Senior nurses as patients: Narratives of special and meagre care

Abstract

Like the general population, nurses become patients within the health care services available to them. They write anecdotal accounts of their experience and research the experience of their colleagues. This paper reports a small descriptive study of how the positions of senior nurses who experienced a life threatening condition influenced their illness trajectories. Eleven nurses in both New Zealand and Australia told stories of their experiences which focussed on intercessions/intervention by themselves, their family and the health care team. Themes identified were: looking after our own, the gaze of family and friends in advocacy and intercession, stereotypes of nurses as patients, senior nurses as vulnerable patients - existential healing through the small things, and senior nurses as knowledgeable people. Within these themes were narratives of special and meagre care. The authors conclude that all senior nurses should receive care that is regardful of who they are as senior nurses and vulnerable patients.

Qualitative systematic review: the unique experiences of the nurse‐family member when a loved one is admitted with a critical illness

“…, Salmond ). Some Nurse‐FMs were able to exert a positive influence on illness trajectory and prevent complications and deterioration in the patient's condition while others played an important role in the patient's recovery by urging further investigation and treatment (Duke & Connor ).…”

“…Two studies (McNamara 2007, Salmond 2011 were awarded a high level of rigour for meeting the requirements in all ten critical review questions. Two studies were classified as moderately rigorous (Mills & Aubeduck 2006, Duke & Connor 2008 for meeting the requirements in eight questions. The remaining three studies (Fulbrook et al 1999a,b,c) were awarded a low level of rigour because they met the requirements of only six critical appraisal questions.…”

“…There was a strong need to seek out meaningful and specialized information about their loved one (Fulbrook et al 1999a,b,c, McNamara 2007, Duke & Connor 2008, Salmond 2011. Nurse-FMs wanted and needed a different standard of information than general public FMs due to their specialized knowledge and for Nurse-FMs to feel in control and to keep other FMs informed (Salmond 2011).…”

“…Stepping in to provide omitted care and ensure care is adequate Some Nurse-FM's reported deterioration of the patient to staff and were distressed to be ignored (Fulbrook et al 1999a, Duke & Connor 2008. Others felt compelled (personally and by their family) to 'step in' and provide omitted or inadequate care such as medication administration, changing soiled bedding and providing hygiene care (Fulbrook et al 1999c, Salmond 2011.…”

“…Nurse-FMs often became a spokesperson for the patient (McNamara 2007) and at times questioned patient care if they did not think it met acceptable standards (Fulbrook et al 1999a, Salmond 2011. Some Nurse-FMs were able to exert a positive influence on illness trajectory and prevent complications and deterioration in the patient's condition while others played an important role in the patient's recovery by urging further investigation and treatment (Duke & Connor 2008).…”