J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2016 Nov;23(4):448-459. 10.7739/jkafn.2016.23.4.448.

An Ethnography on Daily Lives of Nurses in Emergency Departments

• Ha JH
• Park HS

• KMID: 2361562
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2016.23.4.448

Abstract

PURPOSE
This ethnographic study was conducted to explore and understand themeaning of the daily life of nurses in emergency departments. Objectives for this study were to identify and describe the true nature of emergency roomnurses' daily experience and create a theoretical model based on the findings.
METHODS
Data were collected through in-depth interviews and participants observation. These data were recorded and transcribed verbatimwith consent of the informants, 10 nurses who had cared for patients in emergency rooms. Data were collected between November 2013 and October 2014. Interviews continued until no new information could be identified from transcripts. Data were analyzed using the taxonomic analysis method developed by Spradley.
RESULTS
Based on the data acquired from interviews, nurses' cultural domains were classified as "˜extensity of emergency room nurses', "˜temporality of emergency room nurses', "˜relationships among emergency room nurses' and "˜becoming an emergency roomnurses'.
CONCLUSION
The daily culture of emergency room nurses could be summarized as "˜busy daily life amidst confusion'. However, many nurses boosted their self-esteem by taking care of patients' collaboration with fellow nurses. In other words, nurses in emergency room forms a dynamic culture and pursue professionalism, rather than a simple chaotic daily life culture.

Keyword

Emergency room; Nurses; Life; Ethnography; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Anthropology, Cultural*
Cooperative Behavior
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Humans
Methods
Models, Theoretical
Professionalism
Qualitative Research