Nurses as Role Models in health promoting behaviour: Concept Development and Analysis.

Abstract

This twelve-month report reflects on a period of study for the duration of third year Professional Doctoral studies at University of Bath. The third and final years are known as Phase Three, the research stage of the doctorate. This report provides updated progress for the study entitled “Nurses as Role Models in health promoting behaviour: Concept Development and Analysis”. The health and well being of health service staff continues to be topical. NHS England chief executive, Simon Stevens claims that overweight doctors and nurses should set a good example to patients and slim down for the sake of patients (Guardian 2014). Research conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH 2014), revealed that the weight of a professional has an impact on whether the public listen to them about lifestyle health advice, particularly diet and exercise and call for health professionals to be healthy role models (RSPH 2014). There is also the expectation for nurses to be role models from the United Kingdom The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Competency framework for student nurses states that a statutory requirement for registration as a nurse is that “All nurses must take every opportunity to encourage health promoting behaviour through education, role modeling and effective communication” (NMC. 2014).

Early findings from this study suggest that there remains lack of understanding within the nursing profession of the concept of being a role model in health promoting behaviour. Furthermore there are mixed and opposing views surrounding attitudes towards being health-promoting role models. Findings provide antecedents, attributes and consequences to define the concept. These findings will offer insight to barriers and facilitators as perceived from the profession from which we can all learn.

A methodological framework was developed to support the overall aims and objectives of the study. A hybrid model which integrates both Walker and Avant’s (2014) steps and the three-phased Schwartz-Barcott & Kim (1986) approach provided the framework for this study. The theoretical stage of the study has been completed. Data collection from fieldwork is now complete and full thematic analysis in progress. Thirty-nine participants were recruited; eighteen student nurses, thirteen registered nurses, and eight educators. Seven hours of focus group recordings provided 59,000 words of transcribed data for analysis. Coding and preliminary theme identification has taken place. Three chapters of the thesis have been written and completion is planned for the current academic year.

Recommendations are not yet able to be made prior to full data analysis and writing up of the thesis. However engagement in this work has provided informal recommendations to be published in two nursing journal columns. The first highlights the need to develop self-aware practitioners who are able to balance caring for others with caring for themselves. The second requests working environments to support nurses in caring for their own health while caring for others. Further information will be available on completion of the study.

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