Past caring? The influence of technology.
The increase in technology in 'general' clinical areas as well as specialized units such as intensive care units and theatres influences the delivery of nursing care. This paper reports findings from a longitudinal study exploring the changes in self-est eem of two cohorts of pre-registration nursing students. The study involved the measurement of the global and professional self-esteem, but its main focus was a qualitative grounded theory approach to identify changes in the self-esteem. The findings det ailed here emphasize the importance of practical nursing skills and the use of technology to student nurses. Results showed that students' self-esteem was effected and constructed by practical and technological competence. The emphasis on both of these a ctivities changed through students' 3-year training course in that although initially students derived their professional self-esteem from being practically capable, this was subjugated to a lower place in gaining their professional self-worth by the end of the course. Instead, the use of technology had ahigh status throughout the course and had associations with scientific and medical power.
Randle
J
J
Institute of Health Studies, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK.