Nursing ETDs

Publication Date

6-9-2016

Abstract

This study explored the experience of registered nurses of clinically inflicted pain (CIP). This study showed that the experience of nurses is distinctly different from the experience of patients. This study revealed the constructed nature of CIP and nurses estimation of CIPs painfulness. Nurses utilized a number of processes to alleviate their discomfort associated with having to inflict pain. Nurses also utilized processes that effectively changed CIP to mean something other than pain, specifically the processes of unmaking the patient experience and remaking of CIP. Some nurses were conflicted at least some of the time about CIP. This created a theoretical problem, which let to the discovery of the theory of togethering, the bringing together of the professional nurse (defined solely by education, training, and skill) and the nurse person (broadly defined as a human being who is also a professional nurse). The nurse person positions the professional nurse in the various processes utilized by nurses, a process I called positioning. I argue that it is the nurse person who distinguishes the professional nurse. The theory of togethering defines nurses by who (or what) they are not by their relationship to patients and thus contributes to nursing theory. I believe this study may have important implications particularly for nursing education.

Degree Name

Nursing

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

College of Nursing

First Committee Member (Chair)

Rodgers, Beth

Second Committee Member

Jones, Jacqueline

Third Committee Member

Bennahum, David

Keywords

registered nurses and clinically inflicted pain

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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