'Effective' Australian gerontology nurses: a repertory grid analysis

Abstract

Repertory grids were completed by gerontological nurses (N = 60) to elicit the personal constructs they used to characterize gerontological nurses, effective gerontological nurses and the extent to which participants believed themselves to be effective as nurses working in this specialist field. Analysis of pooled repertory grids indicated that the personal construct 'caring, compassionate, empathetic' was rated most highly as characteristic of gerontological nurses in general and of effective gerontological nurses. Cluster analysis of individual repertory grids showed no significant difference between self-perceptions of participants as effective gerontological nurses and the ideal gerontological nurses they would like to become. Other findings of this research indicate that a variety of aspects of gerontological nursing need improvement if negative perceptions of this area of nursing practice are to be altered.

An exploration of the burden experienced by spousal caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease

“…Data collection and evaluation was done using a repertory grid methodology 10, 11. To this end, we used a series of probative questions (Table 1) to elicit information about aspects of burden.…”

“…These grids were used in much the same way that a standard questionnaire might be used to evaluate attitudes toward aspects of burden (i.e., participants placed a number in each cell of the matrix, indicating the extent to which a particular “construct” described a particular “element”). By using this method, instead of more traditional questionnaire‐based methods, we gain two important advantages: (1) participants direct the focus of the burden questionnaire, and (2) information can be evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively within the same group of participants 10–13…”

Describing gerontological nursing: an academic exercise or prerequisite for progress?

“…An agreed description of gerontological nursing is needed. When nurses working with older people were asked to characterize gerontological nurses, respondents produced a list of personal and psychological characteristics, but little knowledge and skill (Retsas & Wilson, 1997; Ellis, 1999). The special skills of nurses working with older people are not fully explicated (Nolan, 1997), and the role of gerontological nurses in community care and acute settings needs to be expanded (Nolan & Toslon, 2000b).…”

“…The special skills of nurses working with older people are not fully explicated (Nolan, 1997), and the role of gerontological nurses in community care and acute settings needs to be expanded (Nolan & Toslon, 2000b). Some suggest that without a clear picture consumers will have little confidence in what it has to offer (Retsas and Wilson (1997); Wilson & Retsas, 1997). As gerontological nurses are not able to articulate what it is they do, they are often replaced with vocationally qualified support workers, which further deprofessionalizes the care of older people (McCormack & Ford, 1999).…”

More Than Meets the Eye: Explicating the Essence of Gerontology Nursing

“…There is a dearth of literature on the experiences of gerontology nurses or the nature or essence, of gerontology nursing. A recent Australian study by Retsas and Wilson (1997) used personal construct theory to elicit characteristics of gerontological nurses.…”