Dissertation
The impact of workplace culture on the provision of person centred care in an acute surgical ward: A critical ethnography
Doctor of Philosophy, Central Queensland University
2016
Abstract
Many Australian health services espouse a method of patient care that ensures that all patients are treated as individuals, with dignity and respect. Referred to as ‘person centred care’, this philosophy is congruent with nurses’ professional philosophy and with the expectations of health care consumers. Person centred care has many stated benefits including satisfaction with care; shorter hospital stays and increased compliance with interventions. However many health care organisations and professionals find it difficult to wholly implement in practice. This is particularly true in acute care settings where increasing acuity, technically complex care and shorter admission times pose significant challenges. This critical ethnography presents the culture of nursing within an acute surgical ward in a regional hospital in Queensland with a specific focus on the impact this culture has on nurses’ ability to provide person centred care. Founded in critical theory and interested in manifestations of power and hegemonic structures, data were gathered using participant observation over a five month period, participant interviews and examination of clinical documents in order to describe the culture of care in this setting. In doing so it presents a broad understanding of what these nurses know, what they do and what they value. The critical perspective examines the social and political forces that shape this culture and nurses’ beliefs about themselves and their nursing practice. This work acknowledges that power differentials and oppression operate at all levels of human interaction and influence whose voice is heard and whose is silenced (Hardcastle et al., 2005 …
Details
- Title
- The impact of workplace culture on the provision of person centred care in an acute surgical ward: A critical ethnography
- Authors
- Sandra Sharp - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nursing
- Contributors
- Margaret McAllister (Supervisor) - Central Queensland UniversityMarc Broadbent (Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nursing
- Awarding institution
- Central Queensland University
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- DOI
- 10.25946/13387319
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991255896102621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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