TAKING CARE: TAKING CARE OF SELF, TAKING CARE OF OTHERS. AN ETHNOGRAPHY OF RECOVERING FEMALE CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT NURSES (CARE-TAKING, RECOVERING CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT, WOMEN ADDICTS).
Contributors: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 357
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this ethnographic study was to understand the experience of being a recovering female chemically dependent nurse. The study's three questions were: What is it like to be a chemically dependent female nurse in recovery? What are the life experiences of these recovering nurses? Are there similarities and differences in the life experiences of these recovering nurses?.

Twenty female nurses were recruited through both purposeful and nominated sampling techniques. Ethnographic methodologies were utilized to obtain the data.

Data analysis was ongoing throughout the study. Two primary domains were identified, that of the "nursing world" and that of "recovery." Within the nursing world domain, five patterns were identified to capture the experience of the female nurse within the nursing world as it related to chemical dependency. The five patterns were: (1) nursing school experiences, (2) nursing identity, (3) self-description as nurse addict, (4) nursing employment, and (5) experiences with the nursing board. Additionally, four common life patterns predominated these nurses' lives. These patterns were: abuse in earlier life, acknowledgement of male dominance, suicide contemplation and/or attempt, and viewing nursing professionals as "codependent.".

Within the recovery domain, 10 patterns were identified as capturing the recovery experience. The 10 patterns were: (1) recognition of addiction as disease, (2) awareness of pain in life, (3) restoration of physical health, (4) development of internal monitoring system, (5) relapse, (6) recognizing and dealing with other addictions, (7) development/recognition of creativity, (8) primacy of attitude of gratitude, (9) working a program, and (10) primacy of relationships. These patterns explored the complexity of the recovery experience and noted individual perspectives for the informants.

Within the theme analysis, four subthemes contributed to the theme development. These four subthemes were reconciling relationships: self and others, "we can get through" nursing support experiences, "why a caretaker?," and caretaking of patients as "recovering" nurses. The two domains were connected by the major theme taking care: taking care of self and others.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-01, Section: B, page: 0163.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1992.

School code: 0831.