were specific to the model proposed and the effects of professional nurse caring on patient outcomes.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-02, Section: B, page: 0495.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1988.

School code: 0005.