REGISTERED NURSES' PERCEPTIONS OF FACTORS RELATED TO CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY IN NURSING STUDENTS.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 200
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: A qualitative research approach and naturalistic inquiry were utilized for this descriptive, exploratory study which investigated the phenomenon of chemical dependency in the nursing student. Nursing's holistic view of a human being served as the conceptual framework. Two major research questions guided the study. They related to self perceived: (1) characteristics of the chemically dependent nursing student and (2) factors that contributed to the chemical dependency in the nursing student.

Using semi-structured interviews, the retrospective views of ten recovering impaired registered nurses who had lived the experience of chemical dependency as nursing students, were recorded. The transcriptions of the interviews were analyzed using the qualitative method of constant comparison to identify patterns and relationships. The participants also shared demographic information about themselves and their use of chemicals.

Using the person's experience in context as the basis of analysis, an in-depth description of the phenomenon, chemical dependency in the nursing student, was delineated. The analysis of the data began with a description of the concept, chemical dependency. The features of chemical dependency as drawn from the data concurred with previously identified attributes of the concept.

Although the participants identified themselves as academically successful nursing students, the investigator nevertheless formulated the following conclusions regarding the experience in context: (1) The participants were insecure and unhappy individuals with little self value, few social skills, and distrust and anger towards society; (2) negative self perceptions together with chaotic and painful dysfunctional family backgrounds contributed to inappropriate choices and destructive experiences; (3) nursing, as a career choice, perpetuated a previous life style and provided an educational environment which focused on meeting the needs of others rather than self; (4) the pleasing sensations from chemicals and an economic status that either provided an adequate income for purchase of drugs or inadequate income which caused stress, influenced the continued use of chemicals; and (5) society not only accepted and encouraged the use of mood altering chemicals, but also enabled the participants as members of society in their use.

Recommendations for further study and suggestions for nursing faculty and administrators to address the phenomenon of chemical dependency in the nursing student were also identified.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-06, Section: B, page: 2341.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1989.

School code: 0227.