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- Title
REGISTERED NURSES' EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF PRACTISING WITH A DISABILITY.
- Authors
Hughes, Margaret E.; Rose, Gayle M.; Trip, Henrietta
- Abstract
Aims: The aims of this study were to explore the perceptions and experiences of registered nurses (RNs) practising with a disability or impairment, and to describe the strategies they used to support their role as an RN. Background: Despite the availability of anti-discrimination guidance, nurses practising with a disability or impairment described varying levels of understanding and support available to them from colleagues and managers. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study allowed us to explore and describe RNs' experiences and perceptions of their interactions with colleagues and managers in clinical practice. This process uncovered what was important to the participants, including strategies they used to ensure they practised safely. Participants took part in a 60-90 minute interview that gathered their experiences and perceptions of working with a disability or impairment as defined by the RN. The semi-structured interview schedule, with one main question and prompt questions, enabled participants to share their individual stories. Thematic analysis was undertaken. Participants: Ten RNs -- nine female and one male -- were selected purposively because they identified as living and working with a disability or impairment. Findings: Four themes were identified. Impairment or disability? -- Nurse participants preferred to articulate the impact of the disability or impairment on them, rather than defining those terms. Telling others captured the decision-making process they went through on whether to disclose their disability or impairment at work. Participants described fear or reluctance to disclose; this decision was also influenced by whether their disability or impairment was visible or invisible. Getting support pulled together some of the concerns nurses had about the lack of organisation-wide support. The perceived lack of support affected the nurse's desire to ask for help and often resulted in the nurse organising their own support resources. Impact in the workplace -- The nurse participants had developed unique strategies to ensure they nursed safely. Conclusion: For participants, the ability to define the impact of their disability or impairment on their working lives was more important to them than selecting a definition of "disability or impairment". All participants were committed to safe nursing practice. The degree of visibility of the disability or impairment influenced the nurse's willingness to disclose or ask for help. A visible disability was acute or obvious and a less visible disability reflected the post-acute, rehabilitative, or chronic stage. However, overall, because many of the nurses did not feel safe to disclose their disability or impairment, ask for help, or know where to go to access support, accommodations were not made for them in the workplace.
- Subjects
SAFETY; DISCLOSURE; NURSES' attitudes; SOCIAL support; RESEARCH methodology; INTERVIEWING; FEAR; NURSING practice; IMPAIRED medical personnel; QUALITATIVE research; NURSES; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors; INTERPROFESSIONAL relations; DECISION making; NURSES with disabilities; THEMATIC analysis; JUDGMENT sampling
- Publication
Kaitiaki Nursing Research, 2021, Vol 12, Issue 1, p7
- ISSN
1179-772X
- Publication type
Article