Table 1 Nurses’ life history narratives (via Mandelbaum’s [5] framework)
From: The life history narrative of clinical nurses with more than 30 years of experience
Dimensions | Turnings | Adaptation |
|---|---|---|
Life as an individual | ||
1. Baby boomer grown up as a model student | 1. Nursing major selection based on the will of others and my will | 1. Motivating myself |
A step toward the dream | - A set path of life | - Let us do it right |
Become a college student | ||
2. Dreamer | 2. Infinite responsibilities of childrearing | 2. Relying on incomplete childcare support |
Who realized the dream of becoming a professional | ||
Employment | - Nobody to lend a helping hand | - Help from family and friends |
Identity as a nurse | ||
3. Superhero | 3. Family economic bankruptcy | |
Who juggles multiple things pursuing excellence in all | ||
Mother who must do well | - Partner’s business failure | |
Harmony between work and family life | ||
Pain and pride at the same time | ||
Life as a nurse | ||
1. Growth from a novice nurse | ||
Actual clinical setting aroused feeling of fear and anxiety | 1. Interpersonal relationships | 1. Acknowledgements from nurse managers |
Turnings as a nurse | - Incomprehensible unreasonable criticism | - Encouragement and praise |
2. Being a proficient nurse | 2. Unreasonable organizational system | 2. Break a relationship |
Leader in nursing care with new medical technology | - Coercive boss | - Move department |
Nothing to be afraid of my work | 3. Living on a different schedule | 3. Compromise with myself |
Struggle to position myself | - Three-shift rotation | - Accept the situation |
Reborn as an expert nurse | 4. Lack of professional awareness for nurses | 4. Authority over my work |
3. Professionalism | - Prejudice against women and hospital culture | - Great virtue of nursing |
Contemplation on the nature of nursing | ||
Nursing profession under reflection | ||