Culture of rural nursing practice: a critical theoretical analysis of determinants of power in nursing.
OBJECTIVE
This paper investigates the culture of workplace learning within a study of eight small hospitals in rural New South Wales (NSW), Australia.


METHODS
The study used a focus group method of data collection, undertaken before then after a series of interventions designed to nurture a culture that supports learning within the rural health care setting.


METHODS
Student AINs, AINs, ENs and RNs from any of the eight hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
Framed within a critical social perspective it applies a theory of culture to understand the determinants of social divisiveness that was occurring between different levels of the nursing workforce. These results are further analysed within a theoretical discussion of culture and power in nursing.
Gibb
Heather
H
Rural and Remote Health, School of Nursing and Health Science, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. gibhj001@students.unisa.edu.au
Forsyth
Katreena
K
Anderson
Judith
J
D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D004522:Educational Status; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D009517:New South Wales; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011209:Power, Psychological; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012938:Social Perception