Understanding the role of knowledge in the practice of expert nephrology nurses in Australia.
This paper, which is abstracted from a larger study into the acquisition and exercise of nephrology nursing expertise, aims to explore the role of knowledge in expert practice. Using grounded theory methodology, the study involved 17 registered nurses who were practicing in a metropolitan renal unit in New South Wales, Australia. Concurrent data collection and analysis was undertaken, incorporating participants' observations and interviews. Having extensive nephrology nursing knowledge was a striking characteristic of a nursing expert. Expert nurses clearly relied on and utilized extensive nephrology nursing knowledge to practice. Of importance for nursing, the results of this study indicate that domain-specific knowledge is a crucial feature of expert practice.
Bonner
Ann
A
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia. abonner@csu.edu.au
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019545:Intuition; D019359:Knowledge; D009398:Nephrology / Q000193:education*; D009517:New South Wales; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000451:nursing; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires