Abstract
Problem: Nurses render care to members of the adoption triad: the birth parents, adoptive parents and the child. Yet, understanding nurses' perceptions of and interactions with members of the adoption triad (AT) have not been explored.
Purpose: To explore the lived experiences of nurses and the care rendered to the AT in various clinical settings using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach.
Methods/Analysis: At the completion of a web based quantitative survey, participants were invited to add text about their own experiences in caring for the AT. From these responses, coding was conducted and themes revealed via Colaizzi's qualitative method. Reflexive notes and discussions were also maintained; one researcher is an adoptive mother.
Subjects: These qualitative data represented feedback from a sub-set of the parent sample of ninety-seven (97) nurses from 25 states in the United States. Seventeen narratives were coded by the researchers. Twelve of the nurses who forwarded narratives were also AT mothers.
Results: Themes that emerged from the data were: 1) Where the personal and professional self meet (caregiver and receiver of care); 2) a rollercoaster of emotions and attitudes (loss and joy; grief and healing); 3) unique contexts of adoptive families: "We all have a history"; and 4) bringing AT moms' needs to light/meeting the needs (education, advocacy, and support/communication).
Interpretation of Findings: Adoption triad nurses may hold dual roles in adoption contexts, those of caregiver and adoptive or birth parent. The themes that emerged reflected insights gained from both personal and professional roles and offer specific interventions that would enhance psychosocial functioning pre-adoption as relinquishment decisions are made and postadoption as adoptive moms make the transition to parenting. Nursing education and practice guidelines should include care rendered to the adoption triad.
Sigma Membership
Unknown
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Adoption Triad, Nursing Care, Adoption
Recommended Citation
Foli, Karen J. and Schweitzer, Roberta, "Where the personal and professional self meet: Understanding nurses' lived experiences of adoption" (2012). Convention. 52.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2011/presentations_2011/52
Conference Name
41st Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Conference Year
2011
Rights Holder
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Where the personal and professional self meet: Understanding nurses' lived experiences of adoption
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Problem: Nurses render care to members of the adoption triad: the birth parents, adoptive parents and the child. Yet, understanding nurses' perceptions of and interactions with members of the adoption triad (AT) have not been explored.
Purpose: To explore the lived experiences of nurses and the care rendered to the AT in various clinical settings using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach.
Methods/Analysis: At the completion of a web based quantitative survey, participants were invited to add text about their own experiences in caring for the AT. From these responses, coding was conducted and themes revealed via Colaizzi's qualitative method. Reflexive notes and discussions were also maintained; one researcher is an adoptive mother.
Subjects: These qualitative data represented feedback from a sub-set of the parent sample of ninety-seven (97) nurses from 25 states in the United States. Seventeen narratives were coded by the researchers. Twelve of the nurses who forwarded narratives were also AT mothers.
Results: Themes that emerged from the data were: 1) Where the personal and professional self meet (caregiver and receiver of care); 2) a rollercoaster of emotions and attitudes (loss and joy; grief and healing); 3) unique contexts of adoptive families: "We all have a history"; and 4) bringing AT moms' needs to light/meeting the needs (education, advocacy, and support/communication).
Interpretation of Findings: Adoption triad nurses may hold dual roles in adoption contexts, those of caregiver and adoptive or birth parent. The themes that emerged reflected insights gained from both personal and professional roles and offer specific interventions that would enhance psychosocial functioning pre-adoption as relinquishment decisions are made and postadoption as adoptive moms make the transition to parenting. Nursing education and practice guidelines should include care rendered to the adoption triad.
Description
41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.