Thesis (M.N.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--Ed. D. Columbia University Teachers College, Health Sciences, nursing, 1975. / Includes bibliographical references.

In this qualitative phenomenological study, the researcher interviewed 18 hospitalised patients and community members in rural Appalachia to learn about their mystical experiences in the context of health care. A loosely structured interview format addressed factors that initiate mystical experience and essential qualities of mystical experience. In addition, the researcher examined the nursing process, focusing on assessments and actions which supported the participants in sharing their experiences. The researcher also considered her response to being the recipient of these shared experiences. Data were analysed using the crystallisation/immersion method and concept mapping. Mystical experience was conceptualised as a process incorporating initiation, occurrence, maturation, and integration of mystical experience. Essential aspects of the mystical experience itself were found to include sensory-motor perception, interaction with the supernatural, interaction with dead and living members of the family, conviction of reality, cognition, dynamic tension and emotional intensity. Nursing actions which supported the participant included listening and support. The researcher's response to the participants' sharing their experiences included tension, intimacy and empathy, sense of awe and autonomic responses. In addition, the researcher developed an appreciation of the mystical in everyday experience. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Within the current context of the healthcare environment, the charge nurse role has become very important for safety and positive outcomes. There is little known about the role from the perspective of the charge nurse. This qualitative descriptive exploratory study examined the experience of being a charge nurse in acute care practice, and describes how charge nurses live caring in their support of nurses and patients. Ray's (1989, 2006) theory of Bureaucratic Caring, Swanson's (2008) caring attributes and leadership, and Boykin and Schoenhofer's (2001) theory of Nursing as Caring provided the theoretical lenses through which study findings were viewed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 charge nurses in 4 acute care facilities. Eight themes emerged from an inductive analysis of the data describing the experience of being a charge nurse in acute care practice: Creating a Safety Net, Monitoring for Quality, Showing the Way, Completing the Puzzle, Managing the Flow, Mak ing a Difference, Putting Out Fires, and Keeping Patients Happy. Participants also were asked questions about how they provide support to staff nurses and patients. Themes that reflected how charge nurses live caring in their support of staff and patients were: Jumping in the Trenches, Nurturing Staff Growth, Offering Authentic Presence, and Looking after Nurses. Additionally, the researcher used methods of narrative inquiry to get the participants to share stories of how they lived caring in their support of nurses and patients. Recommendations included the need to elevate the visibility of the charge nurse role and its importance to the organization, and provide support for leadership development. Job descriptions and competencies for charge nurses must reflect the complexity of the environment. / Charge nurse participants did not dialogue explicitly about their functions in terms of communication and intraprofessional team building. Since charge nurses have an increasing involvement with mentoring novice nurses and new staff, they would benefit from developing coaching skills. Given the current environment, their responsibilities in these areas may need to be better articulated so that they can focus on increasing these abilities. / by Terry L. Eggenberger. / Signature page missing one signature and the date. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The graying of America as a sociological and health care phenomenon continues to dictate the demand for creative and innovative interventions that can directly influence the quality of life of nursing home residents. Creative Reminiscence is a program that fosters the active reliving of the past through narration, such as in story-telling, and the use of creative art expression to uncover meaningful life events or valuable life experiences. The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the meaningful life events elicited by the experience of Creative Reminiscence using a phenomenographic approach. Existing (archived) data-transcribed interviews, poetry and painting on planters that were obtained from 20 participants of the Creative Reminiscence program entitled Le Jardin de Sante were analyzed. Five variations of meaningful memories evoked by Creative Reminiscence were identified. These are described as follows: (a) memories that rejuvenate the elder's sense of connectio n; (b) memories that revive the elder's sense of love and intimacy; (c) memories that restore the elder's sense of being; (d) memories that reassert the elder's sense of control; and (e) memories that reinstitute the elder's sense of purpose. In a caring interaction with Creative Reminiscence, the nursed are able to transcend, moving back in time (past) to appreciate segment(s) of their lives, with triumphs and disappointments that give meaning to their inner conflict/human struggle (present), and integrate a sense of confidence and acceptance of their lives to sustain well-being and a sense of wholeness. This research highlights the similarities and differences in the description of memories by the nursing home residents evoked during Creative Reminiscence. / The results of the study support Erikson's notion of the circular nature of the life cycle, wherein there is an inherent need at the last stage of life to re-integrate ascendant psychosocial themes.Taking into account the meaning that nursing home residents ascribe to their experiences provided data on strategies nurses and caregivers can use effectively to help these elders transcend despair. Further research is recommended using a more diverse sample and in more diverse geographical locations. Current standardized instruments may be revised to quantify effects on the ascendant psychosocial themes. / by Germina Emily Risos Rio. / Thesis (D.N.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2008. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate student outcomes following implementation of a clinical scholar model of clinical education in one of four placement sites of a college of nursing grounded in a caring philosophy. The question guiding the study was to determine if the clinical scholar model has an influence on student perceptions and outcomes when used with second-degree accelerated BSN students. Watson's Human Caring theory, based on ten caritas processes, serves as the theoretical framework for this study (Watson, 2007). A sequential mixed-methods approach that combined quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques was implemented using a pre-experimental, post-test only design with non-equivalent groups to determine differences between the Traditional Model (TM) and Clinical Scholar Model (CSM) in clinical nursing education... Limitations of this study include low sample size and are partially due to limitations of the class size and low survey participation. Additionally, only CSM students attended a focus group, which prevented comparisons of qualitative feedback between groups. Even with these limitations, CSM students scored as well or better than TM students, indicating that the CSM could be a viable model for nursing clinical education. / by Kathryn Arnold. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The number of adults over the age of 65 years living with one of more chronic illness in the United States is an acknowledged health challenge for the 21st century. This qualitative research investigation examined the lived experience for adults living with one or more chronic illnesses in the context of a community of faith with access to a faith community nurse. Interpretative hermeneutic analysis was used for the phenomenological study. Findings indicate that the adults expressed their primary essence is living in abundance while living faith and living caring. The findings from this study describe the relationship between adults living with chronic illness, the community of faith and the faith community nurse. Further, findings from this study contribute to essential knowledge necessary for developing models of health care in the community for adults living with chronic illness and nursing care in the community that are distinct and complex. Findings will also support the development of interventions in contexts of faith communities to support and strengthen adults living with one or more chronic illness. The emerging specialty practice in nursing labeled faith community nursing holds promise to come alongside current models of health care to support living in abundance. / by Susan MacLeod Dyess. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, FL : 2008 Mode of access: World Wide Web.

With passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the publication of the Institute of Medicine’s report on the future of nursing, nurses are slated to take on an expanded role in primary healthcare delivery in the near future. Nurse practitioners, in particular, will be instrumental in filling the gap in primary care availability engendered by the increasing specialization of physician practice and increased access to healthcare made possible by the provisions of the PPACA. The need for this study was identified through gaps in the literature related to nurse practitioner practice; specifically, the paucity of quantitative research regarding patients’ perspectives of core holistic nursing values in nurse practitioner care, and, since nursing care is by definition and tradition holistic in nature, this inquiry attempted to quantify the degree to which nurse practitioner care upholds and preserves core holistic nursing values. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

En vårdfilosofi kan fungera som en grund för hur man ska handla och en förklaring till varför man har handlat som man har. Studien syftar till att beskriva en personcentrerad vårdfilosofi och hur den kommer till uttryck i demensvård. I denna studie har kvalitativa studier av demensvård med ett personcentrerat perspektiv analyserats för att öka förståelsen för hur denna vård upplevs av patienterna och hur den uttrycks i vården.På grund av att patienter med demenssjukdom är extremt sårbara och beroende av andra för sitt välbefinnande är det speciellt viktigt att formulera en vårdfilosofi inom demensvård.Det som är återkommande i resultatet av studien är synen på patienten som en person. Att bli sedd som en person och inte som en sak eller diagnos ger mening åt livet och möjlighet till att uppleva välbefinnande.Personcentrerad vård inom demensvård innebär att bekräfta patienten, vara närvarande i mötet, lyssna till och försöka tolka patientens berättelse, ge patienten frihet och möjlighet att välja och bestämma över sin situation, hjälpa patienten att bevara sina relationer och underlätta eller kompensera för personens förlorade förmågor. / <p>Program: Fristående kurs</p><p>Uppsatsnivå: C</p>

The purpose of this study was to explore with fourth year nursing baccalaureate students, their perceptions of experiences of caring using ethnographic design, and examine the phenomenon of caring and whether the development of caring relationships occurs among students and faculty members. Furthermore, the study sought to understand how nursing students perceive these relationships as influential in their learning, and ability to cope with stress. The sample consisted of ten fourth year nursing students who volunteered to be interviewed as well as one focus group of seven faculty members. The major findings of the study illuminated five general constructs: (1) The caring art of nursing in large part is a way of being in the world, an attitude that is inherent in the personality; (2) the caring science of nurse doing can indeed be taught and learned; (3) non-caring behaviors, experiences and relationships negatively impact the learning environment and therefore the learning outcomes for students; (4) Problem Based Learning (PBL) method cultivates a safe and caring learning environment; (5) caring is valued by students and positively impacts their educational experience, including learning outcomes, clinical experiences and their ability to cope with stress. The findings of the study may be utilized as a component of faculty growth and development as well as internal curriculum review. / x, 131 leaves ; 29 cm