Exploring nurses’ Experiences and perceptions of nursing caring process: A qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract Background A theory of nursing derived from nurses’ experience can reflect indigenous practice values, which in turn can act as a source of idea and inventiveness in developing a relevant knowledge base to inform practice. Nurses constantly face the need to provide patient care, emphasis on physical, psychological, and spiritual within the health care system. To concern their nursing experiences and perceptions in clinical caring is important. Aim The aim of this research is to explore nursing experiences and perceptions in clinical caring from the nurses’ point of view. Methods A qualitative research method was applied to this research with major assumptions from the symbolic interaction perspective. Forty nurses were recruited from a regional teaching hospital by purposive sampling, and they were interviewed by structured method. Miles and Huberman qualitative method was used to analyze the data. Results Five aspects that were generated from the results of the research can be used to describe nurses’ concerns as follows: 1. Function of nursing roles (to provide professional and holistic cares, satisfy requirements of commitment and conscience, to provide promptness and effectiveness of nursing service, and give a guiding principle for patient self-care), 2. Positive experiences in nursing processes (affirmations and feedbacks from patients, their families, and team members in the health care system; and professional ability), 3. Frustrated experiences in nursing processes (insufficient support system from team members, especially from organization of nursing department, negative attitude from patients and their families), 4. Coping behaviors (include problem and emotion orientation) and 5. Expectations of administrators (to improve the professional competency, the shortage of nurses in clinical caring, and upgrade the position of nurses). Conclusions This research explored nurses’ experiences and perceptions in clinical caring. The results of this research can be used to help nursing administrators to catch the demand of nurses and to adequately resolve the associated problems.