Bag masker og lukkede døre: En etnografisk undersøgelse af operationsassisterende funktioner i dansk hospitalsvæsen

Erik Elgaard Sørensen

Research output: Book/ReportReportResearch

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Title
Behind closed doors: Investigating theatre nurses’ practice in Danish operating departments

Background
Nurses have traditionally assisted surgeons in operating theatres. In recent years, this role has been challenged in the UK, Holland, United States and also Denmark by new professions such as Operating Department Practitioner , Surgical Assistant and Surgical Technologist . Research-based knowledge about the relationships between technology and nursing is needed , including whether surgery assistance is purely technical that may have a lot, very little or nothing to do with nursing .

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to generate new knowledge on whether, how, why and when nursing skills are embodied in operating assistant functions.

Methodology
The study used a phenomenological hermeneutical approach . Data were based on ethnographic principles using techniques of participant-observation and follow-up interviews that were subject to a thematic analysis (the analysis is still in progress). The informants were 24 theatre nurses, aged 33 to 63. The investigation period corresponded to one week per informant, i.e., 24 weeks distributed over 10 months in 2009 and 2010. The data were gathered from nine theatre departments at two University Hospitals in Denmark.

Results
Preliminary results reveal three main themes: Protected practice, flowing team and adaptive capacity. Theatre nurses are pleased with their work and find it challenging to work in a protected practice that is characterized by short patient contacts, to be ahead, get the work completed and teamwork (as opposed to working in a ward setting). Their practice is part of a flowing team that takes different forms in a range between technology and nursing. Technology can suppress nursing practice which is characterized by technical flair, but also adaptive, coincidental and reification behaviors. On the contrary, nursing can contribute to suppressing the technology because nurses legitimize their professional identity as anti-technical. Navigation between technology and nursing depends on the nurses’ professional profile, interests and personality and is conditional for an adaptive capacity.

Implications for peri-operative nursing
Navigation between technology and nursing requires active actions and reflections. This must be based on updated technical skills and an updated nursing profile including their personality and the courage to engage in an interdisciplinary interaction.

ABSTRACT

Title
Behind closed doors: Investigating theatre nurses’ practice in Danish operating departments

Background
Nurses have traditionally assisted surgeons in operating theatres. In recent years, this role has been challenged in the UK, Holland, United States and also Denmark by new professions such as Operating Department Practitioner , Surgical Assistant and Surgical Technologist . Research-based knowledge about the relationships between technology and nursing is needed , including whether surgery assistance is purely technical that may have a lot, very little or nothing to do with nursing .

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to generate new knowledge on whether, how, why and when nursing skills are embodied in operating assistant functions.

Methodology
The study used a phenomenological hermeneutical approach . Data were based on ethnographic principles using techniques of participant-observation and follow-up interviews that were subject to a thematic analysis (the analysis is still in progress). The informants were 24 theatre nurses, aged 33 to 63. The investigation period corresponded to one week per informant, i.e., 24 weeks distributed over 10 months in 2009 and 2010. The data were gathered from nine theatre departments at two University Hospitals in Denmark.

Results
Preliminary results reveal three main themes: Protected practice, flowing team and adaptive capacity. Theatre nurses are pleased with their work and find it challenging to work in a protected practice that is characterized by short patient contacts, to be ahead, get the work completed and teamwork (as opposed to working in a ward setting). Their practice is part of a flowing team that takes different forms in a range between technology and nursing. Technology can suppress nursing practice which is characterized by technical flair, but also adaptive, coincidental and reification behaviors. On the contrary, nursing can contribute to suppressing the technology because nurses legitimize their professional identity as anti-technical. Navigation between technology and nursing depends on the nurses’ professional profile, interests and personality and is conditional for an adaptive capacity.

Implications for peri-operative nursing
Navigation between technology and nursing requires active actions and reflections. This must be based on updated technical skills and an updated nursing profile including their personality and the courage to engage in an interdisciplinary interaction.

Original languageDanish
Place of PublicationAalborg Sygehus
Number of pages126
ISBN (Print)978-87-90880-36-1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2011
Externally publishedYes

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