Emotion and cardiac technology: an interpretive study.
This paper presents a frequently overlooked aspect of advanced technological care--that of the human dimension and emotions. Emotionality is defined as the emotional ways that a client experiences their embodied experience as a recipient of a cardiac pacemaker. One individual's story from a larger interpretive study of clients who received pacemakers is presented and interpreted. Kev's story encapsulates the difficulties of dealing with and understanding cardiac technology. When Kev's heart malfunctions he confronts a new reality; an experience where the 'technological body' is linked confusingly with emotion. This complex interplay between technology, the body and emotionality is discussed to demonstrate the importance of the mediating role that nurses can and should play in clients' adaptation and recovery.
Anderson
Carole
C
School of Nursing, Griffith University, Australia.
Moyle
Wendy
W
McAllister
Margaret
M
D000368:Aged; D020811:Biomedical Technology; D004644:Emotions; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*