title: Protecting professional composure in transcultural pediatric nursing.
abstract: In this qualitative study, we used grounded theory to explore the category of "overwhelming emotional expressions" that emerged in a previous study. Using theoretical sampling, 12 individual interviews were conducted with nurses in Swedish pediatric care. Overwhelming emotional expressions have been found to override nurses' professional preparedness; they continuously resolve this by protecting professional composure. Various strategies are used to protect professional composure, including rationalizing, controlled expression, power display, escape/avoidance, distancing, sharing, and management of space. Some of these strategies are similar to coping strategies. However, they differ in that they are about managing the situation and also include protecting the professional composure of the individual as well as the whole care situation. Nurses need to gain preparedness to meet overwhelming emotional expressions in transcultural care and to be aware of strategies for protecting professional composure so as to use them consciously and positively.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pergert
authors.forename: Solvig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ekblad
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Enskär
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Björk
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden