Nursing ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 12-10-2021

Abstract

This qualitative study examined practice development among experienced, acute care nurses (n = 9) with at least 10 years of experience. Using an interpretive biographical approach, with participants’ written practice narratives and in-depth interviews, the study focused on how the work environment and life experiences influenced or impeded practice development. Participants were classified as routine- or adaptive experts (n = 3 of each type) with one intermediate case and two not readily classifiable. Antecedents to becoming a nurse included family influences, personal interests, altruistic values, and financial need. Experience was necessary but not sufficient for adaptive expertise. Compared with routine experts, adaptive experts were influenced to become nurses more strongly by altruism than financial need. Facilitating influences that promoted developing adaptive expertise included motivation, life-long learning, social support, critical reflection, and moral agency. Adaptive experts reframed personal and professional impediments as challenges or opportunities for growth.

Degree Name

Nursing

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

College of Nursing

First Committee Member (Chair)

Mark B Parshall, PhD, RN, FAAN

Second Committee Member

Stephen H. A. Hernandez, PhD, RN

Third Committee Member

Robin Meize-Grochowski, PhD, RN

Fourth Committee Member

Maria Mylopoulos, PhD

Keywords

Nurse experts, nursing expertise, adaptive expertise, nursing practice development, experienced nurses

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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