Restructuring nurses' worklives and knowledge: case studies from England and Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the relationship between restructuring of health care and the worklives and professional knowledge of nurses in England and Spain.


BACKGROUND
Healthcare governance and systems are being modernized across Europe. At the same time European populations are changing in terms of ageing societies, more demanding patients, increased technologicalization and new roles for women. This is changing the positionality of nurses situated between the state and the citizen.


METHODS
This data was produced as part of an EU-funded research project. Data collection methods included literature reviews, national policy summaries and surveys. In addition, life-history interviews and observations were carried out with nurses belonging to different generations in case-study hospitals in England and Spain. Data were analysed using an interpretative, narrative approach. Results juxtapose analysis of global and national policy narratives with individual nurses' worklife narratives.


RESULTS
Analysis of the policy narratives position nurses in England and Spain as having moved from traditional to re-framed professionals. Worklife narrative analysis meanwhile demonstrates that in England restructuring narratives have worked their way deep into nurses' lives. In contrast, in Spain there is a large gap between the rhetoric of change and the reality on the ground so narratives can be described as de-coupled.
Norrie
C
C
Education Research Centre (ERC), Mayfield House, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK. c.norrie@brighton.ac.uk
Muller
J
J
Goodson
I
I
Hernandez
F
F
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004739:England; D017144:Focus Groups; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D016294:Models, Nursing; D033262:Narration; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011361:Professional Competence; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology