Korean J Adult Nurs.  2017 Dec;29(6):615-625. 10.7475/kjan.2017.29.6.615.

Adjusting Process of Nurses to an Oriental Medical Unit

• Lee MH
• Park HS
• Ha JH

• KMID: 2406540
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2017.29.6.615

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the adjustment experiences of nurses to an oriental medical unit.
METHODS
Fourteen nurses who worked or were working in oriental medical units participated. Data were collected through in-depth interviews from April to December, 2013. Analyses of the transcribed interviews were done using Corbin and Strauss's grounded theory.
RESULTS
Through the constant comparative analysis method, the central phenomenon was identified as "˜constant mental fluctuation'. Nurses reported their adjustment to an oriental medical unit through four stages. The stages were described as "˜the discouraged' stage, "˜the conflicted' stage, "˜the restructuring' stage and lastly "˜the coexistence' stage.
CONCLUSION
As the participants reported the process of adjusting, they reported continuous constant conflicts and struggles with the oriental medical doctors, the nursing department, patients and their guardians and lastly with themselves. The process of becoming integrated into an oriental medical unit is a complex study and should be studied further in terms of whether this process is the same or different adjusting to other units.

MeSH Terms

Grounded Theory
Humans
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Methods
Nursing