Exploring a culture of caring.
OBJECTIVE
The delivery of patient-centered care is basic to a large midwestern healthcare institution's mission and highly valued by the department of nursing. Even so, nurses on one medical unit questioned whether caring behaviors were devalued in a technology-oriented environment of providing care. The nursing leadership on the unit responded to the inquiry by conducting a research study. This study explored the state of patient-centered nursing care on a medical unit as perceived by the nursing staff and patients, using Watson's Theory of Human Caring as a framework.


METHODS
The study utilized surveys for both nursing staff (n = 31) and patients (n = 62), and included a focus group of nursing staff (n = 8) to explore ideas for innovation.


CONCLUSIONS
Both nurses and patients perceived a high level of caring on the unit. The overall theme from the focus group was that "caring begets caring," with 2 subthemes: "relationships of care" and "the context of caring." Caring for each other was identified as essential to keep staff energized and able to work lovingly with patients. Nursing leadership brought the research findings to all staff on the unit for discussion and implementation of structural support for the unit culture of caring.
Carter
Lisa C
LC
Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Nelson
Joyce L
JL
Sievers
Beth A
BA
Dukek
Sarah L
SL
Pipe
Teri B
TB
Holland
Diane E
DE
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004645:Empathy; D017144:Focus Groups; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009736:Nursing Process; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009742:Nursing Theory; D015279:Organizational Culture; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology