Table 2 The data analysis process according to Larsson and Holmström’s phenomenographic seven-step model [27]

Step 1

The first author read the whole text.

Step 2

During the next reading, she marked the nurse anesthetists’ answers to the three main questions in the text.

Step 3

These marks were then discussed with author MR and BF to find the dominant way of understanding, the focus, and how it was described. Then the first author wrote preliminary descriptions for each interview.

Step 4

These descriptions were then grouped together in categories based on differences and similarities by the first author, which were then reflected upon in the research team.

Step 5

Non-dominant ways of understanding were identified by the first author, and then discussed with author MR and BF.

Step 6

The first author reflected upon a structure in the outcome space, which was then reflected upon in the research team.

Step 7

Each of the six understandings based on the descriptions were assigned a metaphor by the first author in agreement with the research team.