Characteristics and Values of a British Military Nurse. International Implications of War Zone Qualitative Research
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Authors
Finnegan, AlanFinnegan, Sara
McKenna, Hugh
McGhee, Stephen
Ricketts, Lynda
McCourt, Kath
Warren, Jeremy J.
Thomas, Mike
Affiliation
University of Chester; Heath Lane Medical Practice; University of Ulster; University of South Florida; British Army; University of Northumbria; University of Chester; UCLanPublication Date
2015-08-01
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Background. Between 2001 and 2014, British military nurses served in Afghanistan caring for both Service personnel and local nationals of all ages. However, there have been few research studies assessing the effectiveness of the military nurses’ operational role and no papers naming the core values and characteristics. This paper is the only qualitative nursing study completed in this period where data was collected in the War Zone. Objective. To explore the characteristics and values that are intrinsic to military nurses in undertaking their operational role. Design. A Constructivist Grounded Theory was utilised. The first author designed the interview schedule, then following a pilot study, conducted and transcribed the discussions. Informed consent and UK Ministry of Defence Research Ethical Committee approval was obtained. Setting. Camp Bastion Hospital, Afghanistan, in 2013. Method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 British Armed Forces nurses. Results. A theoretical model was developed that identifies the intrinsic characteristics and values required to be a military nurse. Nursing care delivered within the operational environment was perceived as outstanding. Nurses consciously detached themselves from any legal processes and treated each casualty as a vulnerable patient, resulting in care, compassion and dignity being provided for all patients, irrespective of their background, beliefs or affiliations. Conclusion. The study findings provides military nurses with a framework for a realistic personal development plan that will allow them to build upon their strengths as well as to identify and ameliorate potential areas of weakness. Placing nurses first, with a model that focusses on the requirements of a good nurse has the potential to lead to better patient care, and improve the quality of the tour for defence nurses. These findings have international implications and have the potential for transferability to any level of military or civilian nursing practice.Citation
Finnegan, A., Finnegan, S., McKenna, H., McGhee, S., Ricketts, L., McCourt, K., Warren, J., & Thomas, M. (2016). Characteristics and values of a British military nurse: International implications of war zone qualitative research. Nurse Education Today, 36, 86-95.Publisher
ElsevierJournal
Nurse Education TodayType
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
0260-6917EISSN
1532-2793Sponsors
Nilae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.nedt.2015.07.030
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