CONTENT ANALYSIS OF PEAK EXPERIENCES IN NURSING PRACTICE (TRANSPERSONAL EXPERIENCES).
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 180
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this exploratory, descriptive survey was to identify and describe nurses' peak experiences and the consequences of these experiences in nursing practice.

Data were gathered from a nonrandom sample of 40 registered nurses who provided 92 descriptions of peak experiences. A questionnaire, developed by the researcher, was used to gather demographic data and written descriptions of peak experiences in nursing practice and their consequences.

Content analysis revealed the following recurring themes in descriptions of peak experiences: close bond or relationship with client or family; thank you from client or family; death; client recovery from severe illness; first experiences; justice; client in coma; nurse saves client's life; code; working as a team; transpersonal or transcendent experiences; primary nursing; educational experiences; birth; and client holding on then dying.

Recurring themes in descriptions of the consequences of peak experiences were: gained valuable nursing knowledge or skill; motivation to enter or remain in nursing or a specialty area; personal growth or development; increased love, compassion, or caring; realized importance of working with co-workers; learned not to give up hope; increased self esteem or self-confidence; learned to be nonjudgemental; and increased knowledge or belief in power of God, faith, or prayer.

Statistically significant relationships were found between clinical setting and the theme, thank you from client or family (X$\sp2$ = 8.156, p $<$ 0.05); between clinical specialty and the themes, client recovery from severe illness (X$\sp2$ = 3.814, p $<$ 0.05), close bond or relationship with client or family (X$\sp2$ = 10.180, p $<$ 0.001), and thank you or appreciation from client or family (X$\sp2$ = 6.376, p $<$ 0.05); and between years of experience and the themes, first experiences (X$\sp2$ = 7.495, p $<$ 0.05), and client recovery from severe illness (X$\sp2$ = 5.403, p $<$ 0.05). No statistically significant relationships were found between peak experience themes and age or educational level.

This study provides a description of actual nursing practice at its peak in terms of meaning and fulfillment. The motivation and personal and professional growth associated with peak experiences in nursing practice have implications for the recruitment and retention of nurses.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-04, Section: B, page: 1949.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1991.

School code: 0227.