Other Titles
Leadership within the nursing workforce
Abstract
Emergency Departments (ED) are unpredictable environments and are well-known for instantaneous change. At one moment, the ED may be relatively quiet and then suddenly ambulances and helicopters arrive with multiple patients from a serious car accident. Typically, nurses are the first healthcare provider encountered by the patient. Given the rapid changes, this is an environment with high levels of stress and more so for the ED nurse (Browning, Ryan, Thomas, Greenberg, & Rolniak, 2007; Spence, Laschinger, & Havens, 1997). EDs are open for patient care all day, every day. The flow of patients and their reasons for presenting to the ED for care is not predictable. Multiple patients can present to an ED with a variety of healthcare problems and concerns. Prioritization of patient care in EDs is based on the patient's acuity level. Acuity levels are designated by the patient's presenting illness or injuries. This is termed triage. Triage sorts patients according to the severity of illness or injury and how rapidly they require treatment (Sheehy, 2003). ED RNs care for a multitude of patients at any stage of care. The number of patients in an ED is a census. The census of an ED includes patients who are: awaiting triage, have been triaged and are awaiting care, have had encountered the healthcare provider and care is in progress or pending results of diagnostic tests, are admitted to the hospital and are awaiting bed assignments, and are pending discharge. The census can change at any time as can the acuity level. Any ED can rapidly transition from low acuity and census levels into high acuity and high census levels at any point during a nurse's shift. The unpredictability of the environment can impact the relationships of the workplace. Unpredictable environments can create stressful situations within workplace relationships. Continued exposure to high levels of stress may have negative effects on organizations (Manzoni & Eisner, 2006; Piko, 1999). Reciprocity is a crucial component of relationships (Chow & Chan, 2008; Flap & Volker 2001). Reciprocity yields productivity. For emergency nurses to maintain effective workplace performance, reciprocity is present within workplace relationships (Bowey & Easton, 2007). Reciprocal workplace relationships facilitate productivity, efficiency, and improved consumer outcomes (Back & Flache, 2008; Carpenter, Bowles, Gintis, & Hwang, 2009; Meeker, 1983). One question propelled this study: What is the emergency nurse's experience of workplace reciprocity? There is a paucity of research on nurses working in the ED. Most research is clinically based regarding competency and patient outcomes (Dent, 2010; Johnson & Bakas, 2010; Kratz & Mason, 2010; Pines, Shofer, Isserman, Abbuhl, & Mills, 2010). As patient care is the focus and there is a lack of research among healthcare providers, exploring the lived experience of reciprocity among emergency nurses contributed to the current literature on workplace reciprocity. Additionally, the study enhanced the literature on emergency nursing and provides more information regarding the healthcare work environment.
Sigma Membership
Delta Zeta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Emergency Nurses, Workplace Relationships, Workplace Reciprocity
Recommended Citation
Corcoran, Christine Marie, "Understanding workplace reciprocity of emergency nurses: A qualitative study" (2014). INRC (Congress). 59.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2014/presentations_2014/59
Conference Name
25th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Hong Kong
Conference Year
2014
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Understanding workplace reciprocity of emergency nurses: A qualitative study
Hong Kong
Emergency Departments (ED) are unpredictable environments and are well-known for instantaneous change. At one moment, the ED may be relatively quiet and then suddenly ambulances and helicopters arrive with multiple patients from a serious car accident. Typically, nurses are the first healthcare provider encountered by the patient. Given the rapid changes, this is an environment with high levels of stress and more so for the ED nurse (Browning, Ryan, Thomas, Greenberg, & Rolniak, 2007; Spence, Laschinger, & Havens, 1997). EDs are open for patient care all day, every day. The flow of patients and their reasons for presenting to the ED for care is not predictable. Multiple patients can present to an ED with a variety of healthcare problems and concerns. Prioritization of patient care in EDs is based on the patient's acuity level. Acuity levels are designated by the patient's presenting illness or injuries. This is termed triage. Triage sorts patients according to the severity of illness or injury and how rapidly they require treatment (Sheehy, 2003). ED RNs care for a multitude of patients at any stage of care. The number of patients in an ED is a census. The census of an ED includes patients who are: awaiting triage, have been triaged and are awaiting care, have had encountered the healthcare provider and care is in progress or pending results of diagnostic tests, are admitted to the hospital and are awaiting bed assignments, and are pending discharge. The census can change at any time as can the acuity level. Any ED can rapidly transition from low acuity and census levels into high acuity and high census levels at any point during a nurse's shift. The unpredictability of the environment can impact the relationships of the workplace. Unpredictable environments can create stressful situations within workplace relationships. Continued exposure to high levels of stress may have negative effects on organizations (Manzoni & Eisner, 2006; Piko, 1999). Reciprocity is a crucial component of relationships (Chow & Chan, 2008; Flap & Volker 2001). Reciprocity yields productivity. For emergency nurses to maintain effective workplace performance, reciprocity is present within workplace relationships (Bowey & Easton, 2007). Reciprocal workplace relationships facilitate productivity, efficiency, and improved consumer outcomes (Back & Flache, 2008; Carpenter, Bowles, Gintis, & Hwang, 2009; Meeker, 1983). One question propelled this study: What is the emergency nurse's experience of workplace reciprocity? There is a paucity of research on nurses working in the ED. Most research is clinically based regarding competency and patient outcomes (Dent, 2010; Johnson & Bakas, 2010; Kratz & Mason, 2010; Pines, Shofer, Isserman, Abbuhl, & Mills, 2010). As patient care is the focus and there is a lack of research among healthcare providers, exploring the lived experience of reciprocity among emergency nurses contributed to the current literature on workplace reciprocity. Additionally, the study enhanced the literature on emergency nursing and provides more information regarding the healthcare work environment.