Being a real nurse – concepts of caring and culture in the clinical areas

Ousey, K; Johnson, M

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the issues of caring and culture in practice settings and how they affect student nurses in their endeavours to learn how to be a ‘real nurse’. Drawing upon differing conceptions of ‘caring’ we discuss the notion as a pivotal factor in becoming a nurse.
We examine the degree to which boundaries are changing, not least those in which students seem currently to define the bedrock of physical and emotional care as belonging to health care support workers whom they will merely supervise. Complicating this picture are developments in medical and nursing boundaries which may, or may not help to ‘professionalise’ nursing.
We conclude by arguing that complex cultural norms and the negotiated order of health care need to be properly recognised by curriculum developers if, within contemporary higher education nurses are to be fit for purpose and practice.

Citation

Ousey, K., & Johnson, M. (2007). Being a real nurse – concepts of caring and culture in the clinical areas. Nurse Education in Practice, 7(3), 150-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2006.06.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 11, 2006
• Online Publication Date: Oct 1, 2020
• Publication Date: May 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: Oct 5, 2020
• Journal: Nurse Education in Practice
• Print ISSN: 1471-5953
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 150-155
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2006.06.001
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2006.06.001
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nurse-education-in-practice/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: AM ** Embargo end date: 31-12-9999 ** From Elsevier via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for AM version of this article: This article is under embargo with an end date yet to be finalised. **Journal IDs: issn 14715953 **History: issue date 31-05-2007; accepted 11-06-2006